Oppo BDP-831?

[Anonymous]

I haven't used a PS3, and I'm not Andrew, but I can tell you what I've found. For disc drawer opening, from "off", the Oppo opens it's drawer in approx 2 seconds from the remote button being pressed. When you put in a DVD, as soon as the disc begins to load you can press the yellow button on the remote and jump straight into the start of the main feature missing all the menu screens and warning messages etc. I know of no other player to have this trick up it's sleeve. Prior to buying the Oppo I ran a Pioneer BDP 51-FD which was a good performer but tediously slow. In comparison, the BluRay loading times are very very quick.

If you do a google search for the Oppo and read the threads about it on other forums you'll find comparisons of load times and the Oppo is usually withing a second or two of the PS3, sometimes it's actually quicker. As far as I can tell, no other dedicated machine comes close in terms of load times. Be interesting to hear what Andrew found in his experience.

 

[Alec]

Cheers Will. Do you mean you can jump to the feature, or to the main menu?

 

[D.J.KRIME]

I am seriously considering geting one of these players (when the site eventually goes live!) but tho I am 100% certain it will knock the socks of my PS3 for BD I am not filled with the same comitment in thought that it will be at least on-par with my Denon 3930 for both DVD and CD.

This player has also met mixed reviews regarding using the analog outputs which I would have to do so as I have a older amp.

 

[Anonymous]

al7478:Cheers Will. Do you mean you can jump to the feature, or to the main menu?

You can jump straight into the main feature. So no more sitting around watching copyright warnings from the FBI etc etc on a disc you've already paid for! From the main feature, should you so wish, you can always jump back to the main menu. Wish the feature existed for BluRays, but as some have to load Java to actually play, this isn't available on any player at the moment.

 

[Anonymous]

D.J.KRIME:
I am seriously considering geting one of these players (when the site eventually goes live!) but tho I am 100% certain it will knock the socks of my PS3 for BD I am not filled with the same comitment in thought that it will be at least on-par with my Denon 3930 for both DVD and CD.

This player has also met mixed reviews regarding using the analog outputs which I would have to do so as I have a older amp.

Krimey mate, you've been on here as long as I have. Anytime you want to bring your 3930 round to check it against the Oppo you're always welcome. Sure we can find some way of tracking each other down. The analogues are very good indeed. Surprisingly so. And listening to them on CD vs. the A1UD, they were very similar in quality. A surprise perhaps, but entertaining. As the ringleader of the blind test, I told the listeners they were listening to the A1UD and watched them all nodding away in appreciation to the Oppo. I came clean a moment or two later but it just goes to show how good this machine is. Amp was Denon AVP A1HD and POA A1HD pre/pro. Into £26k of speakers and sub. Trust me when I say it holds it's own. But come and have a listen to if you'd like!

 

[Alec]

Ah, you cant do it with BR. I miss-read your post.

My panny says you cant skip during certain things before the main feature too. i take it thats a similiar ting and is common? it may be a different thing as by then i gues the disk has loaded.

Out of interest, haev you gone for the warranty voiding hack, i forget?

 

[Anonymous]

Hmmmmm.... how likely is it that 'soon' will mean before Christmas..... I am starting to lose hope of the UK version ever being available to purchase.

 

[Anonymous]

al7478:
Ah, you cant do it with BR. I miss-read your post.

My panny says you cant skip during certain things before the main feature too. i take it thats a similiar ting and is common? it may be a different thing as by then i gues the disk has loaded.

Out of interest, haev you gone for the warranty voiding hack, i forget?

I went for the hardware mod and let CRT Projectors do the install. They provide their own 12 month warranty in place of the voided Oppo one. Good enough for me. Their customer service is excellent.

I think the Oppos yellow button feature is fairly unusual. I haven't seen a feature like it on another player that lets you jump from the moment the disc begins to spin and has been recognised as a DVD.

 

[John Duncan]

Will Harris:As the ringleader of the blind test, I told the listeners they were listening to the A1UD and watched them all nodding away in appreciation to the Oppo.

So not a blind test at all then?

 

[hammill]

JohnDuncan:Will Harris:As the ringleader of the blind test, I told the listeners they were listening to the A1UD and watched them all nodding away in appreciation to the Oppo. So not a blind test at all then?In the kingdom of the blind, someone has to be the one-eyed man.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Will, if you continue to use these forums to promote a test carried for other websites, the ban button is going to get used again...

 

[Anonymous]

I collated the results but I didn't influence them. And yes, someone had to be the one eyed monster and do the switching. Was jolly hard work and gave me newfound respect for reviewers!

Andrew, I published the results on this forum too.

If you find my contributions to be in some way harmful to your business or offensive to anyone, then by all means ban me. I think that would be somewhat extreme for someone who has been contributing since the beginning and is largely a supporter of WHF. Not always in agreement, but then we all have our own views.

There are other sites out there that offer alternative material. Other magazines, forums and blogs. Tell me you would prefer it if no-one ever referred anyone to sources of information beyond Haymarket's own sites when there is information out there that would help people.

With the greatest respect, this is not the cold war.

 

[VoodooDoctor]

hammill:JohnDuncan:Will Harris:As the ringleader of the blind test, I told the listeners they were listening to the A1UD and watched them all nodding away in appreciation to the Oppo. So not a blind test at all then?In the kingdom of the blind, someone has to be the one-eyed man.

Yes but when conducting a blind test he needs to be dumb.

 

[Alec]

Well there are plenty of dumb people.

 

[Anonymous]

VoodooDoctor:hammill:JohnDuncan:Will Harris:As the ringleader of the blind test, I told the listeners they were listening to the A1UD and watched them all nodding away in appreciation to the Oppo. So not a blind test at all then?In the kingdom of the blind, someone has to be the one-eyed man.

Yes but when conducting a blind test he needs to be dumb.

This was after the blind test, we were testing one of the panel's pair of Sonus Faber Extrema speakers. Unbelievable and hooked everything up and compared the Denon to the Oppo over analogues. 2ch only. Played CDs. It wasn't part of the main test, and we a/b'd blind a bit then I told them what they were listening to. To be honest, it's immediately obvious why you have to keep the tests blind. It's utterly impossible to keep your own preconceptions out of a test if you know what you're watching or listening to. This was a bit of fun. Slightly cruel of me, but I thought it'd be worth a giggle.

 

[Anonymous]

how were the speakers

 

[bigboss]

Sometimes I wonder.......is Oppo timing the launch of its website on the day the WHF magazine containing its review releasing?

 

[Andrew Everard]

No, I think it will probably coincide with Will's birthday - as a special thank you...

 

[Andrew Everard]

Will Harris:
If you find my contributions to be in some way harmful to your business or offensive to anyone, then by all means ban me. I think that would be somewhat extreme for someone who has been contributing since the beginning and is largely a supporter of WHF. Not always in agreement, but then we all have our own views.

There are other sites out there that offer alternative material. Other magazines, forums and blogs. Tell me you would prefer it if no-one ever referred anyone to sources of information beyond Haymarket's own sites when there is information out there that would help people.

With the greatest respect, this is not the cold war.

We have house rules.

 

[bigboss]

Andrew Everard:No, I think it will probably coincide with Will's birthday - as a special thank you...

That's the least Oppo can do for Will!

After all, he's their unofficial brand ambassador! (or official??

)

Sorry Will, I know you don't like the forum members take the micky out of you........but I've never seen such a strong support for a product. It's just a blu-ray player, not a revolutionising invention like the wheel. There's lot more to life than a blu-ray player.

 

[laserman16]

bigboss:

Sorry Will, I know you don't like the forum members take the micky out of you........but I've never seen such a strong support for a product. It's just a blu-ray player, not a revolutionising invention like the wheel. There's lot more to life than a blu-ray player.

Yup, it almost seems obsessive.

 

[aliEnRIK]

Much as Wills REALLY beginning to bore me to death with this...............

Having looked around it seems the Sony has an 'anti banding' feature which does give it a very slight edge over the OPPO but it is VERY subtle a difference so I think im going to have to side on the OPPO here (With it being far cheaper and playing a lot more formats)

 

[Anonymous]

Maybe the delay is because OPPO have decided to redesign the unit so that it can double up as a wheel, all-in-one kitchen utensil and life partner? I would have thought most of that could be achieved with subsequent add-ons and firmware upgrades however.....

 

[Anonymous]

Genaa:Maybe the delay is because OPPO have decided to redesign the unit so that it can double up as a wheel, all-in-one kitchen utensil and life partner? I would have thought most of that could be achieved with subsequent add-ons and firmware upgrades however.....

Well, as has been rumoured, I make love to mine every night. So mine doubles up as a wife. Aren't I a lucky man.

 

[laserman16]

Will Harris:Genaa:Maybe the delay is because OPPO have decided to redesign the unit so that it can double up as a wheel, all-in-one kitchen utensil and life partner? I would have thought most of that could be achieved with subsequent add-ons and firmware upgrades however.....
Well, as has been rumoured, I make love to mine every night. So mine doubles up as a wife. Aren't I a lucky man.

Haa, the truth at last. Well I suppose it don't answer back or get headaches.