Oppo DV-970HD DVD Player Review

Summary

• Product Name: DV-970HD DVD Player
• Manufacturer: Oppo
• Performance Rating:
• Value Rating:

***Specifications***
Disc Types:

• DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, Super Audio CD (SACD), Certified DivX, Xvid, Audio CD, HDCD, Kodak Picture CD
• DivX (DivX Certified Home Theater Profile Parameters, V2.2. Covers DivX 3.11 – 5.1)
• CD-R/RW, DVD±R/RW, DVD+R DL

Output:

• Analog Audio: Stereo, 5.1ch
• Digital Audio: Coaxial, Optical, HDMI
• Analog Video: Composite, S-Video (Y/C)
• Component Video**: Y/Pb/Pr, NTSC 480i/480p/720p/1080i, PAL 576i/576p/720p/1080i
• Digital Video: HDMI with HDCP (NTSC 480i/480p/720p/1080i, PAL 576i/576p/720p/1080i)
• ** Component output for CSS-encrypted DVD discs is limited to 480i/480p only.

Firmware Updates: Upgradeable via CD-ROM

Video Characteristics:

• Composite Video Amplitude: 1.0Vp-p (75O)
• S-Video Amplitude: Y: 1.0Vp-p (75O), C: 0.286Vp-p (75O)
• Component Video: Y: 1.0Vp-p (75O), Pb/Pr: 0.7Vp-p (75O)
• HDMI: HDMI Specifications 1.1, CEA-861-B

Audio Characteristics:

• Frequency: 20Hz – 20kHz (±1dB)
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >100dB
• Total Harmonic Distortion: <>

General Specification:

• Power Supply: ~ 100V – 240V, 50/60Hz AC
• Power Consumption: 14W
• Dimensions: 16.5 x 10 x 1.625 inches (420mm x 255mm x 41mm)
• Weight: 4.85 lbs (2.2kg)

Pros

* Excellent value for universal upconverting player
* HDMI 1.1 allows passing everything (including PCM-converted SACD) via HDMI audio
* Nice small form factor
* Component video good to 480p/576 output (720p/1080i on non copyrighted/CSS discs)
* Flash memory and USB support

Cons

* Cumbersome and lacking bass management and distance delay options for DVD-Audio & SACD
* HDMI audio sounds somewhat compressed and narrows soundstage
* Disc navigation, menu and setup functionality impossible without remote

Introduction
Oppo has seemingly cornered the market on buzz, becoming the “Apple Computer” of rumor and forum discussion. Following the success of their flagship (and still shipping) OPDV971H upconverting DVD player, they naturally felt inclined to release a new upconverting DVD player that also handles SACD – for $50 less. Now, before you fall off your chair and pull out your credit card, realize that this is a different player. Instead of the Faroudja video processing, this new player utilizes a different chipset and scores slightly lower in our video performance testing.

1. Comparison of the DV-970HD and OPDV971H
2. Oppo Build Quality, Set Up, Remote & Measurements
3. DV-970HD Comments & Conclusion