Looking for Multi-Region DVD Player......

[BlueMan1]

I am looking for a 120.00 or below DVD player that

a) Is or can be easily modified to be multi-region
b) Upconverts via HDMI and can play 4:3 content un-stretched without a lot of fuss
c) has decent PAL/NTSC conversion
d) has good DTS/DD sound output


any suggestions???

[John Sinnott]

I'd save up $80 and get an Oppo. It'll do everything you want, and do it well.

[Chew]

I'd save up $80 and get an Oppo. It'll do everything you want, and do it well.

Or just get the Oppo 970 model that also does all that and only costs $30 more. :)

[DVD Josh]

I'd save up $80 and get an Oppo. It'll do everything you want, and do it well.

Not only is Chew right, but additionally, the model you refer to is DVI only :)

[BlueMan1]

Orderd the 149.99 Oppo. Can't wait to get it.

[Chew]

:up: I don't think you'll be disappointed in your choice. I've had it for a couple months now and really think it's the best picture and sound I've ever had in a DVD player. (I've never seen HDDVD or BluRay in action ;) )

[cplhicks]

What exactly are the differences between the 970 and the 971 besides HDMI/DVI?
Are there any other major feature or picture quality differences?

[Chew]

There's a full comparison of the two on the Oppo website:
http://www.oppodigital.com/dv970hd/dv970hd_compare.html

[drmoze]

:up: I don't think you'll be disappointed in your choice. I've had it for a couple months now and really think it's the best picture and sound I've ever had in a DVD player. (I've never seen HDDVD or BluRay in action ;) )

Jut curious: what was "bad" or of lesser quality in your other DVD players? I've had 3 progressive scan players, and all have yielded an excellent picture. And I don't see how the sound would vary much, as the player is just feeding a digital signal; it's the receiver that does the decoding and the speakers that reproduce the sound. Quality of any DVD digital sound I've listened to seems to be governed by the sound system and not the player. And with a progressive player, I haven't seen any video differences that can't be attributed to the qualities of the monitor itself. Or have I just been lucky and avoided "bad" players?

[Chew]

Colors just "pop" a lot more on HDMI upconverting. Audio is a lot fuller. I'm hardly the technical expert as to why. To my eye, it just looks and sounds better than anything I've ever used. :shrug:

A few reviews say it better:
http://www.hdtvsolutions.com/OPPO_DV-970HD_DVD_Review.htm
http://www.audaud.com/article.php?ArticleID=1701

The Oppo definitely has a better digital output for CD, DD, DVD and DTS. The Oppo has a much crisper, more dynamic sound with the digital output.

[cmleidi]

That disc tray does not look strong. Does it come all the way out or is it one of those that only come out halfway? I'm returning a recently purchased player and one of the many negatives was the tray.

[Chew]

It's deceptive. I don't find it any less strong than a typical single disc player. It comes about, oh, 80-85% of the way out.

[X]

The sound comparisons of the Oppo and Marantz was a different matter. The Oppo definitely has a better digital output for CD, DD, DVD and DTS. The Oppo has a much crisper, more dynamic sound with the digital output.That would be quite a trick with DD and DTS since the player shouldn't (and really can't) touch those encoded data streams. They're sent as they're read off the disc to the receiver to decode.

[cmleidi]

I must be an idiot because I can not get this player to play region 2 discs. I keep getting wrong region. Have I overlooked something in the manual?

[Chew]

I must be an idiot because I can not get this player to play region 2 discs. I keep getting wrong region. Have I overlooked something in the manual?

I think most players don't necessarily come "region-free" out of the box. You have to enter a code. Here's the Oppo code that works on both the 970 and 971:

With the Remote control press setup and then press 9210.
It will display a menu with region code (default - 1)
Enter 0 to make it region free.

[cmleidi]

Chew, thank you. It worked. I am used to players automatically playing other regions.

[MrBlonde83]

would it be better to go with the 970 or the 971 to use on an infocus in72 projector?