The Bottom Line
Pros
- Plays almost all DVD and CD disc formats.
- DVI output with 720p and 1080i upscaling options.
- DVD-Audio playback with 5.1 channel analog audio outputs.
- On-board video adjustments.
- Excellent styling, easy to set up and use.
Cons
- Progressive scan not available through component outputs.
- No SACD (Super Audio CD) playback compatibility.
- Remote control not backlit.
- NTSC/PAL conversion - but not Region Code Free in current version.
- Limited controls on unit itself.
Description
- DVD-Video/Audio, DVD+R/RW/-R/-RW, Divx/MPEG4, CD/CDR/CDRW/CD-MP3/WMA/HDCD and CD-JPEG playback.
- Built-in Faroudja DCDi video processor. Upscaling to 720p and 1080i.
- DVI output (adaptable to HDMI) for direct digital video connection. DVI connection cable provided.
- Component video (Interlaced Scan) outputs; S-video and standard composite video outputs.
- Digital optical, digital coaxial, and two sets of analog audio outputs (2-channel and 5.1 Channel).
- Supports both Dolby Digital and DTS pass-through; built-in Dolby Digital decoder option.
- On-board Dolby Pro-Logic II and Virtual Surround Processing.
- On-board adjustments for Sharpness/Contrast/Brightness/Saturation.
- Switchable NTSC/PAL output - automatic PAL/NTSC bi-directional conversion.
- Wireless remote control. On-screen virtual keyboard option.
Guide Review - OPPO Digital OPDV971H DVD Player - Short Review
Overall functionality was excellent. The 971 easily played commercial DVDs, several DVD-R/DVD+RW discs, as well as a selection of CD/CDR/RW/HDCD format discs, and also a Divx disc.
In terms of video performance, quality depended on the type of connection used, but was very good for each type of connection, with DVI producing the best results. One shortcoming in terms of video performance was the lack of progressive scan output on the component video connections; I hope this oversight can be corrected in the future.
Using DVI and the 720p setting in conjunction with a 720p native resolution flat panel television, and using the Silicon Optix HQV Benchmark DVD as a reference, the 971 produced excellent results in terms of detail, color, motion tracking, and progressive scan detection. With the video noise tests, some background video noise was present, but not distracting. In terms of overall video quality, I found the images produced by the 971 to be very pleasing.
Audio performance of the 971 was also very good. Dolby Digital/DTS surround sound options worked well, with excellent imaging. The big surprise, for me, was the inclusion of DVD-Audio playback capability. The audio reproduction of the DVD-Audio format used used was very good and I did not sense any shortcomings that could be attributed to the 971.
