From Robert Silva,
Your Guide to Home Theater.
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The OPPO Digital OPPO OPDV971H is a DVD player that will upconvert signal output to either 720p/1080i via its DVI output. If you own an HD or HD-upradable TV with DVI or HDMI input, you can watch DVDs in higher resolution, thanks to a Faroudja de-interlacer/scaler. This works well with Plasma/LCD monitors and DLP video projectors. This unit has all video outputs and features you would expect, including: CD/CDR/CDRW/MP3/JPG playback and then some, such as, DVD-Audio, HDCD, and DIVX playback.

Product Overview

The feature package of the OPDV971H DVD player includes:

1. Single tray DVD player with DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, DVD+R/RW/-R/-RW, Divx/MPEG4, CD/CDR/CDRW/CD-MP3/HDCD and CD-JPEG playback.

2. Built-in Faroudja DCDi video processor which provides the technology needed to provide accurate detail, color, and upscaling capability (720p and 1080i).

3. DVI output (adaptable to HDMI) for direct digital video connection. DVI connection cable provided. This connection is necessary to take advantages of upscaling feature.

4. Component video (Interlaced Scan) outputs; S-video and standard composite video outputs.

5. Digital optical, digital coaxial, and two sets of analog audio outputs (2-channel and 5.1 Channel) that provide flexible audio installation options.

6. Supports both Dolby Digital and DTS pass-through; built-in Dolby Digital/DTS decoder option.

7. On-board Dolby Pro-Logic II and Virtual Surround Processing provides surround enhancment fo non-digital audio sources.

8. On-board adjustments for Sharpness/Contrast/Brightness/Saturation.

9. Switchable NTSC/PAL output and automatic PAL/NTSC bi-directional conversion.

10. Wireless remote control, as well as, On-screen virtual keyboard option provides control flexibility.

Overview of the OPPO's DVI Output and Scaling Features

The OPPO Digital OPDV971H has two features that set it apart from most DVD players: DVI output and Video Upscaling.

DVI Defined

DVI stands for Digital Visual Interface. In order to transfer the digital video signal from a standard DVD player to a television, the DVD player must convert the signal from digital to analog, this results in some loss of information. However, the OPDV971H has the ability, with its DVI output, to transfer the DVD's digital video signal directly, without conversion to analog. This results in a pure transfer of all of video information from the DVD to a DVI or HDMI (via a connection adapter) equipped TV.

Video Upscaling

The OPDV971H also features video upscaling. You can enable this unit to either feed the digital video signal as either 720p or 1080i (in addition to 480p) to your television. 720p and 1080i are the two main standards for HDTV display resolution.

720p is essentially 1,280 pixels displayed across the screen horizontally and 720 pixels down the screen vertically. This arrangement yields 720 horizontal lines on the screen, which are, in turn, displayed progressively, or each line displayed following another.

1080i represents 1,920 pixels displayed across a screen horizontally and 1,080 pixels down a screen vertically. This arrangement yields 1,080 horizontal lines, which are, in turn, displayed alternately. In other words, all the odd lines are displayed, followed by all the even lines.

The Practical Side Of Upscaling

The capability of the OPD-971 to output a video signal in the 720p or 1080i format allows the DVD player's video output to more closely match the capabilities of today's HDTVs. Although this is not the same as watching your DVDs in true-high definition, as current DVDs are not recorded in high definition, you will experience increased detail and color you didn't think was possible from a DVD player; at least until true high definition DVD players and movies come out. That is why the OPD-971 is HD-compatible.

This function works best on fixed pixel displays, such as LCD or Plasma sets, the upscaling may result in harsh images on standard CRT and Projection sets. In addition, if your television has a native display resolution other than 720p or 1080i, the TV's video processor will rescale the incoming signal to its own specification, which can also yield different results on the final, displayed television image.

Setup - Hardware

Additional components used included a Yamaha HTR-5490 6.1 Channel AV receiver, Outlaw Audio Model 950 paired with a Butler Audio 5150 5-channel power amplifier, Syntax LT-32HV LCD television and an Optoma H56 DLP video projector.

Loudspeakers, including Klipsch B-3s, Klipsch C-3, Optimus LX-5IIs, a Yamaha YST-SW205 Powered Subwoofer, and additional speakers, in both matched/mismatched setups.

Comparison DVD players included a Samsung DVD-HD931 (DVI Output Comparison), KISS DP-470, JVC XV-NP10S.

DVD-Rs/DVD+RWs were made on a Sony RDR-HX900 and Philips DVDR985.

Cables used included Accell and Cobalt Interconnect cables.

Setup - DVD/CD's

DVDs used included: Kill Bill - Vol1, Pirates Of The Caribbean, Chicago, House Of The Flying Daggers, Underworld, Passionada, Moulin Rouge, ED Wood, and The Mummy, DVD-R/DVD+RW recorded content.

CDs included: HEART - Dreamboat Annie, Nora Jones: Come Away With Me, Lisa Loeb: Firecracker (HDCD), Blue Man Group The Complex, Telarc: 1812 Overture. DTS and DVD-Audio discs included: Queen: Night At The Opera/The Game, Eagles: Hotel California , Sheila Nicholls: Wake. Also included: The Corrs: In Blue (Dolby Digital). Content on CD-R/RWs were also used.

Proceed to Page 2 - Testing and Conclusion