From Robert Silva,
Your Guide to Home Theater.
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The OPPO DV-970HD is a DVD player that will upconvert signal output to either 720p/1080i via its HDMI output. If you own an HD-compatible TV with HDMI (or DVI) input, you can watch DVDs in higher resolution. This works well with Plasma/LCD monitors and DLP video projectors. This unit has all video outputs and features you would expect, and then some, including: CD/CDR/CDRW/MP3/JPG playback and the addition of DVD-Audio, SACD, and DIVX playback. For more details, keep on reading...

Product Overview

1. DVD-Video/Audio, SACD, DVD+R/RW/-R/-RW, Divx/MPEG4, CD/CDR/CDRW/CD-MP3/HDCD and CD-JPEG playback. Built-in digital card reader and USB port.

2. DVD Upscaling (720p and 1080i) via HDMI output (adaptable to DVI-HDCP). HDMI cable provided.

3. 480i output accessible via HDMI for use with external video scaler.

4. Component (progressive and interlaced) outputs; S-video and standard composite video outputs.

5. Digital optical and coaxial outputs. Two sets of analog audio outputs (2-channel and 5.1 Channel).

6. Dolby Digital and DTS pass-through; built-in Dolby Digital and DTS decoders included for 5.1 channel direct output.

7. On-board Virtual Surround Processing. Audio-only mode offered to bypass video processing effects when audio-only is desired.

8. Adjustments for Sharpness/Contrast/Brightness/Saturation.

9. Switchable NTSC/PAL output - Automatic PAL/NTSC bi-directional conversion.

10 A Wireless remote control is included for use with onscreen menus.

Overview of the HDMI Output

HDMI stands for High Definition Multi-media Interface. To transfer a digital video signal from a standard DVD player to a TV, the DVD player must convert the signal from digital to analog, this results in some information loss.

Get a closer look at an HDMI connector.

However, the Oppo DV-970HD has the ability, with HDMI output, to transfer the DVD's digital video signal directly, without conversion to analog. This results in pure transfer of all of video information from the DVD to an HDMI or DVI-HDCP (via a connection adapter) equipped TV. In addition, HDMI can transfer both video and audio signals.

Overview of Video Upscaling

You can enable the Oppo DV-970HD to 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 1,280 pixels displayed across the screen horizontally and 720 pixels down the screen vertically. This yields 720 horizontal lines on the screen, which are 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 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 Video Upscaling

The capability of the DV-970HD to output a signal in 720p or 1080i allows its 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; unless you purchase a HD-DVD or Blu-ray Player and view HD-DVD or Blu-ray Discs. Although the OPPO DV-970HD is not a true high-definition DVD player, it is considered HD-Compatible.

The upscaling 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 in the review of the OPPO DV-970HD DVD player included the following: A Yamaha HTR-5490 6.1 Channel AV receiver, Outlaw Audio Model 950 Preamp/Surround Processor paired with a Butler Audio 5150 5-channel power amplifier.

Video displays used: ASyntax LT-32HV 32-inch LCD TV, Samsung LN-R238W 23-inch LCD TV and an Optoma H56 Video Projector.

Comparison LCD TVs are HD-compatible with native 720p capability. The Samsung has an HDMI input; the Syntax has a DVI-HDCP input. The Syntax was connected to the Oppo DV-970HD via HDMI-to-DVI Connection adapter. Both units have progressive scan HD-Component inputs. The Optoma H56 projector has a native resolution of 1024x768, as was connected via Component to DVI-connection for 480p tests.

A variety of loudspeakers, including Klipsch B-3s, Klipsch C-3, Optimus LX-5IIs, a Yamaha YST-SW205 Powered Subwoofer, and additional speakers, in both matched and mismatched setups were used.

Comparison DVD players (with 720p/1080i upscaling) included , Samsung DVD-HD931 (DVI-HDCP output) and NeuNeo HVD-2085 (HD-component and HDMI output), as well as a Toshiba HD-XA1 HD-DVD player and a Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray Player using standard DVDs in 720p and 1080i upscaling modes.

DVD-Rs/DVD+RWs used were made using: Sony RDR-HX900, Philips DVDR985, and a Presidian PDR-3222.

Connections between components were made with Accell, Cobalt, and AR Interconnect cables.

Proceed to Page 2 - Software Used, Evaluation, and Final Take