From Robert Silva,
Your Guide to Home Theater.
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The OPPO DV-980H is a feature-packed DVD player that delivers what it promises. HDMI connectivity and upscaling enables the DV980H to deliver an excellent picture on an HDTV. In addition, other features, such as SACD, DVD-Audio, and Divx playback, as well as a front mounted USB port for importing images and sound from flash drives, add great audio and video flexibility.

If you are looking for a new DVD player, whether to use with that new flat panel HDTV and surround sound system, make sure you check this one out. The OPPO DV980H is one of the best DVD players out there, and is priced less than $170.

OPPO DV-980H - Product Overview

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

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

3. Front panel USB input for playback of digital music and still image files.

4. Composite, S-Video, and Component Video outputs are included.

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

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

7. DVD-Audio and SACD accessibility by both 5.1 Channel Analog and HDMI outputs.

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

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

10. Wireless remote control is included. The remote works in conjunction with Easy-to-use onscreen menus.

Overview of the HDMI Output

HDMI stands for High Definition Multi-media Interface. To transfer the 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 DV980H has the ability, with its HDMI 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 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 DV980H to either feed the digital video signal as either 720p, 1080i, or 1080p (in addition to 480p) to your television.

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.

1080p represents the same pixel resolution as 1080i, however, the lines are displayed progressively, rather than alternately, providing a better visual look. Check out more details on 1080p.

The Practical Side Of Video Upscaling

The capability of the Oppo DV980H to output a video signal in 720p, 1080i, or 1080p format 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 DV980H is not a true high-definition DVD player, it is considered HD-Compatible and bridges the gap between standard DVD quality and true high definition viewing.

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, 1080i, or 1080p, 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

Home Theater Receivers: Pioneer Elite VSX-91TXH and Onkyo TX-SR875 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receivers - using 5.1 channel mode (On loan from Pioneer and Onkyo), Yamaha HTR-5490 (6.1 Channels)

DVD players: OPPO Digital DV-981HD DVD/SACD/DVD-Audio Player, Helios H4000, and Samsung DVD-HD931.

Also used, a Toshiba HD-XA1 HD-DVD player, and Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray Player, playing standard DVDs in 720p, 1080i, and 1080p upscaling modes (Note: Toshiba HD-XA1 720p and 1080i upscaling only).

DVD-Rs/DVD+RWs used were made using: Sony RDR-HX900.

CD-Only Players (for CD playback comparison): Denon DCM-370 and Technics SL-PD888 5-Disc Changers.

Loudspeaker - System #1: 2 Klipsch B-3s, Klipsch C-2 Center , 2 Polk R300s.

Loudspeaker - System #2: Klipsch Quintet III 5-channel speaker system.

Loudspeaker - System #3: 2 JBL Balboa 30's, JBL Balboa Center Channel, 2 JBL Venue Series 5-inch Monitor speakers.

Loudspeaker System #4: Cerwin Vega CVHD 5.1 Channel Speaker System (On loan from Cerwin Vega.

Loudspeaker System #5: Infinity TSS 3-in-1 (L,C,R), two SAT-750 surrounds, and TSS-SUB750 Subwoofer (On review loan from Infinity)

Powered Subwoofers used: Klipsch Synergy Sub10 - used with Systems 1 and 2. and Yamaha YST-SW205 - used with System 3, and the 12-inch Powered Subwoofer provided with the Cerwin Vega System.

TV/Monitors: A Westinghouse Digital LVM-37w3 1080p LCD Monitor, Syntax LT-32HV 32-inch LCD TV, and Samsung LN-R238W 23-inch LCD TV.

All Displays were calibrated using SpyderTV Software.

Audio/Video connections were made with Accell, Cobalt, and AR Interconnect cables.

16 Gauge Speaker Wire was used in all setups.

Level checks for speaker setups were done using a Radio Shack Sound Level Meter

Software Used

Standard DVDs used included scenes from the following: House of the Flying Daggers, Serenity, The Cave, Kill Bill - Vol1/2, V For Vendetta, U571, Lord of Rings Trilogy, Master and Commander, and Death Proof.

In addition, the DVD, Blu-ray, and HD-DVD versions of the Italian Job were used to compare the same film in all three formats.

For audio only, various CDs included: HEART - Dreamboat Annie, Nora Jones - Come Away With Me, Lisa Loeb - Firecracker, Blue Man Group - The Complex, Eric Kunzel - 1812 Overture, Joshua Bell - Bernstein - West Side Story Suite.

DVD-Audio discs included: Queen - Night At The Opera/The Game, Eagles - Hotel California, and Medeski, Martin, and Wood - Uninvisible, Sheila Nicholls - Wake.

SACD discs used included: Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon, Steely Dan - Gaucho, The Who - Tommy.

Content on CD-R/RWs was also used.

Proceed to Page 2 - Evaluation, and Final Take