The Bottom Line
If you are looking for a new DVD player to use with an HDTV or Video Projector, and surround sound system, make sure you check this one out. The OPPO DV980H is an excellent all-around DVD/CD/SACD/DVD-Audio player, and is priced less than $170.
Pros
- Plays almost all video and audio disc formats - excellent performance.
- HDMI output with 720p,1080i, and 1080p upscaling options.
- 480i (NTSC) and 576i (PAL) output via HDMI available for use with external video scalers.
- DVD-Audio and SACD playback with 5.1 channel analog audio outputs or via HDMI.
- Excellent easy-to-read user manual
Cons
- Limited controls on unit itself.
- No separate DVI-HDCP output.
- Remote control not backlit.
- NTSC/PAL conversion only works on non-region coded discs in out-of-box operation
Description
- DVD player with DVD-Video/Audio, SACD, DVD+R/RW/-R/-RW, Divx/MPEG4, CD/CDR/CDRW/CD-MP3/HDCD and CD-JPEG playback.
- DVD Upscaling to 720p, 1080i, and 1080p through HDMI output (adaptable to DVI-HDCP). HDMI connection cable provided.
- Component video (progressive and interlaced) outputs; S-video and standard composite video outputs.
- Front panel USB input for playback of digital music and still image files.
- Digital optical, digital coaxial, and two sets of analog audio outputs (2-channel and 5.1 Channel).
- Supports Dolby Digital and DTS pass-through; built-in Dolby Digital and DTS decoders included for 5.1 channel direct output.
- DVD-Audio and SACD accessible by both 5.1 channel analog and HDMI outputs.
- On-board adjustments for Sharpness/Contrast/Brightness/Saturation.
- Switchable NTSC/PAL output - automatic PAL/NTSC bi-directional conversion.
- Wireless remote control. Easy-to-use onscreen menus.
Guide Review - OPPO Digital DV-980H DVD Player with HDMI and SACD/DVD-Audio
The OPPO DV-980H was easy to set up and use. The user manual illustrates several connection scenarios, based on the type of television or audio system to be used.Overall functionality was excellent. The DV-980H easily played commercial DVDs, several DVD-R/DVD+RW discs, as well as a selection of SACD/DVD-Audio/CD/CDR/RW discs, and also a Divx disc.
In terms of video performance, the component video connections produced good 480p quality, while the HDMI output produced excellent 1080p video upscaling.
Using HDMI and both the 720p, 1080i, and 1080p output settings in conjunction with a Syntax LT-32HV 32-inch LCD TV with native 720p display capability, Samsung LN-R238W 23-inch 720p LCD TV, and a Westinghouse Digital LVM-37w3 1080p LCD Monitor, and using the Silicon Optix HQV Benchmark DVD, the DV-980H produced excellent results in terms of detail, color, motion tracking, video noise reduction, and most frame cadence detection, but did not do as well on moire pattern detection and elimination, also exhibited some jitter on video titles over film sequences. However, overall video quality was excellent.
Audio performance of the DV-980H was excellent. Dolby Digital/DTS surround sound options worked well, with excellent imaging. CD, DVD-Audio, and SACD playback audio reproduction was excellent good and I did not sense any shortcomings that could be attributed to the DV-980H. NOTE: DVD-Audio and SACD playback can be accessed by either the 5.1 Channel analog or HDMI outputs (provided you have an AV receiver with HDMI 1.2 input capability).
There were no real disappointments with the DV-980H, the negatives, as listed above, were minor in comparison with the positives of this unit.
Once again, OPPO has succeeded in delivering combining high performance with great value. I give the OPPO Digital DV-980H a rating 4.5 out of 5.
