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OPPO Digital DV-970HD DVD Player with HDMI output and SACD/DVD-Audio Playback - Front
OPPO Digital DV-970HD DVD Player with HDMI output and SACD/DVD-Audio Playback - Front
Photo (c) OPPO Digital
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OPPO Digital DV-970HD DVD Player with HDMI output and SACD/DVD-Audio Playback

From Robert Silva,
Your Guide to Home Theater.
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Guide Rating - rating

The Bottom Line

The OPPO DV-970HD is a feature-packed DVD player that delivers what it promises. HDMI connectivity and upscaling enables the 970HD to deliver an excellent picture on an HDTV. In addition, other features, such as DVD-Audio, SACD, and Divx playback add great audio and video flexibility. If you are looking for a new DVD player to use with that new flat panel HDTV and surround sound system, make sure you check this one out. The OPPO DV970HD is one excellent, well-rounded, DVD player for $150.
Pros
  • Plays almost all video and audio disc formats.
  • HDMI output with 720p and 1080i upscaling options.
  • DVD-Audio and SACD playback via 5.1 channel analog audio outputs.
  • On-board video adjustments and audio adjustments.
  • Excellent styling, easy to set up and use.
Cons
  • Inconsistent DVI-HDCP compatibility when using HDMI-to-DVI adapter.
  • No separate DVI-HDCP output.
  • Remote control not backlit.
  • NTSC/PAL conversion only works on non-region coded discs in out-of-box operation.
  • Limited controls on unit itself.

Description

  • DVD player with DVD-Video/Audio, SACD, DVD+R/RW/-R/-RW, Divx, CD/CDR/CDRW/CD-MP3/HDCD/JPEG playback.
  • Upscaling to 720p and 1080i through HDMI output (adaptable to DVI-HDCP). HDMI cable provided.
  • 480i output accessible via HDMI for use with external video scaler.
  • Component video (progressive and interlaced) 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).
  • Dolby Digital/DTS pass-through; built-in Dolby Digital/DTS decoders for 5.1 channel direct output.
  • On-board Virtual Surround Processing. Audio-only mode available for CD/SACDs.
  • On-board adjustments for Sharpness/Contrast/Brightness/Saturation.
  • Switchable NTSC/PAL output - automatic PAL/NTSC bi-directional conversion.
  • Built-in Digital Camera Card Reader. Wireless remote control. Easy-to-use onscreen menus.

Guide Review - OPPO Digital DV-970HD DVD Player with HDMI output and SACD/DVD-Audio Playback

The DV970HD was easy to set up and use. The owner's manual illustrates several connection scenarios, based on the type of television or audio system used.

Functionality was excellent. The DV970HD 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.

Video performance depended on the type of connection used, but was very good for each type of connection, with HDMI producing the best results. One shortcoming, in terms of video, was some inconsistency in HDMI-to-DVI adaptability; I hope this glitch can be corrected with an additional firmware upgrade.

Using HDMI and the 720p setting in conjunction with a 720p native resolution flat panel television with HDMI interface, and using the Silicon Optix HQV Benchmark DVD as a reference, the DV970HD 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 DV970HD to be very pleasing.

Audio performance of the DV970HD was also very good. Dolby Digital/DTS surround sound options worked well, with excellent imaging. The big surprise was the inclusion of DVD-Audio and SACD playback capability. The audio reproduction of the DVD-Audio and SACD formats was very good and I did not sense any shortcomings that could be attributed to the DV970HD.
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