[klh]

The specs have been released.

It starts shipping 12/08/06. Not a bad deal for $229.95. I just ordered mine . Not a bad stop gap considering my current DVD player is a Pioneer DV-O5. I also pre-ordered the JVC RS1 with Jason at AVS. Things are looking good. Getting a HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player won't do me much good right now since my Integrated is ancient. I'll just wait for a year or so and get a hi def player and receiver that both have HDMI 1.3. That way prices will be better and I'll be able to take advantage of the higher audio resolution formats. After that the oppo will find itself in the living room.

[ted_b]

So what does this have/do over the vaunted bargain upconverting 970HD?  It has the Faroudja/genesis chip, which is somewhat a double-edged sword (some things good, some things not so), it has 1080p (easy to say, tough to implement cleanly)) and it doesn't do 480i over HDMI (i.e it's not the digital transport that the 970 is), and no component out.   The proof is in the execution, which, to-date, Oppo has a pretty good record of doing.

[bubba966]

I find this a little surprising about the 981

No Component Video (YPbPr/YCbCr) on the DV-981HD model. This model is designed for use with a display device with HDMI or DVI digital video input.

Why would you make a player that doesn't have component video out?

[tvad4]

I find this a little surprising about the 981

No Component Video (YPbPr/YCbCr) on the DV-981HD model. This model is designed for use with a display device with HDMI or DVI digital video input.

Why would you make a player that doesn't have component video out?

How many HD (1080i or 1080p) TVs utilize component video? Perhaps this is a reason. Also, eliminating component outputs, if redundant and about to be "sunsetted" is a cost saving measure.

[klh]

I think the reality is they are trying to meet a price point and as such you can't have everything. The main draw for most people with this DVD player is the 1080p output, and the vast majority if people who want that use an HDMI cable. Component can be nice, but it isn't necessary. One can always get the 970 if that is important. The fact that it doesn't output 480i isn't that big a deal since almost everyone who gets this DVD player won't have an outboard VP... this DVD player is cheap, and why upgrade from the 970 if you don't want scaling done in the first place. You can't get everything with a DVD player this inexpensive, but it does have a lot of nice options. As for me, this is just a hold over for a year or so until HDMI 1.3 gets established in hi def players and receivers (i.e. prices go down).

[3beanlimit]

Nice player.  I haven't tested everything yet but I'd like to move on to SQ for DVD-A and SACD. My old player was a Pioneer 45-a.  The DVD-A in this one was really pretty nice. The SACD was so so. Not bad but could be better. 

The Oppo player...SACD is a lot better than my Pioneer but imho, the DVD-A could be better. It sounds a bit bright and brittle on the high end to these old ears.  Maybe it needs to break in.  We'll see.

[dave_c]

I find this a little surprising about the 981

No Component Video (YPbPr/YCbCr) on the DV-981HD model. This model is designed for use with a display device with HDMI or DVI digital video input.

Why would you make a player that doesn't have component video out?

Although the 971HD has component outs, they do not use the same processing as the DVI out.  Rather than have the added expense of additional connections and output, they just removed it.  I believe the 981 is geared towards users with HDTV's wanting high res through digital inputs.  I have it and like it quite a bit.