Oppo 981/983 vs. Toshiba HD-DVD for watching non-HD titles

PaulFolbrecht · « **on:** 21 Jan 2008, 09:05 pm »

Time for a new player for me. I think HD-DVD will die, but if I had a player I'd rent them for now.

What I really care about, though, is upsampling abilities for standard DVD.

So, am I better off with the Oppo (981 or wait for 983) or the Toshiba HD-DVD for around $200 that upsamples to 1080p?

TV is a 60" Pioneer plasma that does 1010p.

Thanks!

zybar · « **Reply #1 on:** 21 Jan 2008, 09:11 pm »

Quote from: PaulFolbrecht on 21 Jan 2008, 09:05 pm

Time for a new player for me. I think HD-DVD will die, but if I had a player I'd rent them for now.

What I really care about, though, is upsampling abilities for standard DVD.

So, am I better off with the Oppo (981 or wait for 983) or the Toshiba HD-DVD for around $200 that upsamples to 1080p?

TV is a 60" Pioneer plasma that does 1010p.

Thanks!

I haven't found any of the BluRay or HD players capable of beating the Oppo for SD DVD's.

I currently have the Samsung BPD 1400 and Toshiba A3 and A35, as well as an older Oppo 971H and the newer Oppo 981.

My findings pretty much mirror what the test results over at www.hometheaterhifi show.

George

Toka · « **Reply #2 on:** 21 Jan 2008, 09:20 pm »

Agreed. The newest Oppo "should" be out in about a month or so, but if you can't wait either of the current models will do you more than fine. Just depends on what kind of display you use.

PaulFolbrecht · « **Reply #3 on:** 21 Jan 2008, 09:47 pm »

Thanks. Oppo it will be. I can wait for the 983 but I hope it's closer to 1 month than 2!

That big, shiny, huge new Pioneer looks good even with 720i but not THAT good.

Parnelli777 · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Jan 2008, 01:10 am »

Just a heads-up regarding the Oppo 981. I have the 981 and use it with a Panasonic TH-50PX600U. As good as the Oppo is, and its very good most of the time, it offers up serious macro-blocking issues with my plasma because of the Faroudja chipset. I of course do not know if it will play nicer with your Pioneer, and I cannot speak to the 983.

Sonny · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Jan 2008, 01:24 am »

Quote from: Toka on 21 Jan 2008, 09:20 pm

Agreed. The newest Oppo "should" be out in about a month or so, but if you can't wait either of the current models will do you more than fine. Just depends on what kind of display you use.

What's the 983 about???
how does that differ from the 981?
Thanks in advance!

sac8d4 · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Jan 2008, 02:45 am »

The 983 will utilize an ABT 102 for deinterlacing and a ABT 1018 for scaling all for around 350-400. You can also read all about the 983 over at http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=905400