[Quiet Earth]

I own an Oppo BDP-83 that is almost 1 year old. It does a fantastic job of upsampling DVDs to 1080i and 1080p, but it can not play a blu ray disc for more than 20 minutes without crashing like a cheap computer. Once the player crashes, the freezing and stuttering gets progressively worse. Most of the time I can't even finish the movie.

I have updated the firmware in my BDP-83 many times but the problem persists like a bad case of Windows 98. I want to send the player back to the manufacturer for repair while it is still under warranty, but I noticed that the warranty clearly states : "OPPO Digital, Inc. does not warrant uninterrupted or error-free operation of the product." I think I know what to expect if I try to send it in . . . . .    I don't wanna play that game, I just want to watch an occasional movie.

Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone knows of a blu ray player that can actually play a blu ray disc in its entirety without crashing or freezing up? It doesn't have to be the best looking blu ray player, it just has to work as intended. Is this asking too much? Or is this just the nature of Blu Ray technology, with the hardware always running behind the software?

[Phil A]

You just have a defective unit.  I had problems with a BDP-83 (just like yours - probably have pictures of the problems somewhere).  I have a modded one now and I've not even updated the firmware in well over a year (probably have Sept. 2009 firmware) and it has never failed to play a movie.  I have a BDP-93 in the bedroom system but have only watched 20 movies on it and have never had a problem.

[bpape]

I have 2 BDP-83's and my inlaws have one too.  Never a hint of a problem with any of them.

Bryan

[Quiet Earth]

Thanks Phil. A couple of questions if you don't mind :

1. If I just have a defective unit, are you saying that this kind of problem is uncommon amongst blu ray players (and blu ray discs) in general?

2. How much money did you have to spend to get your BDP-83 capable of playing blu ray discs? Or did Oppo "fix" it for free with no questions asked?

[Quiet Earth]

Thanks bpape. I know there is a great love of Oppo on this site. That's why I bought one. I just wish I could get mine to work.

[bpape]

Has it done that from day 1 or was OK and just has been getting worse?

Bryan

[Quiet Earth]

It has been getting progressively worse I think, but since it has never played a disc without freezing at least once, I don't really know how much worse. Also, since blu rays themselves have been changing (software and features), I don't remember which discs worked better than other discs.

It seems like a moving target. Hard for me to troubleshoot.

[golfugh]

Contact Oppo, they are "very" good with fixing problems.  You will most likely have to send the player to them, but they have even repaired mod'd players out of warranty for nothing.

[Quiet Earth]

Thanks guys. I sent an email to Oppo. If they can fix it for free and the shipping doesn't get out of hand, I'll give it a try. If not, I'll just stick to DVDs.

I guess video is just not my bag. Never had much luck with it.

[BrysTony]

I had a Sony Blu Ray player and now have the Oppo BDP-95.  I play Blu Ray discs almost exclusively and have never had a problem with either player.  The problem you describe indicates a defective player and it is more than "...uninterrupted or error-free operation of the product."  Oppo should take care of you.

Tony

[Quiet Earth]

Thanks. We shall find out shortly I hope.

I had been putting up with the problem because all of the tech support (and support forums) I have read claim that firmware is not keeping up with the ever changing software. A few friends have had similar issues with other brand players, so I thought that this was just the way it is with blu ray.

I will send it back if it doesn't cost too much.

[Phil A]

Thanks Phil. A couple of questions if you don't mind :

1. If I just have a defective unit, are you saying that this kind of problem is uncommon amongst blu ray players (and blu ray discs) in general?

2. How much money did you have to spend to get your BDP-83 capable of playing blu ray discs? Or did Oppo "fix" it for free with no questions asked?

I had one modded and got it back with a different problem (multi-channel analog outs and then wouldn't power on when I got it back).  I sent it back to the modder a couple of times and got a new replacement one from the modder with the problems.  He opened back-up the original one and all that was needed was a pair of pliers to tighted around the power switch inside.  If it is under warranty it would be free.  I've only called customer service at Oppo once many moons ago with a question and found them quite good.  Everything ever made will break.  Good customer service is what makes the difference.  The one would the problem would freeze will green line patterns.  So I did not have to deal with the problem. 

With DVD players and Blu-Ray players (and I have 5 of them - modded BDP-83, BDP-93, PS3, Samsung 2500 and Sony BDP-BX37) you may get an occasional problem playing a disc.  Oppo supports better than most (among the best) with firmware fixes.

[punkaroo]

Here's my vote for the Oppo BDP-83. Love it.

[Quiet Earth]

Just a quick follow up -

I exchanged a couple of emails with Oppo's customer service this afternoon (on a Sunday!) and now I have a pre-paid return label to ship my player back for repair. It's all boxed up and ready to go to the UPS drop off location  tomorrow morning (Monday). That's got to be the quickest customer service that I have ever experienced. I am optimistic now, to say the least. 

Thanks again to everyone for the feedback and encouragement. Have a good week!

QE

[punkaroo]

Oppo's customer service is fantastic. I was having serious problems with a reseller who wasn't getting back to me after I paid him (sketchy, right?). I called, complained. They called HIM, and let's say he got back to me right quick

[Phil A]

Oppo's customer service is fantastic. I was having serious problems with a reseller who wasn't getting back to me after I paid him (sketchy, right?). I called, complained. They called HIM, and let's say he got back to me right quick

Everything that has ever been made will break at one point.  The thing that separates great customer service and great companies is how they handle the problems.  Great story.