On Oppo's website at Comparison Between 970HD and 971H there is a side-byside feature comparison chart.

At Oppo 971H and Oppo 970HD they list the specs for each of them.

I guess one would go with the 971 if not concerned about SACD and DVD-A playing on their Oppo and choose 970 if wanting to play them. Still, there seem to be some unanswered question in the comparison chart for both.

Distilling it down. it seems that if you want the better versatility in video and better picture (unless I'm misreading, and please correct me if I am), you would want the 971. If more interested in the DVD-A/SACD go with 970
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Living Room:
5.1 Surround and 4channel inline room
990/7700/6-KEF-107s/LFM1 x 2/ SMS Awaiting Trinnov
Millenium dts decoder;Digital Director
Players: Tascam CD01U/SonyCX455 x 3/DV955/BDP83
Old Sony 60" SXRD TV
Zone 2 (also liv-Room: listening to music while Mrs watches TV): Crown SL2 preamp/D40 Amp/Stax Headphones



My "Man-cave":
4 channel-only inline room. No TV (thank heaven)!!!
990/755/4-KEF 107s
Tascam CD01U/dts decoder/digital director
Alesis 16x4x2 mixer
Recorders Alesis HD24/ML9600/Crown CX844s/SonyDAT/Tascam DA38
Ham Radio Shack (KB1STH) ICOM/Yaesu/Drakes x 3