I have an old oppo DVD 980 which at the time boasted great audio output. Since then I have intalled an olive musica as my server and 2 channel CD player.

The sound on that is great for 2channel.

My opppo in comparison has left me wanting. I seem to be happy with the DVD audio when watching Video but the 7.1 analog output leaves much to be desired. Thin Bass and not the best sound. This is because I have been collecting SACD and DVD-A's the last few years and want to play them for all their glory.

Im resigned that I need an upgrade. The oppo 83 with promised audio seemed like a good choice until of course the 83SE presented itself. I thougt it would make a nice holiday present but low and behold they new 93 is out and the 83SE discontinued.

My question is would the new 93 audio be equal at least to the new 93? I have read Oppo will replace the 83SE with a whole new line at a later date.

I stayed with DVD as Im happy with its video performance. I loved the inexpensve model opppo had with its players as I could upgrade for a small amount while the formats changed. I think Blue Ray will go away soon enough and we just stream our movies via internet soon enough. Ideas and thoughts?

The 980H was pretty darn good on audio, especially for a $170 DVD player, but it was also just a $170 DVD player. The Musica retailed for $1,100 and was a dedicated two-channel product, so it's inevitable that the analog audio performance of the 980H sounds a bit lacking in comparison.

The BDP-80 used a similar analog section to the 980H. To varying degrees, every other OPPO Blu-ray player will exceed the 980H's performance. The BDP-83 was a significant step up from the 980H (rivaling or exceeding the analog performance of my Onkyo PR-SC885 even with the 885 benefiting from Audyssey), and the BDP-93 is if anything a bit better than the BDP-83. The BDP-83SE is due to be replaced by the BDP-95 in the near future (next month or two). I haven't heard the BDP-95 and don't know when/if I will get to, but the BDP-83SE is a very, very good player that will soon replace the 980H in my dedicated two-channel system. I don't know how they all relate to the Musica (since I've never heard it), but I suspect the 83 and 93 will compare very favorably and I wouldn't be surprised if the 83SE and 95 could match or beat it.

As for the notion of Blu-ray being superceded by streaming, my experience with streaming so far makes me think that Blu-ray should be around for while to come (as will DVD). There's the convenience and direct personal control over physical media (no need to wade through the growing medley of streaming services or worry that the one you picked will go out of business in a year or two), but even more notably there's the quality benefit inherent in being able to spread a movie across 50GB of disc space. Streaming may be a great tool for certain things (watching old TV shows being one of the biggest successes that Netflix's service has had, for example), but it doesn't yet match Blu-ray. There's also the audio benefit to Blu-ray. It has given artists a way to deliver lossless high resolution audio (either stereo or multichannel) at a quality equal to SACD and DVD-Audio, but on a format that doesn't have the stigma of being restricted to a niche market. I question the long-term viability of 3D (mostly because of how badly the industry has dealt with standards for 3D displays) but I think otherwise Blu-ray has a lot of long-term potential.

I certainly like my BPP-83's audio performance for both SACD and CD. I upgraded from the 980H soon after the BDP-83 became available and haven't looked back. My 980H will be incorporated into a stereo setup in the near future but I will use a Cambridge Audio DACMagic versus the DAC in the 980H. I never had a chance to hear the 83SE but the audio components were considered top notch. I'd certainly defer to Gonk based upon all the testing he's done with Oppo.

Before chiming in I went to the Oppo site and was surprised they currently are not selling any players. The 95 is not out yet, the 83 has been discontinued and the 80 is out of production due to parts issues. I'd be frustrated if I was looking to buy a player right now!

Gonk eluded to Blu-ray for high resolution stereo and I think that would be great but high res stereo seems to be most easily had by downloading it. I have not been all that impressed by the selection at most of the high res music sites but that could be just my taste in music. Looking at the hi res catalogs reminds me of a SACD catalog; lots of classical and hardly any mainstream artists. The music must have an audience, its just not me. I'm probably mistaken but I don't think I've ever seen an audio only Blu-ray (either multi-channel or stereo). Are there any?

The BDP-80, BDP-83, and BDP-83SE have all been sold out due to a supplier discontinuing a key component. Rather than re-tool, they just started pushing a little harder on the BDP-93. A couple weeks ago, they started offering the BDP-93 to some customers on the interest list, with the understanding that firmware development was still ongoing - the 30-day evaluation period will start when production firmware is done and the player goes on sale through the site. Technically, I could probably start talking a lot more about the BDP-93 now (at least anything that's in the latest firmware that available to customers), but I haven't had much time lately...


There are some, actually. There are also some that are "audio-centric" with some limited video. A lot of what's out there is concert stuff, which has an obvious video aspect. Some is not, including the latest Tom Petty studio album and a collection of all Neil Young's albums from 1963-1972. Taking away the concert releases, though, most of what's out there is similar to the SACD catalog - small labels like 2L, who has started releasing almost exclusively on Blu-ray and SACD, and releases that are heavy on classical content.

Its good to hear oppo is selling the BDP-93. I recall oppo did the same sort of a phased release with the BDP-83. I got mine in the first bunch that was in final form. I see the BDP-93 is not using ABT video processing. Is there a reason they switched to Qdeo (not heard of this company)?

Hey, maybe Tom Petty and Neil Young can get others to follow them! I'll have to check out these releases. Thanks!

Marvell's Qdeo technology offers some things that ABT's 2010 and 2015 (the newer iteration of the 2010) does not, particularly with noise reduction. Since the 93 has added streaming functions (which can benefit from NR), the Marvell technology has the potential to be a better choice. The earlier Marvell chip has also been very positively received in the handful of products it's been used in, and the new one that the 93 is using is said to be even better - it should end up being a lateral move or upgrade for disc playback and a nice plus for streaming content.

Gonk, Yes for $170 the player was great!!! No complaints! I think I spent as much or more from bluejeans on analog cables for it!!!

But like I said the Olive has raised the bar.

SACD listening is really the most critical I do so the old 980 needs to make the march to the basement system where old faithful components go and continue! At the time it replaced a 5 year old sony unit that was doing double duty for a while and worked just fine with the uber heavy Loewe Aconda.

I always thought Oppo would continue inexpensive players even if it went up incrementally and have something to replace every 18mos without much thought. I was really waiting for the bugs to get worked out on the 83, then the SE came and I was planning on buying it but low and behold its gone. Used market prices are crazy now on the unit.

A $500 player is no problem but an $899 player to me is a bit of a stretch considering how fast these things become obsolete. THat could have been my procrastinatin along with a home restoration on top lifes other things. My core system of outlaw components still is ok in my book even if the 990 lacks hdmi and other trickery. For the money it could not be beat. My gauge is really "am I happy" not what is available. So a $899 player represents a quantum leap IM not sure I want to take. At $499 I can do, and if in three or so years another one trumps it and the maybe 83se, then its progress and it only costs $99 over just getting an 83se.

I guess if the 93 is a big step up for me than I should be happy. I am streaming Netflix on a Ruku and have thought about sending it also to the basement and given the new 93 model has it built in it streamlines the process. I'd say Netflix streaming is becoming more beneficial and while they say its a few years to replacing discs, they are offering more content. I suppose they will keep raising the price and perhaps offer a premium service to get current offerings on it. The 93 having this with thought of its performance is a major plus.

I can only assume the 95 will cost $899 or more. Not to say its not worth it but my SACD listening is not that frequent enough to do this.

By the way the Olive products are quite good and the freedom to not have cd's around is really excellent. THe benefits of ipod but with excellent reproduction!

Bottom line is that is sounds great and we listen to more music. The internet streaming and ability to pull in higher bit rate stations is really excellent. While I don't buy as much music as I used to, we are getting great variety.

I don't really buy DVD's or blue-rays and have yet to have a blue ray machine. I am happy with DVD on my 58 panny plasma and like to look forward to having new technology when it becomes mainstream. Perhaps its time now.

The oppos are great value products and my next purchase will be my third! Outlaw and Oppo have a nice "For the money" factor that is imortant to me. Im perfectly content to be state of the art 3 years after the fact.

The BDP-80 served as a Blu-ray successor to the 980H, with a price of $290 or so. At the moment, I've heard of no plans to return to that niche in the immediate future.

One problem they face is competition: OPPO can't compete at the entry level with Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, LG, and the others that can offer a Blu-ray player for $100 or $200. If they tried, something would have to give - either quality of product, customer service, or a bit of both.

Another problem is perception: were OPPO's DVD players really "inexpensive"? The 971H certainly seemed that way in early 2005 when it was $200. By the time your 980H arrived in mid-2007 at $170, though, the typical DVD player from Panasonic or Sony cost $75 to $100. That's roughly half of what the 980H cost - and closer to a third of the price of the 981HD. (I won't even mention how the 983H factored in to that equation when it arrived in early 2008.) The loyal following they developed was partly because of how well they compared to a Yamaha, Denon, Marantz, or Pioneer Elite player that would have cost anywhere from $400 to $2,000 (or more), not how they compared on price to the "average" DVD player of the day. Now we have Blu-ray players, and the $500 price tag for the BDP-83 and BDP-93 seems huge compared to the $200 Sony and Panasonic offerings. In contrast, though, Denon has only just started offering full-featured BD players for under $1,000 this year - and many have attributed that move directly to pressure produced by the BDP-83. (I think they would have ended up there anyway, but I'm sure the BDP-83 became part of the discussion along the way.)

I think the BDP-95 is going to end up selling for around $950. That's a whole lot of money, but the design (Marvell video processor, dual HDMI outputs, high-end ESS DAC's, RCA and XLR stereo analog outputs, fancy power supply, etc.) is likely to place it in direct competition against players costing anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000+.

The value is there. For what they pack they are very much bargains.

I guess I thought they were so inexpensive is because of of what they did. Universal players with analog outputs are still very high cost, and a small market to boot.

I tend to not really get too much into spec's and too far into the hi-fi world as its a dangerous slope. One woofer turns to two, then a SMS-1 to balance them. What to do with the old recievers that are now in the workshop? But Bass Shakers for the couch!! $1000 in blue jeans cable! Power conditioners.........Ruku's, Olives......Its does not stop!!!!!! The fun that is!

Think I'll just settle on the 93, lower my Netflix to two movies out instead of three but raise the subscription to BlueRay discs and enjoy better quality on the Streaming over all. My Sacd's will be better and one less black box in the BDI unit!

Gonk, I come and go around here for the last 5 or so years. You do great work btw! We have many similar equipment and I do buy based on knowledge you have provided. Thanks again!

It seems to me the BDP-95 features line up with the needs of someone who uses their setup for both music and HT and they have an older receiver or pre/pro. That is pretty much why I bought the BDP-83 and successive generations of oppo players have improved the audio and video components. Not to sidetrack this thread but looking at the BDP-95 features and those of Outlaws 978/998 there appears to be a lot of overlap such as high quality DACs, dual HDMI outputs, top notch video processing, etc. If someone intends to purchase a 978 (or they already have a current generation receiver or pre/pro) what is the best fit from oppo's offerings?

If you are getting the 978, I'd think the BDP-93 would be the way to go. The BDP-95's upgrades are going to have the biggest pay-off if you are using an older processor (Model 990, Model 970, Model 950, or something like an Anthem AVM20 or AVM30) or if you are using it in a two-channel analog system (either by itself or in conjunction with a surround setup).

Since the Oppo BDP-93 has been delivered to some people (including the Beta testers), has Pandora compatibility been included? If so, how does it work in terms of (i) seemlessly accessing the Pandora site (I am assuming without a computer and using your TV) and (ii) audio quality (MP3 that is possibly even further degraded and/or compressed given the internet medium or possibly something else). If Pandora is not currently campatible, but is still planned, does anyone (probably Gonk) have any ideas how it will be implemented?

Same questions for NetFlix (e.g. seamless integration and sound quality).

In case it matters, the sound would be going through my Outlaw 990 (and possibly the 978 or 998 in the future).

Thanks in advance.

Ed

The current firmware doesn't include Pandora. My understanding is that they have some additional streaming services planned for eventual inclusion, but I don't know which services are on that list, when they will appear, or what the interface will look like. Even if I knew, NDA would prevent me from saying anything until Pandora was officially confirmed by OPPO or it was available on public firmware. It will most likely appear in the "Internet" group under the Home Menu when/if it does appear, and selecting it would basically load a Pandora "app" that would take over from there.

From what I've been told, Netflix maintains a pretty tight control over the interface offered for their streaming service. That means that it functions much like Netflix on other BD players. You pick "Netflix" from the home menu, and you enter the Netflix software. The testing I've done has been with a mix of "SD" and "HD" programs. What I've seen and heard is DD stereo combined with picture quality that can at times (mainly with "HD" programs) rival a pretty respectable DVD transfer. The Marvell QDEO seems to be working well with wringing as much as possible from those sources. For convenience, it's a handy thing to have, but I still feel the same way I did six months ago: for serious movie watching or music listening, streaming doesn't cut it yet.



It doesn't matter - the limiting factor here is the streaming source. With the 990, you might want to keep a coaxial or optical connection in place so you can use PLIIx or similar surround processing for stereo streaming sources. With the 978 or 998, HDMI should handle it just fine.