Oppo DV-981..What are the shortcomings?

[Luvin Da Blues]

I've been considering the DV-981 as well and had pretty much made up my mind on that unit. But now I'm wondering why I don't just spend a bit more and get a Toshiba HD-A2. Sure it could become obsolete and that's a downside. But what are the other reasons one would get a very good SD DVD player like the DV-981 versus a HD DVD (or Blu Ray)?

Cause I got more money than brains.

Actually I will buy the new format (when the format war is over) and move the OPPO to the bedroom or to my office system.

[lsilver]

You can get the Oppo for $230. You can get the Toshiba HD-A2 for $330. Granted that's not a 1080p HD DVD but I imagine there would still be a noticeable quality difference (on the right TV). Now that might still be too big of a price difference for some, but it's getting really close. Sure there's a 50/50 chance (without getting into an argument of which format is ahead) the HD DVD will be a brick at some point. And I would imagine the Oppo will be a bit more reliable than the Toshiba although my understanding is that many of the bugs with the A1 have been resolved.

I'm still leaning toward the Oppo but the price drop in the Toshiba coupled with increased reliability and more available titles has certainly made me pause.

[Luvin Da Blues]

You can get the Oppo for $230. You can get the Toshiba HD-A2 for $330. Granted that's not a 1080p HD DVD but I imagine there would still be a noticeable quality difference (on the right TV). Now that might still be too big of a price difference for some, but it's getting really close. Sure there's a 50/50 chance (without getting into an argument of which format is ahead) the HD DVD will be a brick at some point. And I would imagine the Oppo will be a bit more reliable than the Toshiba although my understanding is that many of the bugs with the A1 have been resolved.

I'm still leaning toward the Oppo but the price drop in the Toshiba coupled with increased reliability and more available titles has certainly made me pause.

I'm in Canada so the price for the OPPO is $260 Can and my fav. dealer lists the HD-A2 for $599 Can but I would imagine I could get it for around +/-$500Can...quite a big difference.

I'm needing a DVD player that will match my current setup in quality sooner than later.But I thank you for this.

[PeruvianSkies]

I'm in Canada so the price for the OPPO is $260 Can and my fav. dealer lists the HD-A2 for $599 Can but I would imagine I could get it for around +/-$500Can...quite a big difference.

I'm needing a DVD player that will match my current setup in quality sooner than later.But I thank you for this.

Don't let them talk you into an HD player just yet. That OPPO player will do just fine in the meantime until the war is over. There is little sense right now to jump on any format side and that player will definitely suffice in the meantime.

[Luvin Da Blues]

Don't let them talk you into an HD player just yet. That OPPO player will do just fine in the meantime until the war is over. There is little sense right now to jump on any format side and that player will definitely suffice in the meantime.

Thanks PS...I actually ordered one yesterday (with a excellent return policy). I'm sure it will out perform my old Denon DVD1000 that I find is not that terrible but not great either. Plus I wanted to get into SACDs and /or DVD-As.

By the way where is a good source OL to pick SACDs up?




Keep the noisy side facing you

[Robert-The-Rambler]

Thanks PS...I actually ordered one yesterday (with a excellent return policy). I'm sure it will out perform my old Denon DVD1000 that I find is not that terrible but not great either. Plus I wanted to get into SACDs and /or DVD-As.

By the way where is a good source OL to pick SACDs up?




Keep the noisy side facing you

CC has a great selection of just about as much as you can find for reasonable prices. From what I have seen so far it is obvious that DVD-Audio discs seem to have a higher production value and seem not only in sound quality to be a leap but presentation and added content a true leap forward. DVD-A always has a surround and stereo mix while SACD may only have a 2 channel mix.

[PeruvianSkies]

Ok, I need to address a few things:

First, Robert-the-Rambler....

If you are NOT noticing a difference between CD and SACD...then either you have one of the poorer SACD's out there, which there are some, or your equipment is not capable of discerning the difference as much.

Second, SACD is not nearly as difficult as DVD-A can be, so don't worry Rich.

Thirdly, there are a number of resources out there for SACD. I find eBay to be a great place to get them, plus alot of imports on there. Also, MusicDirect.com or Acousticsounds.com.

I also thought I would list a few SACD's that I have been very impressed with as well as some that are not-so-good.

THE GOOD:

Beck: Sea Change
Elton John: Any of them
Depeche Mode: Any of them (imports)
The Moody Blues (any of them, although they are not superb, but decent)
Any of the Mobile Fidelity titles.
Nine Inch Nails: Downward Spiral


THE BAD:

All of the Eric Claptons are pretty weak.
Dances with Wolves Soundtrack
O' Brother Where Art Thou Soundtrack
Some of the Telarc Classical discs
Most of the earlier SACD-only discs like the Michael Jackson

[Rich-n-Texas]

Don't let them talk you into an HD player just yet. That OPPO player will do just fine in the meantime until the war is over. There is little sense right now to jump on any format side and that player will definitely suffice in the meantime.

I agree with that. Some would say machines like this are okay for the interim, but the interim could last 3 - 5 years. I'm sure there'll be more vendors in this market soon, but the Oppo price and feature set make it very attractive.

On that end there really is nothing that I could complain about other than some SACDs are terrible and not really an improvement over their CD counterparts.

That remark concerns me though. My first foray into DVD-Audio netted me a bad disc, so I hope SACD isn't a hit or miss type of thing.