Oppo 103 Blu-ray Player Gets 3 Stars!
WHF is the most useless, pretentious, waffle filled mag I've bought. God knows who they're trying to impress, but from the perspective of a potential buyer, they're only use is for telling you what's out there. I'd rely on random dice rolling more than their reviews.
I have never understood this pretentious approach to reviewing technical equipment, where hi-fi stands are "confident performers" and players "lack rhythm". Inanimate objects confident??? Seriously? I'm sure they do it just to seem artsy and eloquent, to appear better than technical mags/sites.
I'd much prefer them to stick to quantifiable facts, rather than flights of fantasy fiction. As a result, I'd take the opinions of the experienced shop owner/user, over this mag any day of the week... as long as they didn't resort to the same misplaced use of language of course.
I fully intend to get a 103, to replace the piece of junk, (yet highly rated) Marantz UD7006 I am unfortunate enough to own. Two faulty units and over 45 days in the repair centre, all in the space of 15 months. The 103 has everything I need, and more.
Not really, but you can get an even better picture by playing about with the settings that are available on the player.
Hi FrankharveyHiFi
What settings for picture do you use by any chance could you let me know thank you.
I'd much prefer them to stick to quantifiable facts, rather than flights of fantasy fiction. As a result, I'd take the opinions of the experienced shop owner/user, over this mag any day of the week... as long as they didn't resort to the same misplaced use of language of course.
Hifi / AV by it's nature has a huge subjective element and quantifiable facts don't always tell the whole story.....so what you are asking is difficult. I personally applaud the effort that goes into making the reviews readable and entertaining.
Helpful owners / users can give good insight, but often don't have a wide enough experience of what is available....as well as being inclined to push what they own as being the best option, whether approriate or not.
An experienced shop owner is very valuable, but will almost never recommend you go somewhere different to try kit that he doesn't sell.
Not really, but you can get an even better picture by playing about with the settings that are available on the player.
Hi FrankharveyHiFi
What settings for picture do you use by any chance could you let me know thank you.
This may not aply to all screens, but on my projector (Mitsubishi HC7000), I found that knocking the Contrast Enhancement up two notches increased my black level and detail in certain areas (this has a varies effect depending how much light and dark is on the screen at the time), and I add one notch to the sharpness. My PJ has always looked very sharp, especially in comparison to other projectors on the market (even though it is coming up to 4 years old). Only recently have I found competition for that sharpness in the Sony VW95. Admittedly, the sharpness control on the Oppo is a bit excessive for one notch - it almost seems like you've knocked it up five or more - but the difference is pretty stunning. Obviously that might stand out more on the 7ft screen I'm using, and may not show up quite so much on a 40" or 50" plasma.
I usually stay away from using any controls on the source and send the signal out "as is" so as not to change anything to much. But the differnce this makes is too much to ignore. On some films (noisy looking ones) it can bring the grain out a little to much, but clean looking films almost look lifelike.
Gel's position is just as silly, he's now dismissing it solely on the basis of this one review, despite the other good reviews, the answer's the same as it is for everything else, demo it for yourself and then decide.
Agree with you here, unless you see and hear it yourself stop moaning.
Hi FrankharveyHiFi
What settings for picture do you use by any chance could you let me know thank you.[/quote]
This may not aply to all screens, but on my projector (Mitsubishi HC7000), I found that knocking the Contrast Enhancement up two notches increased my black level and detail in certain areas (this has a varies effect depending how much light and dark is on the screen at the time), and I add one notch to the sharpness. My PJ has always looked very sharp, especially in comparison to other projectors on the market (even though it is coming up to 4 years old). Only recently have I found competition for that sharpness in the Sony VW95. Admittedly, the sharpness control on the Oppo is a bit excessive for one notch - it almost seems like you've knocked it up five or more - but the difference is pretty stunning. Obviously that might stand out more on the 7ft screen I'm using, and may not show up quite so much on a 40" or 50" plasma.
I usually stay away from using any controls on the source and send the signal out "as is" so as not to change anything to much. But the differnce this makes is too much to ignore. On some films (noisy looking ones) it can bring the grain out a little to much, but clean looking films almost look lifelike.
[/quote]
Cheers i will try these settings many thanks for your time and explanation on settings much obliged.
And there we about have it! Very interesting debate. Thanks one and all, made very interesting reading.
Off now for some entertainment from my half star oppo 95!!
Good weekend guys.
I'm interested in reading the review before saying too much.
Pop in and I'll put the 103 up against any of the Pioneer Bluray players and I'll show you how much better the 103 can look via a decent projector on a 9ft screen. I replaced my £1200 Bluray player with the 103 purely based on the fact that makes it look like a I have a new projector. Also, CD's, including SACD's sound pretty amazing through a system we have set up in our main demo room - Audiolab 8200AP, Primare A30.7, PMC Twenty.24's with Twenty centre, and dual stacked Ken Kreisel DXD12012's. The power amp in this system rotates between the Primare A30.7, Audiolab 8200x7, and Bryston 9Bsst2. Whichever power amp we use, the system just sounds amazing, regardless of volume.
In fact, if anyone wants to pop in, feel free (not today, I'm not there!)
As others have said, all other reviews haven't given these players anything near a three star review, so it'll be interesting to find out why WHF disagrees. If a 103 can't get a 5 star review for £500, I can only assume we won't be seeing any 5 star reviews (or even 4 star) for any current Bluray players...
Have you had a chance to read the review yet then David?
He doesnt need to! He knows how good it is, cos he uses his ears and eyes.
Now must really get off and listen to my half star oppo 95, And set up my new sub( Which i auditioned along with a few others)
Lovely.
Hey Gel. Just noticed in your sig, you have an LX71.That was my first player!
Still got it under the telly in the sitting room. But there is no other option in a high end system(My home cinema) Than the 95.
Pioneer LX 71 a brilliant machine though.
He doesnt need to! He knows how good it is, cos he uses his ears and eyes.
Now must really get off and listen to my half star oppo 95, And set up my new sub( Which i auditioned along with a few others)
Lovely.
Well perhaps he has missed something that the WHF team have picked up on. After all they are the expert reviewers and David said he will look at it before commenting, nothing wrong in that.
Hey Gel. Just noticed in your sig, you have an LX71.That was my first player!
Still got it under the telly in the sitting room. But there is no other option in a high end system(My home cinema) Than the 95.
Pioneer LX 71 a brilliant machine though.
To right, it is fantastic Blu-ray player, cheers.
No we are the expert reviewers! Its all subjective, and its us who read the mags etc, and then part with our hard earned!
Most dealers love the hobby, and know what works and what doesnt! At the end of the day Gel, the eyes have it.
And no there is nothing wrong in what you say, its your opinion, my opinion, any ones opinion.
Its about what works for you.
Cheers
No we are the expert reviewers! Its all subjective, and its us who read the mags etc, and then part with our hard earned!
Most dealers love the hobby, and know what works and what doesnt! At the end of the day Gel, the eyes have it.
And no there is nothing wrong in what you say, its your opinion, my opinion, any ones opinion.
Its about what works for you.
Cheers
Yep, nice one.
While I agree that digital storage is the future, I don't think we are quite there yet, storage space is still an issue. A bluray rip can be 40gb in size and above. The biggest HDD on the market is 4TB, you are never going to get past 100 films. So we firstly need bigger drives.
Secondly online streaming is a no go, audio and picture quality is not up to scratch yet, I want 1080p and I want HD audio. Internet speeds in the uk cannot cope yet and again storage is an issue for providers.
Maybe in a few years, but we will yet see another disc format.
Panasonic 65" 3D TV (P65VT50), Pioneer LX83, CA, Azur 751BD, PS3, Water Cooled Xbox 360 (Modded), Nintendo Wii U, Sky HD+, i7 PC overclocked with 6850 HD Radeon, CM8 Fronts (Bi-Amped), CMC Center (Bi-Wired), DS3 Dipoles, PV1 Sub. Van Den Hul M.C. Snowtrack >Halogen Free< wiring, Chord Active Silver HDMI's, Cabridge Audio AUD700 Analogues Interconnects, QED Signature Subwoofer cables, Chunky Monkey custom oak AV cabinet.