OPPO BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player with SACD, DVD-Audio, and VRS Technology

5 Comments

1. ElectronicsFAN says:

   March 7, 2010 at 6:19 pm

   Think twice before buying from Oppo. Below is a review of an earlier model (non-Blu-Ray):

   I purchased this DV-970HD unit about 2 years ago and in addition – two other units afterwards (2 are newer models). The other 2 units are working (1 I own and the other I gave as a present). For the 970HD, I have used it <10 times as it is not conected to my primary AV system (in the bedroom). However, this past weekend it quit operating and won't read any disks. It just says "no disk" with any disk I put into it.

   I called customer care regarding trying a firmware upgrade or any type of resets that might help and was told by their rep “Mason” (he later told me that he is their Technical Service Manager) that there is nothing I can do as it won’t read disks (no ability to perform a firmware grade because the disk cannot read it). He then told me that I would need to ship it to him at my expense and then pay $37 for repairs. I expained to him that I have only used this item <10 times and he said that "they don't know that - that this is just my word" (thus, he is saying that he doesn't trust or believe me). I then say I have purchased 2 other units from them and offered to send him proof of these purchases (thus giving him an opportunity to gain trust in what I say) and I also told him that I recommended his company to many others likely giving them more business. I asked, as being a very good customer to Oppo, if he would consider covering all/part of the repair charges. He came back with the same reply - that they have standards to maintain - the 1 year warranty and that there is nothing he can do. I asked him again if he would reconsider and he said no.

   I then said that he has left me no choice but to never purchase another Oppo product again, not recommend their product to anyone again and then possibly go onto Amazon.com and give a poor review. He said “there is no chance now that I would grant your request because of a threat”. Puzzled, I asked him if there still was a chance that he would have granted my request??? He then said that “if you would have continued to have a positive discussion with him on my situation that he might have…” (i.e.- kiss his a**). I then said that I am not talking to you here to play games and that he & his company had an opportunity to satisfy/delight a customer or give customer dissatisfaction, and that you made the decision earlier that you wouldn’t help me. I then told him that I will only purchase products from companies that make more reliable products (Sony, Denon, etc…) and would write up this review on Amazon. The final straw for me is what he said in reply to my “threat” (it wasn’t a threat, it was a promise), that if I would have played along and begged him he might have given in (when clearly he made up his mind beforehand, or they company did it for him with their policies and $s they put to customer care). I am mostly disappointed because I liked Oppo and wanted the company to succeed, (more small companies producing good products pushes all companies who make like products to produce better products) but this call from “Mason” completely changed my mind about them.

   I think Oppo makes DVD players with good features & performance – WHEN THEY WORK – but question their reliability to the point of not trusting their quality. My experience having 1 out of 3 fail is quite poor – especially the one that was rarely used. By comparison, I have probably purchased over 25 consumer electronic items from Sony, Denon, Panasonic, etc… over the years and have NEVER had one of those products fail.

   Bottom line: You get what you pay for. You can save a little upfront with Oppo, but in the end I think you will likely pay more and have greater hassel with repairs and poor customer service (like a rep who plays the “victim” to a perceived threat, but holds an imaginary carrot out there that he will help you if you play his game).
   Rating: 1 / 5
2. KTC says:

   March 7, 2010 at 6:33 pm

   I have pioneer elite DVD which has served me well for SACD playback particularly. Then I bought oppo 980h because of overwhelming reviews positively. But it sounds thin in low and too bright in high and oppo is still selling it. BTW, 980H dvd up converting to 1080p is poor but less important. Oppo must still selling it well.

   Today, I bought a samsung LN40B750 for $1199, including a free BD-1600. That is a very good deal from my local store(frys). After setup the tv, I played several blue-ray and dvd movies on BD-1600. The Blu-ray video is same as my pioneer BDP-51(should be same in every players anyway). However, dvd upscaling is supprisingly similar to BDP-51, which has been praised for its dvd upscaling more than anything else.

   I thought today’s most important feature in blu-ray player must be dvd upscaling. But the basic BD-1600 proves not anymore. bdp-83 must already improve its DACs and related ckts which should have been done at time of 980H because that is what all about 980h.

   So BDP-83 = blu-ray player + good dvd upscaling + sacd(+dvd audio)with good sound quality. The 1st and 2nd items are not so called features anymore. However, sacd+dvd audio playback capabilities(with good sound quality) are nice for audio lovers. Then the question is, is it worth $500 ? I am not sure but I will buy one anyway. Something I don’t understand is that oppo products seem constantly receiving excellent reviews which I have not seen any company getting it or close to it.

   Update, 8/31/2009
   
   I took a look at reviews of 980h in amazon. a lot of users are still saying its dvd upscaling quality is excellent, outstanding. Why so fanatical, therefore misleading. Based on that, my doubt about bdp83 is justified. However, making a optical drive to support both BD and SACD seems costly. If that feature is welcome mostly, then more BDP will follow, then the price will go down. I will visit OPPO in Mountain view to test it out. BTW, my audio gears, source/cable/monitors are professional grade.
   Rating: 4 / 5
3. nosympathy says:

   March 7, 2010 at 7:47 pm

   I Have a TC-P58V10 which is getting reviews better than pioneers own 9G panels did. I run everything with Audio Quest Chocolate cables(2.5% Silver) and route it through a Denon 2809 pushing two MartinLogan Puritys. I originally had a PS3, and thought it was such an amazing Blu Ray player. I was wrong about that. I then purchased the Denon 1800 only to find that it didn’t support upgrading the firmware if you had an Apple. Took it back immediately and walked out with a Panasonic BD-60. I was half way through the movie Benjamin Button when i switched from the Denon too the Panny. What an insane difference in picture quality. Don’t let anyone tell you all Blu Ray players *SHOULD* output the same picture quality with Blu Ray. I went from watching a movie with next to no colour that immediately came too life. I then got the Oppo and yes, so it loads quickly, i personally want PQ not fast load times. I also went back to Denon PQ. Not impressed. Also bitstreaming from the player too the Denon 2809 was pretty similar between the Oppo and the Panny. Didn’t compare the internal decoders as I let my 2809 do the decoding. I then borrowed a friends Marantz 5004 BDP and it blew away the Oppo for a mear $50 more in both audio output with bitstream and video output over HDMI. I don’t have to tell you which BDP I finally settled on, but I will. I have settled on the Marantz 5004.

   So if you want the best PQ possible, this is not for you. If you want a player that does everything at a mediocre level, this is for you!
   Rating: 2 / 5
4. Ahmed Nadeem says:

   March 7, 2010 at 9:07 pm

   Big problem with this blue-Ray player is it freezes while its playing the Blue Ray DVD,s. First I thought may be I have bad player but even after I exchanged it from Amazon. same problem. I did updated the firmware but did not do much. Also I wish it can rent movies from Movie flex online or from black-busster.
   Rating: 1 / 5
5. btrial says:

   March 8, 2010 at 12:01 am

   stick to a brand name. they know best. I felt so dumn purchasing this unit.
   
   pretty average bd player. I think all these rating was from the first version
   
   of bd player. I wonder if oppo is paying those commercial reviewers for good rating.
   
   hummmm…. I wonder. newbie out there just one think to remember, bd player these days
   
   are pretty good, any advance tech they put in r not capable to see a different yet.
   
   so don’t fall for it. spent the money for good audio system. it help. don’t read into
   
   too much positive review, gotta read more negative review to find out why.
   
   1. if u watch a very bad bd disk then the vrs might help a bit but again, bd disk these
   
   day r pretty good, otherwise better exchange the bd disk than buying into vrs.
   
   2. play dvd are not impress. it might be better two or three yrs ago but now any
   
   brand name bd player can play it or play it even better.
   
   3. this oppo83 should be reduce to $200-$300.
   
   4. good luck, very expensive for the hassle and returning an item.
   
   5. hope it help someone not to make the same mistake. buy it cause u want it.
   
   don’t buy for all the hype……..ex. sony 360 will perform the same thing.
   Rating: 3 / 5