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Oppo 981 vs 983 Which Has Better Picture Quality?

The Oppo 981 has DCDi by Faroudja video processing technology with progressive scan, film mode detection, TrueLife™ enhancement and motion adaptive noise reduction. Video is analyzed on a single pixel granularity to detect presence or absence of angled lines and edges, which are then processed to produce a smooth natural looking image without visible artifacts (jaggies). The result is a breath-taking picture with vivid color, fine details, and life-like picture quality.

The Oppo 983 has an advanced video processing featuring "VRS™ by Anchor Bay" technologies. With the DV-983H, OPPO has incorporated Anchor Bay's latest VRS (Video Reference Series) technology. The VRS technology suite includes AutoCUE-C™, Progressive Cadence Detection™, Precision De-interlacing™ and Precision Video Scaling™. The VRS video processor also handles frame rate conversion, aspect ratio control and video zooming. These technologies combine to generate a clearer, smoother, and true-to-life picture free of artifacts.

Which unit has a better picture quality?
ryder
jax2
3,031 posts
 
PS VERY IMPORTANT if you are expecting a superior picture quality from the 983 - check with Oppo if the component outputs you intend to use will yield an upsampled image. I seem to recall that upsampling was only via the HDMI output. I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure that's the case. Regardless, my opinions of the 983 are strictly via that output into a Sony CRT. I don't know what improvements, if any, may be yielded through the component outputs into a projector.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
02-07-09: Ryder
I think I'll skip the 981 as it does not have component outputs, and I need that for my projector. So it's either the discontinued 983 or the upcoming blu-ray player, which I suspect would cost quite a bit.
Don't assume that. The 983 was $400. There are several Blu-ray players in that price range with internal TrueHD and DTS-HD MA processing. Seems to me that if the BDP 983H was going to be much more than the DV-98eH they would have kept it in the lineup.

Oppo is all about delivering a higher level of performance at entry-level to mid-level cost. If their Blu-ray player was much more than $400, they'd be deviating from their business plan. Not impossible, but not so likely IMO.
jax2
3,031 posts
 
I was correct, RE: Component outputs - from the Oppo site:

Component video output with progressive scan (Up-converting over component output is only available for unencrypted DVD discs such as home video and consumer-created contents. Most commercially pressed DVD discs are CSS-encrypted and will be limited to 480i/480p output over component. HDMI output is protected with HDCP and has no such restriction.)

I don't know if this is true of all upsampling DVD players (anyone?). If you are limited to 480i/p I don't imagine you'll see the kind of improvement I've experienced via the HDMI output.
ryder OP
1,690 posts
 
Thanks for the information on up-conversion via component outputs. Unfortunately I have no other choice since my projector and AV processor/amps are all obsolete with component and DVI only, and I don't think I'll change both the projector and amps anytime too soon since they are bought new 3 years back. Gosh these things get obsolete quicker than I thought!

I just hope the upcoming Oppo blu-ray player would be able to up-convert via its component outputs.....tough chance but all I can do is hope.
jax2
3,031 posts
 
Unfortunately I have no other choice since my projector and AV processor/amps are all obsolete with component and DVI only, and I don't think I'll change both the projector and amps anytime too soon since they are bought new 3 years back.

You should be able to use an HDMI>DVI cable, like this one, and you may be able to get the upconversion that way - check that your DVI input on your projector is capable of HiDef.
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