Video Asylum

Unfortunately, OPPO's specs are a bit misleading (intentionally?)...

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This Post Has Been Edited by the Author

In Reply to: RE: Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray player in-depth review ? posted by AbeCollins on June 27, 2009 at 22:28:31

This is the part I have trouble with:

* PAL/NTSC Conversion - The BDP-83 supports NTSC and PAL systems for both disc playback and video output. It can also convert content of one system for output in another. (Subject to DVD and BD region restrictions.)
_

To those familiar with Oppo's earlier models they might assume that this unit was Region and/or Zone free (even with the nifty little caveat in parenthesis). If folks want a one-box solution, this isn't going to be the unit that they were expecting. Heck, I would've purchased one if Oppo had simply included their usual Region unlocking capability for standard DVD, forget BD Zone, but my rack already has a Panny BD player, a Samsung HD-DVD player and an Oppo 983 for standard DVD with region unlocking. I would've liked to pull the Panasonic and Oppo DVD player move them to a second system (or sell on-line) and replace it with one unit, but I just can't justify the additional cost without the region flexibility.

BTW, those who already own an Oppo DVD player probably already have most of Oppo's quality audio functions, so aside from BD performance it seems a bit redundant unless the BD side offers something more than other BD players currently offered on the U.S. market.

While Oppo probably has the best playback within it's price range it does not offer what I personally believe it's main consumer base expects from the company (absolute flexibility with discs from around the world). Now this has been covered ad nauseum in other threads and I don't want to take Oppo to task again for the apparent betrayal of their long time supporters (Oppo's choice to abide by BD Consortium's strict licensing rules rather than to supply players from an off-shore address to skirt the Draconian regulations, as Momitsu has done), this is a deal breaker for a lot of folks. Most A/V enthusiasts want performance and flexibility in a one-box solution; this unit falls well short of that, IMO.

AuPh

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