DVD & HDTV Reviews

From the moment you unpack the Oppo BDP-83 Universal Blu-Ray player you realize that this is going to be a truly unique experience. Wrapped in a reusable carrying bag, shipped in a double-thick cardboard box, the fit and finish of the Oppo BDP-83 matches the quality of the packaging. And the good thing is that unlike many Blu-Ray players, the best-in-class experience continues from the time you power it on to daily use.
I was lucky enough to get in on the Oppo pre-order in late May, after reading the early reviews of beta units, and knowing the reputation of Oppo’s upscaling DVD players. For me, the Oppo BDP-83 offered the promise of super-fast load times, outstanding video quality, and the ability to play high-resolution audio (my SACD library).
A bit of background – I have a pretty high-end system configuration (Marantz SR-8002, KEF Reference speakers, Mitsubishi HDTV, Sony ES SACD player, Bang & Olfusen turntable). And I have pretty demanding standards especially for audio.
I waited to buy my first Blu-Ray Player (the very good Panasonic DMP-BD55K) until a standalone player offered quality and load times at least *close* to the PS3. And, although its load times and DVD playback are good, it still didn’t quite meet my standards.
From the moment I connected the Oppo BDP-83 to my system, I was blown away by the experience. Extremely easy to setup (I literally unplugged my Panasonic and plugged in the BDP-83 using the same HDMI and component cables), very very easy on-screen instructions and setup. The remote is definitely much better than average with large backlit buttons of different sizes.
The speed of the Oppo BD-83 certainly grabs your attention:
- BluRay load times are about 2x faster than the Panasonic BD55K it replaced
- BluRay menu navigation, etc also very fast and responsive
- SACD and DVD (Audio/Video) load times are nearly instantaneous
The SACD load performance really stunned me. My high-end Sony ES SACD player (remember, Sony co-developed the standard) can take 1-2 minutes to load a hybrid SACD. On the Oppo any SACD (stereo, hybrid multichannel, etc) loads in under 2 seconds.
But it is the video and audio quality of the Oppo BD-83 that truly sets it apart:
- BluRay video performance is outstanding, but you come to expect that from the format. (I can’t say I notice a difference here from my Panasonic which is also excellent.)
- DVD video performance is stunning – a noticeable upgrade in quality on your HD set. This is where you start to see the benefits of the embedded AnchorBay processor.
- High resolution audio quality will blow your socks off.
I personally didn’t notice a difference in high-res BluRay formats such as DTS-Master and DolbyTrue HD, but to be fair my Panasonic player is also excellent in this area.
For SACD, the improvement offered by the Oppo BDP-83 is simply stunning! My Marantz receiver can decode DSD over HDMI, and the audio quality is dramatically better than the analog 5.1 output from my high-end Sony ES SACD player. I didn’t think the standard could be elevated, but was pleasantly surprised by this.
DVD-Audio performance is also outstanding. I never had a DVD-Audio player, so I’ve used this opportunity of having a truly "Universal Player" to stock up on high-resolution multi-channel titles that were never released on SACD (eg. Crowded House, Seal, Queen, Yes…)
There are other very nice touches:
- BluRay Profile 2.0 with 1GB of onboard storage (my Panasonic made you buy an SD card for this)
- two USB 2.0 ports (one front covered by a flat rubber port, another in the rear), neither port is recessed, so you can use standard USB memory sticks/adapters
- analog 7.1 audio out
- supports simultaneous HDMI and component video output (eg. you can send high-res audio over HDMI and video over component)
- support for NTSC and PAL format DVDs, but they must be unlocked (this is a region-locked player, unfortunately)
- IR in and IR out ports
- optional RS-232C control port for professional installations
- very heavy-duty removable power cord; even heavier gauge than the one Marantz shipped with my $2000 receiver!
- nice onscreen menu system graphics and easy-to-use interface
What could be improved?
- well, first of all, Profile 2 support is only through hard-wired ethernet (no WiFi)
- speaking of Profile 2.0, the interactive services aren’t particularly fast, but I have yet to find a BluRay title that actually has compelling Profile 2.0 content
- no support for streaming services like Netflix, although there are rumors that the hardware *might* have the capability to support through a firmware update – I wouldn’t count on this though
- the BluRay and DVD player are region locked unfortunately. (CD, SACD, and DVD-Audio discs are by definition region-free)
I personally couldn’t be happier with the BDP-83. Certainly the best $500 I spent! It not only compares but blows away high-end players costing 4-6x greater.

I compared the picture quality of the Toshiba 19AV600U side by side with Samsung (at our local Best Buy) after tweaking both to their maximum quality and the Toshiba had truer colors with accurate flesh tones, probably due to the 10 bit color. The sound was also much better (and louder) than other TV’s of the same size. If you can live without the headphone jack, then this will be a great choice, especially for a small bedroom or kitchen.

One more thing that impressed me and my daughter was how the TV cleaned up the standard analog cable channels, apparently due to the noise reduction feature, which we put on high. Some of the channels even look as good as digital or HD. The 19AV600U also has (2) HDMI jacks and is a great looking little TV even when it’s off. We mostly buy SONY but was settling for Samsung (since Sony is not that impressive in this size range) until I ran across this little jewel.

I’ve seen the Samsung 2333HD advertised as a 23" monitor with a TV tuner. Now why would they say it that way? I dunno, but I’ll tell you what. This TV is nice colors, clear, crisp, heck it even tilts on its stand, plus you can use it as a computer monitor. I can’t think of a reason not to buy this quality LCD screen… except…

The speakers sound like a portable AM radio from the 1960′s. Very tinny-sounding. I kid you not. It is not the richer sound of my 19" Samsung LN19A650 (which I recommend, btw.) Why would the speakers be so lame? I had my 19" in the bedroom, this 2333HD in the kitchen, so I even swapped the rooms that they were in, but the tinniness followed the TV. I tried to use the equalizer and beef up the low end, lower the high end, but while it added bass, the tinny sound remained.

Yes, this TV apparently has a multimedia sound. But that means you navigate to the Sound menu to where you select from Standard, Music, Movie, Voice, and Custom. What you find is that Custom and Standard were the best choices only because Music, Movie, Voice were even *more* tinny.

I even thought maybe I would learn to get used to it, because I bought the TV at a good price, and, hey, the large 23" screen is just soooo nice in quality. So, I gave it a chance. I tell you, watching this TV over a period of days gave me a subtle earache, that tinniness again.
I boxed this 2333HD back up and will return it to the store. I just cannot hack that tinny sound. Why oh why would Samsung allow this to happen? So is that why places advertise this as "a monitor with a TV tuner"? Is it the phrase to be wary of?

Update: I just figured out what the sound issue is with this 2333HD. This TV set does not have SRS TruSurround XT like my 19" does. On that TV, I had turned the option ON right away, so had never played it without that option. Until this morning, when I turned the option OFF, and a slightly tinny sound came from the 19", but nowhere as bad as on the 2333HD, but it was there. I turned the option ON again in my 19", and the sound was much better, deeper, absolutely no tinniness to it. So, my lesson is, if the Samsung HDTV does not have the SRS TruSurround XT option, I will not buy it.

This is a solid, well-made product. It comes with everything you MIGHT need including an adapter plate, spacers, and various screws. Since I was only mounting a 32" Westinghouse LCD television that had standard mounting holes on the back my installation didn’t require the extra stuff. The 32" TV I mounted weighs about 32 pounds after its table mount is removed, so this wall-mount handles it effortlessly.

Keep in mind that this is an folding, jointed device, so you will need to mount it to the wall (in a stud) off-center if you want it to fold flat against the wall and be centered. Of course if you want to keep your TV sticking out from the wall permanently then center it. Be sure to measure for your own needs.

These cables are an excellent deal and meet all of the relevant specifications that will allow you to get maximum throughput from 1080p equipment.

Don’t believe those that claim all HDMI cables are the same. They are not all the same and those that claim they are have unfortunately been misled. While I am the last person to suggest going out and overpaying for an expensive retail brand, I would definitely recommend being a little careful not to use a cable that has the potential to degrade the picture on your new HD equipment. It is even more critical for PS3 gamers because of the deep color capabilities of PS3.

Fortunately for us, HDMI.org has made separating the good cables from the best cables very simple.

According to the HDMI website, Category 2 cables are required not only to guarantee 1080P FullHD but also for high refresh rates and deep color.

In summary, any certified HDMI cable will "generally" work fine, but use Category 2 rated cables if you want guaranteed 1080p throughput.
Mediabridge is a quality cable that meets the higher standards of Category 2. And this pricing is exceptionally good for this quality cable. There are certainly other cables around that meet this standard as well. But basically, Mediabridge is offering a high quality cable at a great price here.

The purpose of this review is to provide much needed information concerning this player. Prior to buying, I scoured the internet and could only find a few pieces of information here and there, so I thought it would be helpful to outline some of the player’s features.

Technical Specifications:
- Profile 1.1 (BD BonusView Enabled)
- Front access USB port for convenient firmware updates
- Full HD output
- 7.1 channels of surround sound with Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD, and dts-HD Master Audio technologies
- Digital coaxial output
- Express reaction startup

Does not include:
- An ethernet port or internal wireless device to access BD Live features

This is an excellent entry-level blu-ray player. The colors are vibrant and the picture is crisp connected to my Samsung LCD television via the HDMI port. Disc loading times are miniscule, with the player initiating playback in less than one minute. I have tested both recent and older blu-ray titles (Watchmen, The Prestige, Death Race) and have experienced no problems loading the disc or enjoying the non-BD Live special features. The unit itself is very sleek and slender and weighs less than five pounds. Additionally, the player is silent during use.

I highly recommend this player to anyone interested in owning a great blu-ray player at the low-end of the price spectrum. Although the player is not BD Live compliant, LG still deserves to be commended for releasing an affordable alternative to the price-conscious consumer.

When choosing a blu ray player, the choice can be confusing at times. After months of searching I now believe the best ones are the ones that match your needs most, after price point. Here is my review after a night well spent learning the ins and outs.

Pros-

Wifi– This year Wifi will be all the rage. Set up with my samsung after a slight learning curve took 20 mins tops and once connected it worked flawlessy. I didn’t even need to read the manuel. Superb and blazing fast!

Pandora–what a terrific gem of a music program. And its free! The learning curve is super easy and fun. I was able to program it from my mobile phone, and there it is two seconds later. I am a happy camper!
Netflix– Great. super simple! Netflix needs more choices, but that is not Samsung’s fault.

wifi dongle!- They could have charged for this. They didn’t. Great!

cons, if it is one–The player feels flimsy upon first contact so that you almost want to be super gentle with it. As opposed to the sturdier players out there. If that concerns you, i suggest you hold a floor model first and decide for yourself. Also, still no hdmi plugs offered with the majority of players, this one included. Makes no sense at this point. Luckily i have spares.

Overall- a solid player, with wonderful audio and visual clarity. My test for blu ray, The Dark Knight. Looked amazing, sound oustanding. Test for upscale, Wall-E. Looked incredible and rich.

Nice job samsung!!!

UPDATE: Not sure what all the griping is about for a select few, but I watched Punisher Warzone on this player, a hard hitting film if there ever was one and this player did not hiccup. Audio and visual clarity were fantastic!! Also just watched quantum of solace. No issues. A little lag in the load time but I suspect that has to do with the dvd not the player. Sounded and looked great!! Be cautious of those few on here who get one bad lemon and decide the whole basket is rotten.

Three and a half month update: Still no problems to report with this player. I have not had one single issue with any movie I have thrown at it and I have now played over 200 films on it. it’s a workhorse. It also plays copies of pretty much any DVD you have burned from a computer hard drive. I’ll say it again, great product!

This blu ray player has gone done in price remarkably since it first dropped. It’s orginal asking price, for those of you coming to it now, was nearly 400.00 dollars. It is now nearly 50 percent less. This is a real steal folks.

First, I am feeling cheated right now, since I paid over [...] for this TV around a few months back. On the other hand, there is a lot of positive things about this TV which I really appreciate.

1. The picture quality is just amazing. It really has a enriched color display and your experience with sports will probably be awesome.

2. The sound quality is not the best I can get, but it is really close to perfection and I would still rate it 5.

3. The body has a rich color and is perfect and is stylish.

4. When viewed from various angles, there is very little depreciation of real output and a few faded spots do appear. On a comparison with other models, this is very minimal. Also, you would be viewing from a good distance, which voids the issue. We also use the swivel when you hook it up for games.

5. I have it connected with DVD players and it is awesome so far. Very satisfied with picture quality.

I kind of wish I have a bigger screen though. I saw this 37" 1080p [...]which is also glossy black at a local store and is just a [...] extra.

It depends on your viewing distance and how far your sofa is from the television. With 1080p and a deep discount, I would call this a deal!!

This TV deserves another 5 star rating! It’s perfect for our bedroom. The picture and sound were great on standard settings right out of the box, although it has several alternate pre-sets and infinitely tweakable custom settings. The big menu is very intuitive but it also has a quick menu that pops up in the lower right corner for quick changes to common things. The remote is small and has well spaced, easy to use buttons.

I wanted a solidly built TV with decent sound and my wife wanted no clutter and simple operation. This one is all black, no "bling" but has enough features and connections so we could use it for more than a standalone TV. The "invisible speaker system" is pure genius and gives a surprisingly full sound without needing a speaker system and amp (no clutter). More importantly (to me since I’m a bit hard of hearing), the clear voice and auto sound leveling (quiet parts automatically turned up while commercials don’t come out blaring) both work well. It’s one of those "set and forget" things. Here are more pictures and specs:

A technophile could hash over the finer points and compare this to others in its class, but as far as I’m concerned: it’s a new model, has a clear, bright picture, the faces and landscapes all look realistic, and it has great sound, so how much better can it get? Of course the news and some commercials are still way over the top with color saturation and contrast, but that’s not the TV’s fault.

6ave get’s five stars too. I’d never heard of them until I saw this item, but 2 minutes on their website convinced me they were organized and reputable. It came wrapped in a second box with foam peanuts all around it to prevent shock. The order was placed on Sunday and it arrived Wednesday morning in perfect condition. They are in the same league with NewEgg, B&H Photo and BuyDig. Also UPS called us to make sure someone was home to sign for it.

One last thing… the manual power switch and all the other side controls/connectors are on the right side out of view, and that little bump on the bottom frame (on the right) is a subtle status indicator light that glows red or blue. The main jacks are all on the rear left (as you would face the screen) and it has a built in wire guide that can help keep a few wires neater.

Overall we are both very, very pleased and now we are planning on replacing our big rear projection box with a sleek LCD TV, probably a bigger version of this one.

Anyone who has experienced an HDTV playing high-def content knows how amazing it looks. But standard-definition content (such as cable, satellite, or broadcast TV–NTSC) doesn’t take advantage of HDTV’s full potential–it’s displayed at a lower resolution of 480 lines of resolution and uses a 4:3 (non-widescreen) aspect ratio.

Before taking your HDTV back and demanding a refund, you need to understand that a high-def source is necessary to match the crystal-clear video and theater-quality audio you saw in the showroom. For an additional fee, your cable or satellite provider offers high-def programming from select networks including Discovery, ESPN, and HBO, with more being added. A new set-top box also may be required to deliver high-def content to your HDTV. Your local television stations may also send out high-def (ATSC) signals over the air. To receive them, you’ll need an HDTV with a built-in tuner and an high-def antenna.