Oppo Decision – Keep my BDP-83?

[Woofer]

So I started with the 83, considered the 93 but held out and bought the 95 after discovering of its pending release. I have a nice two-channel setup so I could justify the additional cost. Subsequently, I’ve had the drawer issue on the 83 repaired under warranty and am now wondering if there is a reason to keep the 83 from a performance perspective. This is a complex topic for me, but I seem to recall talk about things the 83 does better than either the 93 or 95 regarding DVD playback – true?

Firmware is also a consideration I gather. I don’t know specifically what the 83 is sporting at the moment since it’s boxed but my 95 is as from the factory – I held off updating it since there was something of an uproar about features being lost without prior disclosure.

Any opinions would be appreciated.

 

[Alex2507]

Electronics depreciate pretty quickly so holding onto them doesn't make much sense
from a financial perspective. As a matter of fact the 83 isn't worth much now.
You should sell it to me ... for not much money.

Seriously, I would hold onto it as a back up or to use in a secondary system.

 

[Adam]

Combine an uncertainty of keeping an Oppo with Alex's thirst for one, and as sure as the sun will rise in the morning...

You should sell it to me ... for not much money.

But then he goes and says something like,

Seriously, I would hold onto it as a back up or to use in a secondary system.

Our monkey is growing up.

I agree with Alex - I say keep it for a second system or as a back-up, unless you could really use the money. You could also loan or give it to a friend or family member.

 

[Alex2507]

You could also loan or give it to a friend or family member.

What a coincidence, I was just about to put this guy on my friends list.

 

[Adam]

What a coincidence, I was just about to put this guy on my friends list.

I wish that I would have thought of that. Would have been a lot easier than forging these genealogy documents.

 

[Woofer]

OK, so nothing about the chipset in the 83 handles DVD playback any better?

How about this sounding familiar... that future generations of Blu-ray players will be more restricted by law than the 83, 93 and 95? Again, can't remember where I read that.

Basically, I don't have an easy place to connect the 83, so it would become a closet queen. But... that's better than having seller's remorse down the road should the 83's feature set or functionality become somewhat unique and desireable. I'm not looking to hold onto the 83 as an investment, I'm just big on free will. As an example, I also own a Panasonic box that has a hard drive and DVD player/burner in it. I record stuff to the drive, edit out commercials with its onboard functionality and burn the content to DVDs for archiving. Can't buy those anymore, the 'Industry' squashed them.

 

[sholling]

It sounds like you have the perfect excuse to build a nice bedroom system around that Oppo.

 

[Adam]

As an example, I also own a Panasonic box that has a hard drive and DVD player/burner in it. I record stuff to the drive, edit out commercials with its onboard functionality and burn the content to DVDs for archiving. Can't buy those anymore, the 'Industry' squashed them.

I think perhaps the consumer market squashed those, but there are still some models available. The Magnavox MDR515H, for example. At least, I think that's what you're talking about.

I'm occasionally tempted to get one, but I always pass because they record in SD. I wonder if that's why they aren't as prevalent as before, because a lot of people want to keep the higher resolutions of the source material. I use one of my computers to record in HD. It's just personal preference.

 

[Woofer]

It sounds like you have the perfect excuse to build a nice bedroom system around that Oppo.

I thought about it, but I basically set the sleep timer on that TV and crash. I could maybe find room for it in my main system if I can identify a reason to keep it.

 

[Woofer]

I think perhaps the consumer market squashed those, but there are still some models available. The Magnavox MDR515H, for example. At least, I think that's what you're talking about.

I'm occasionally tempted to get one, but I always pass because they record in SD. I wonder if that's why they aren't as prevalent as before, because a lot of people want to keep the higher resolutions of the source material. I use one of my computers to record in HD. It's just personal preference.

I'm glad I mentioned that - the Panny is almost a decade old and has only an 80 GB drive in it, which is no doubt nearing the end of its useful life. I'm worried there might be something proprietary on the boot sector so I haven't messed with swapping in a larger drive. A few years back I looked for a possible replacement box but somehow overlooked the Magnavox because I found nothing. While the lack of HD is a bummer, I'd rather have the functionality than not. I've wanted to move to a computer based solution but haven't done any research yet. Plus, I'm a Mac guy and most of the solutions I've heard of are Windows based.

 

[Adam]

I'm glad that helped out! I got my parents a Philips PVR/DVD-recorder a few years ago, but they seem to have also gotten out of the game.

I've had an Elgato EyeTV for my Mac since 2007, and it's worked great when I've used it (which hasn't been for a while). It's a USB-based HDTV tuner. Very small, and you plug your antenna/cable feed directly into it. Now that I have a "spare" MacBook hooked up to my TV, I'm seriously tempted to hook it up to record broadcast shows.

 

[Alex2507]

I could maybe find room for it in my main system if I can identify a reason to keep it.

I think I also read somewhere that the 83 played DVD's better than the 93 but I don't know if that carried over to the 95. The thing that I am pretty sure of is that I wouldn't notice the difference. My thinking is that they are all Oppos so how far off could one be from the other?

In my main system I have a Panasonic BR player and a Denon DVD player that plays DVD-A and SACD. I think I can notice that the DVD player has better video quality with DVD's than the Blu-ray player so I use it to play the occasional DVD. The odd thing is that my BR player started making strange noises when it first gets a disc in it which sucks. If I were you I would put both players in the main system to do comparisons and to prolong the life of the 95 by playing DVD's in the 83. Then if anything does go on the blink you're all set.

 

[Woofer]

I'm glad that helped out! I got my parents a Philips PVR/DVD-recorder a few years ago, but they seem to have also gotten out of the game.

I've had an Elgato EyeTV for my Mac since 2007, and it's worked great when I've used it (which hasn't been for a while). It's a USB-based HDTV tuner. Very small, and you plug your antenna/cable feed directly into it. Now that I have a "spare" MacBook hooked up to my TV, I'm seriously tempted to hook it up to record broadcast shows.

I've bought two of those over the years, the last one having "Pro" in the title I think, it's boxed somewhere because I never could get the software to work. The original... I can't remember my issue(s) with it. To this day I still get email from the company telling me my subscription to their broadcast guide has expired. I noticed they've an even newer model now (full size outboard box) when I last hit the local Apple Store, wanna' say it's $150 - $300. I've a Mac Mini (with optical drive) setup as a HT PC but I really only use it as a source for lossless music in the 2ch rig. It'd be nice to discover some kinda' software and method for just using that and recording to an attached drive.

 

[Woofer]

I think I also read somewhere that the 83 played DVD's better than the 93 but I don't know if that carried over to the 95. The thing that I am pretty sure of is that I wouldn't notice the difference. My thinking is that they are all Oppos so how far off could one be from the other?

In my main system I have a Panasonic BR player and a Denon DVD player that plays DVD-A and SACD. I think I can notice that the DVD player has better video quality with DVD's than the Blu-ray player so I use it to play the occasional DVD. The odd thing is that my BR player started making strange noises when it first gets a disc in it which sucks. If I were you I would put both players in the main system to do comparisons and to prolong the life of the 95 by playing DVD's in the 83. Then if anything does go on the blink you're all set.

Yeah, I'm beginning to think the backup plan is the way to go... and you gotta' have the hardware to backup the plan, so... might as well install or stash the bugger. At least this way I know it's pristine and I'm not left wondering about the true condition of a used model somewhere down the road.