Hi all,
I just got my oppo (ordered off this site) and am generally pleased, though I have the sense that I'll have to optimize settings. Few questions (since I couldn't find a dedicated Oppo forum.
1. I have a 46" Samsung LCD (LA46N81) which has an output resolution of 1080p. When I change the player output to 1080p, I get flickering across the screen every 5 seconds or so. This happens even when a DVD is not playing. When I drop to 1080i or lower resolutions, there is no problem. I could continue using 1080i, but am disappointed that I can't match or take advantage of max native resolution. Any ideas? Something I need to do on the TV? Perhaps I need to plug it into a different HDMI port on the TV (I think one of them is 1.3, other is 1.2 or 1.1.)
See allargon's response, where the fact that some 1080p TVs cannot properly handle 1080p inputs is mentioned; check your manual for your TV. If the manual for your TV does not specifically say that it can handle 1080p input (via HDMI), then it probably cannot, and there is probably nothing you can do, though it is remotely possible that Samsung has new firmware to take care of it. If you cannot figure this out from the manual, contact Samsung.
2. Any way to do a firmware update from a USB key (since Oppo has a front-panel USB port) instead of burning a CD?
Yes. Go to the Oppo web site where they have the firmware and they will explain how to do it.
3. Any way I can download a calibration program and put it on a key the same way? If not, what is a good source to get a freeware program that I can burn onto a CD?
4. My receiver lacks HDMI, so I am running optical. I understand that SACD cannot be delivered over optical. If I switch to a lot of RCAs (for 5.1 or 7.1), how would the sound compare to the single optical connection?
You cannot hear SACD at all with an optical connection, so the difference would be sound vs. no sound, a pretty significant difference. Read the manual for your Oppo. As for the sound of DD decoded in the player or the receiver, if they are both functioning properly, and if you set them up properly, they
should sound the same. Normally, it is easier to set up the receiver, which also typcially will have more options to optimize the sound. So in most cases, for DD (and dts), it is better to use the receiver's decoding. But in some cases, it might work better to do it in the player, particularly if the receiver is old and does not have all the formats that the player has. So most likely, you should connect both the digital and the multichannel analog audio to the receiver, and use the digital for DD and dts, and the analog for SACD and DVD-Audio. You will need to balance your speaker levels twice that way, and probably adjust bass management twice as well. First, balance and do the compete setup with the digital connection to the receiver, using the receiver's settings, and then use the analog connections, adjusting only the settings in the DVD player, for balance, delay, and bass management (unless your receiver is one of the few that applies bass management to multichannel analog inputs).
5. I had heard that there is a feature that will allow "fast starts" from disc load to playback and can skip the beginning screens. But could not find any documentation on this in the manual...
Where did you hear that? Please tell me, because I would like to know.
It is possible that you have simply heard some false rumor, or it could be that someone has a special code to enter, or custom firmware to make this possible. Please provide a link if you saw this someplace on line.
6. Is it better to adjust video settings on the player or TV (or both)?
Thanks --
If you have a variety of sources, there is a good chance that they might need separate adjustments, depending upon what, exactly, they are. Your TV may or may not have a memory for different settings for different inputs. If it does not, then properly adjust your TV for another source, and then use the DVD player's settings to adjust it to match the TV with those settings. If, however, you only have the one source, then just using the TV's settings would be fine. And if your TV does remember the settings separately for different inputs, then I would just adjust the TV settings and leave the DVD player picture settings alone (except for upconversion/picture format settings).
