Oppo DV-970HD DVD player w/ CRT TV?

[icky2000]

I just purchased the Talking Heads Brick which is their 8 studio albums remastered in DVD-Audio. I've also bought a couple of Peter Gabriel SACD rereleases. However, my old Sony CD/DVD doesn't handle either of these formats so I'm shopping for a Universal CD/DVD player.

I do watch some DVDs too so I will use the new player for that too but my Sony 32" CRT purchased 4 or 5 years ago still works great and looks fine and I'm not much of a video guy so I don't have any plans to go out and by a new digital TV of any sort in the next few years.

Given this, I ignore all of the upconversion discussions. After reading reviews here, I decided on the Oppo DV-970HD DVD player because it is in my price range (I could afford a bit more but I'm sure this is good enough for my ears and eyes). I went to their site to order it and was asked to "Enter your display brand and model and the type of video input (DVI or HDMI)". Well shucks, Oppo, I've got neither!

This made me wonder, won't this thing work with my CRT? I'll probably route the video through my Sony STR-DE945 receiver via S-Video or maybe go direct to the TV via composite (it's been 2 years since I've been back there and I don't even recall if my TV has composite but I know it has S-video). I do have surround speakers connected to the receiver.

So there you have it, a silly question but I figured I better be sure - can I assume that every universal DVD player will also work with my CRT if I use the composite or S-Video jacks? Thanks for helping a newb!

 

[jcPanny]

Oppo video

Yes, the Oppo has S-video and component video outputs. Check the back of your TV. If it has a component video connection (3 red, green, blue RCA jacks) than you will be able to take advantage of the video de-interlacing and upscalling features of the Oppo in addition to the SACD and DVD-Audio playback.

Also, verify that your receiver has the 5.1 channel analog inputs that will be necessary for SACD and DVD-Audio.

Pick up a couple cables from monoprice for the new video and audio connections.

 

[icky2000]

OK, so I'm fine with the video then. Your statement about 5.1 analog inputs for SACD and DVD-Audio has me wondering, though.

My receiver does have 5.1 analog inputs but it also has a digital audio optical input which I'm using with my current DVD player and I know that surround sound works that way with existing DVDs that I rent (obviously I've not tested SACD or DVD-Audio since my current DVD player doesn't support either). Is there a real advantage to using the 5.1 analog connections instead? I'm guessing that if I use the analog connections I'll be using the DAC on the Oppo but if I use the optical connection I'll be using the DAC on my receiver? At that point I would have to guess which DAC is better, the $150 Oppo or my more expensive (but several years old) Sony STR-DE945 receiver? Or am I missing something? Thanks for the help!

 

[Mort Corey]

You'll have to use the 5 (or 6 if you've got a sub) analog connections for DVD-A and SACD but you can also use the optical (or coax) output from the Oppo for regular DVD viewing (well, not viewing, but the sound portion) if your receiver supports DD and DTS you'd be all set.

Just set up one this weekend and it's pretty slick....especially for the price.

Mort

 

[icky2000]

OK, I did a little research and I now get this. DVD-Audio and SACD won't allow use of the optical and coaxial digital connections because there is no "security" to prevent me from somehow making copies of that content so I must use the 5.1 analog connections for those formats but as Mort said, I can use the digital connections for regular DVD viewing.

I've also confirmed that my receiver supports DD and DTS so all should be well. I'm off to buy cables. Thanks jcPanny and Mort for the help!

 

[icky2000]

OK I actually do have one more question. Given your assistance here I need to buy a composite video cable, a 5.1 (6) cable, and I also happen to need a longer subwoofer cable since that cable in my current system is a bit too tight.

jcPanny, you recommended Monoprice whom I've never heard of. Were you serious? I just looked at their site and their prices are unbelievably cheap. A 12 foot composite cable (3 x RG59U) is just $4.83 US. I usually buy the cheapest Monster Cable I can find simply because I want halfway decent cables and I don't want to be suckered into something too expensive (I also don't want to spend weeks researching cables).

I've read through several of the cable articles on this site and found them interesting but don't really understand all of the detail and don't really want to. I just want something decent without paying an arm and a leg. Monoprice fits those requirements? (a part of me thought maybe your point about Monoprice was a joke because they were so darn cheap and boy would I feel silly if everyone on this site knew they were crap and it was just a joke...lol)

 

[Mort Corey]

Look for "Better Cables" or "Blue Jeans Cables". You'll get equal (or better) quality than Monster for a lot less money......and be able to get them just the right length. BTW, I think for the video you must mean component vs composite. Composite is the single yellow cable and at the bottom of the video transfer food chain. If you TV supports component connections (three cables) that's the way to go. The Oppo's video output over component is quite good.

Mort

 

[icky2000]

I did indeed mean component, not composite. I always get that messed up! Thanks for the cable advice.

 

[jcPanny]

System upgrade

Icky,
You are on the right track with the components you will need for SACD and DVD-A playback. For reference, SACD and DVD-A can't use the coax or optical digital connections because these do not have enough bandwith to carry the higher resolution audio signal. If you used the optical connection, for example, you would get CD quality and thus no benefit.

Based on the description of your system, the $200+ might be better spent in a speaker, receiver, or TV upgrade fund. You can buy some discs with a DTS track that will play on your current DVD player and will probably sound comparable to SACD or DVD-A on your current system.

 

[hemiram]

OK I actually do have one more question. Given your assistance here I need to buy a composite video cable, a 5.1 (6) cable, and I also happen to need a longer subwoofer cable since that cable in my current system is a bit too tight.

jcPanny, you recommended Monoprice whom I've never heard of. Were you serious? I just looked at their site and their prices are unbelievably cheap. A 12 foot composite cable (3 x RG59U) is just $4.83 US. I usually buy the cheapest Monster Cable I can find simply because I want halfway decent cables and I don't want to be suckered into something too expensive (I also don't want to spend weeks researching cables).

I've read through several of the cable articles on this site and found them interesting but don't really understand all of the detail and don't really want to. I just want something decent without paying an arm and a leg. Monoprice fits those requirements? (a part of me thought maybe your point about Monoprice was a joke because they were so darn cheap and boy would I feel silly if everyone on this site knew they were crap and it was just a joke...lol)

No, it's Monster and most of the insanely overpriced cables that are the joke. And it's a bad joke, because the company makes a ton of money selling something for an insane price and people buy them, not knowing any better.

I just ordered a component cable and a few other items from Monoprice, and they have (all the other cables I have bough from them) always been delivered quicky and work as well as a cable costing 10 or 20 times as much. Think of all the DVDs and stuff you can buy when you don't pay 100 bucks for a cable. Not ot mention a better receiver, DVD player, etc.