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Question: HDMI connection I have an older Sony television with no HDMI connection, but my Onkyo Receiver HT-R550 has HDMI connections.From what I have read in the DV-981 instructions, does this mean that the player is useless for HDMI video and NTSC - PAL movie conversions?
Document: I purchased the Oppo DV-981HD due to its excellent reviews and previous purchase ofOppo 3x1 HDMI 1.3 switch. I was slightly concerned because of the 'most helpful'three star review warning rear project HDTVs may have a compatibilty problem; Ihave an older rear projection Sony KDL-42WE611.After installing the Oppo (HDMI to Oppo switch and digital coax to AV receiver) andconfiguring the on-screen setup, I was rewarded with a very nice 720p upscalerendering of the "The 5th Element" superbit DVD.
Combined it with an Onkyo receiver and JBL speakers and the upconverted image and sound (via HDMI) are superb. I had purchased a $100 HDMI cable to connect it to the receiver and 'what a pleasant surprise' when I opened the box and found that the Oppo brought it's own cable. Overall --it's 'enjoy the DVD' time in my house. I'm not sure if it would be better with an alternate type of connection, like coaxial --just in case.
I bought this dvd player for my Samsung lns-4095d 1080p. I have to say when you switch the player to 1080p, it's like taking off on an airplane.I love it, my wife loves it and my cat is now watching dvds with us.Why buying a Oppo 981 vs. Sony or Samsung hd960?? ?1) It's black2) it has up to 1080p upconversion using NTSC or PAL Disk3) It takes 110V US or 220V Europe, so you can travel with it.
There are already so many great reviews that I don't need to add much but I wanted to put in a vote. This worked right out of the box. My set up is a Samsung HDTV flat panel  40". I needed a new player because I needed to play DivX which my Sony NS75H did not support. One big attraction of the Oppo was the ability to read PAL and convert to NTSC. In this regard it played some European pal DVDs flawlessly once I set up the region code as reported.
(Well, I did. Maybe anything looks better than your old TV. )If, like me, you find your existing video library intolerable on your new hi-def rig, then you should consider this player. Like the other reviewers, I am very pleased with it. It makes the content watchable.There are two provisos.First, you have to read the instructions. The DV-981HD does not automatically detect and output in your screen's favorite format.
I purchased this product, and I'm overall very satisfied with it. I purchased this model with the intention of pairing it's 1080p output and standard DVD-upconversion with my Sony KDS-50A2000. My intention was to get a DVD player that would allow me to enjoy my Standard-DVD movies on my HDTV until the new HD Video format war is decided.The picture quality of the Oppo DV-918HD is noticeably better than my older Samsung progressive scan DVD/VHS combo player.
I have my Oppo 981HD connected via HDMI line to a new Sony KDL-40Z4100. If I'm playing a new release DVD, especially one digitally mastered, It's about 95% of what Blu Ray can show me. No joke!I have looked at both a Sony BDP-S300 Blu Ray player and the upscaling Oppo 981 with the same movie; the difference is negligible. The movie was 'The Cleaner.'
Great picture using HDMI cable but don't expect Blue Ray quality picture. It depends on the quality of the video equiptment used to make the movie more than anything. A recently made movie will usually look beter than an older one.
After getting my 52" 1080p LCD HD TV I just about gave up on standard definition DVDs since they looks so terribly on this TV. The Oppo DV-981HD changed it all. While it will not convert SD DVDs to the same quality as Blu Ray, it is impressive what it can do to enhance these DVDs. For the first time I can watch them again without getting a headache. It is also easily converted to zone free player and does a great job converting PAL DVDs to NTSC.
It outputs NTSC or PAL (the way I want it to feed my 50" Pioneer Plasma PRO-FHD1, which accepts NTSC and PAL) or you can use the internal video converter that can convert PAL to NTSC, or if you wanted, NTSC to PAL. I have many region 2 PAL discs that look so stunningly beautiful in 1080p. Same applies to U.S. DVDs that are in NTSC and region code 1.Indeed, this player is a slim-line unit but nicely illuminated in blue.
Answer: Your TV's lack of HDMI renders this player unusable, regardless of your receiver's capabilities.  I'd recommend the 980H, but that does not perform as well with PAL conversion.  There are rumors of a future model, the DV-983H, which may (or may not) support component video.  Note, however, that CSS-encrypted discs will not upconvert over component.One thought though... if your TV has a DVI input you might be able use an HDMI-DVI adapter (which is what I did).