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Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

#1
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4/5/07 at 5:39am
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I've scoured the web but with no real results.

Are there any review comparisons or personal experience on the SD upconverting capabilities of the OPPO 981 vs. Toshiba AX2?

I currently own the Oppo but if there's a significant difference I can justify going format neutral.

1080P output is essential to me so the lower tier Toshiba HD players are out of the question.
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#2
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4/5/07 at 11:37am
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

Hi Jim - the Toshiba XA2 includes Silicon Optix HQV video processing. This puts the player in a league above the Oppo, with some of the best video processing available in any player on the market. I was seriously considering a Denon DVD-3930CI, which also includes the HQV chipset.

Here is a list of products that include HQV video processing; http://www.hqv.com/products.cfm
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#3
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4/6/07 at 4:16am
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

Thanks Alon, I'm aware of the differences between the two in video processing and that on paper it's a better technology however I was looking for experiences on just what this difference equates to in someones viewing of Upconverted SD material.

The Denon would be very nice but it's a bit more than I'm willing to spend right now, especially after having retooled almost my entire HT setup over the past 3 months.
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#4
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4/6/07 at 7:41am
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

I own the Oppo 971, the Secrets of Home Theater DVD Benchmark highest rated upconverting DVD player. I've happily used the 971 for over a year to enjoy the best quality DVD picture I've ever had. That is, until two weeks ago when I purchased a Toshiba HD-XA2.

The HD-XA2 is, hands down, superior to my Oppo 971. In fact, a friend and I recently did an A/B comparison of the standard def DVDs of King Kong and Happy Feet (two very-well mastered titles) in the Oppo 971 and XA2. Quite frankly, we were stunned by the differences. The XA2 image had more detail and was sharper than the Oppo 971 image. On one particular scene we still-framed on Happy Feet, where the Oppo showed some ringing around edges of objects, the XA2 looked much much cleaner. On another scene in King Kong, where the XA2's better detail clearly showed a defined bead of sweat on Jack Black's cheek, the Oppo 971 caused the bead of sweat to blend into the Jack's cheek and appear more like a smudge.

I am so very pleased with the standard def upconversion of the Toshiba HD-XA2, I consider its HD-DVD capability to be just a nice bonus.

Of course, when we compared the same two standard def DVDs (on either player) to the HD-DVD version on the XA2, there was no question which image was the winner! When you take the time to look closely on a decent sized screen (mine is a 70" JVC LCoS), no SD-DVD can touch the quality of a good HD-DVD. Anyone who thinks the differences between SD-DVD and HD-DVD are "minor", must be watching them on a 5" screen.

I have over 500 SD-DVDs that will continue to get regular service in my new XA2. Thanks to the XA2's upconversion quality, I won't be double-dipping (to HD-DVD) on very many of them (less than 2 dozen). But I also won't be buying any new SD-DVD titles. From here on out it is HD-DVD only for this guy. If the title isn't available on HD-DVD, I'll rent rather than buy the SD-DVD version.

So, if the studios still want to sell me DVDs... they better get off their butts and put the titles on HD-DVD.

Mark

As of July 2009, I own more movies in High-Definition than in Standard-Definition.
http://mydiscs.markshangout.com

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#5
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4/6/07 at 1:12pm
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

Thanks Mark.

I've got the 60' XBR2 and a 500+ SD collection so I think we're both on the same page. Upconversion is critical, without it SD on a 1080P display looks very much like VHS quality.
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#6
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4/7/07 at 3:10pm
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

The Reon will definitely outperform anything Faroudja makes.
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#7
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4/7/07 at 3:20pm
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

Kris Deering, who is insturmental in those Secrets DVD player benchmark tests, remarked over on AVS that he's got the XA2 in his rack at home. That should tell you something.
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#8
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4/7/07 at 9:20pm
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

Here's the catch 22 if you will regarding the XA-2 upconversion greatness...

I've already sold all the dvds I ended buying on HD DVD. And the dvd movies coming out on HD this spring and summer are already sold...so I am needing the upconversion performance less and less. Still, though, and this is a BIGGIE, there are many great films on dvd that could take years to appear on HD: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Disney's classic animation and the Pixar greats...etc...

Touch decision. I came so close to ordering a XA-2 last week but stopped just before the page said, "submit order". ...Going to give it more thought.

All these players seem to perform the same with HD DVD.
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#9
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4/8/07 at 4:50am
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

could take, Tim?
When the first break-out, blockbuster new release HD disc only sells about 50,000 and some (imo excellant) catalog titles only sell a couple thousand, if that...we will be very lucky to ever see either the really good stuff, or the breadth of catalog choices sd will offer.

Those numbers that were recently divulged were startling...and very disturbing.
I don't think any of us will be enjoying many of Lucas or Spielbergs best movies anytime soon.

I really don't need to be buying anymore gear anytime soon, at least until I pay off my projector- but if I were I would have a very hard time not getting the XA2. It sounds like a winner thru and thru. My A1 performs reasonably well and I haven't had near the amount of problems with it that some others here have had. But I would love to have the ability to cleanly pass 1080p with both HD DVDs and regular sd.
But then again, if I was going to toss $600 on another player, wouldn't it make more sense to pick up something that can play the other format and open my pool of potential viewing choices up considerably?
I still think Bd has a much tougher row to hoe than most people realize.
When you have invested in a whole new infrastructure the way bd has, have as many yield issues as Bd still does, cost tice as much to master, and on and on, and yet the majority of titles still only sell a few thousand with a base of capable players numbering in the millions...I think you are definitely in trouble.
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#10
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4/8/07 at 7:33am
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

Just an FYI, but supposedly Samsung is releasing a SD DVD player with the Reon chipset in it which will list at $110 (according to some people at AVS). I'm still skeptical about this, but something to keep in mind. If this is true and it's implemented properly, that's a great bargain.
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#11
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4/10/07 at 12:13pm
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave H
Just an FYI, but supposedly Samsung is releasing a SD DVD player with the Reon chipset in it which will list at $110 (according to some people at AVS). I'm still skeptical about this, but something to keep in mind. If this is true and it's implemented properly, that's a great bargain.

This stage in the game, I think these scaling players are not worth the purchase anymore. I'm almost over the fence and strongly considering the purchase of the HD-DVD player for 299.00. I hoping that by the summer the price will break the 260 mark and then I'm in, even if BD wins, I will have what would be considered as a nostalgic player for less than 275.00.

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#12
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4/10/07 at 3:36pm
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerome Grate
This stage in the game, I think these scaling players are not worth the purchase anymore. I'm almost over the fence and strongly considering the purchase of the HD-DVD player for 299.00. I hoping that by the summer the price will break the 260 mark and then I'm in, even if BD wins, I will have what would be considered as a nostalgic player for less than 275.00.

The only thing is, most of us aren't going to be able to give up SD DVD anytime soon due to the extremely broad content selection (or lack of it for HD) and the Reon chipset is really a step foward over Faroudja or Mediatek.
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#13
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4/10/07 at 3:58pm
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

Buying an HD DVD or BD player doesn't mean "giving up" SD, thought - every single one is backward-compatible, and all of Toshiba's HD DVD players have gotten pretty excellent marks as upconverters. Right now, it's becoming almost reasonable to buy and HD DVD player as an upconverting DVD player and have the HD capabilities as a bonus.
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#14
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4/10/07 at 4:13pm
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

How does this compare to the A1?

Dugger

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#15
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4/10/07 at 4:29pm
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

The deinterlacer/scaler in the A1 is good (for film), but the Reon is more refined and smoother; more filmlike in general.
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#16
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4/11/07 at 4:11am
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

I should be getting my XA2 later this week so I'll be able to do some head to head upconversion comparisons with my Oppo.
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#17
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4/11/07 at 6:42pm
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

Looking forward to your impressions Jim.
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#18
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4/11/07 at 6:51pm
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim_K
I should be getting my XA2 later this week so I'll be able to do some head to head upconversion comparisons with my Oppo.
While I have owned upconverting DVD players for a while, I have not had the pleasure of seeing the Oppo in action. Since my XA2 arrived, I have pretty much retired my other UC DVD player and have been using the XA2 exclusively for HD DVD and SD DVD's. To my eye, it does an absolutely great job upconverting SD disks, and has certainly helped in my decision not to replace every SD disk I have with it's HD release (Either BD or HD).

I am looking forward to your thoughts, especially as from what I understand, the Oppo is one of the best UC players on the market.

Thomas Eisenmann(Last updated 12/02/08) HD-DVD CollectionBlu-Ray CollectionDVD CollectionToshiba HD-XA2, HD Add-on, Panasonic DMP-BD55KPioneer VSX-94TXH, Panasonic PT-AE 3000U 1080p 252 HDs, 167 BDs, 1560 - DVDs and going down

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#19
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4/12/07 at 7:15am
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerome Grate
This stage in the game, I think these scaling players are not worth the purchase anymore. I'm almost over the fence and strongly considering the purchase of the HD-DVD player for 299.00. I hoping that by the summer the price will break the 260 mark and then I'm in, even if BD wins, I will have what would be considered as a nostalgic player for less than 275.00.

I totally agree
I needed a new DVD player about 2 months ago, and didn't even bother with checking out the upconverting SD players

I picked up a new HDA2 for $500 CDN and am loving it for HD DVD and for my SD DVD collection

I have only bought 5 HD discs - I am still renting SD and HD, so I feel I have the best of both worlds right now

HD DVD in the house

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#20
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4/14/07 at 8:39am
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

Well the XA2 arrived yesterday so now I'm officially multiHDformat and can enjoy the best of both worlds. Woo-hoo!

After the initial set-up and updating the firmware tried a very few select SD's. My initial impressions (without comparing between players) are that the upcoverting is pretty much on par with the Oppo. As expected results vary wildly depending on the individual title and the quality of the transfer, some look very good but not quite near HD, and other titles, well......garbage in, garbage out as they say.

I plan to do much more (head to head vs. the Oppo this time) upconverting sampling over the next few weeks so I'll follow-up later.

I'm starting to think upconverting (while a huge step up from non-upconverted SD) is way over-hyped, either that or I'm really spoiled by HD. In a fucked up way, I envy the "SD is good enough for me, I see no difference in HD" luddites.

As for HD-DVD PQ -It is as I suspected, on par with Blu-Ray - absolutely fantastic.
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#21
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4/14/07 at 9:10pm
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

Glad you got it Jim. Hope you enjoy it and that it brings you some HD films you didn't have. Neutral seems like a great thing....hopefully I can sell a kidney soon and be there with you.

Agree with you on the upconversion. You are spoiled with HD content. Me too. While a solid dvd upconverted by the Toshiba HD DVD players are rather very good, NOTHING beats true HD. Nothing.

Enjoy your new toy Jim. BTW, I see you are getting The Bourne Supremacy HD DVD...might just be my favorite HD DVD experience. Love the U-control and love Universal's Menus way more than Warners.
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#22
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4/17/07 at 10:50am
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

As mentioned previously, I have the Reon chipset in my Denon 2930, but it's becoming harder and harder for me to watch SD DVD. After a steady diet of 2-3 Blu-ray discs a week from Netflix for the last three months, any time I pop in a SD DVD (even of good quality), it just feels so lacking. Aside from the obivous lack of resolution and detail, the colors of SD DVD have so much less pop and look less unnatural in comparison.

I've also decided to jump back into HD DVD for Warner and Universal support (unforunately, Warner is not fully supporting Blu-ray at this time on several levels). I may sell my 2930 and just stick with the HD-A2 for SD DVD. I mean the Reon chipset is better than what's used in the A2, but I think the A2 may still be good enough if you know what I mean.
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#23
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4/23/07 at 10:12am
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

Just curious to your thoughts on the XA-2 Jim since you've had more time to watch some stuff on it? Got any more HD DVDs to test it?

I kind of envy you being neutral. You get the best of both worlds.
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#24
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4/23/07 at 3:05pm
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

Slowly but surely Tim. I've got a bit of a backlog of unwatched HD and BD discs now (a problem I relish BTW ) But so far on HD-DVD I've watched King Kong, The Thing, Hulk and The Mummy. No complaints.

On deck (off the top of my head)
12 Monkeys
Adventures of Robin Hood
Batman Begins
Casablanca
Casino
The Deer Hunter
Excalibur
Forbidden Planet
V For Vendetta
Pitch Black

Still need to pick out the 5 freebies. I'll probably do that before I order any more.

Really want Children of Men but until they get the playback problems straightened out I'll wait.
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#25
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4/23/07 at 4:36pm
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Re: Upconverting capabilities - Oppo 981HD vs. Toshiba AX2

Nice list of current hits and some classics. ...You'll be surprised how good Casablanca looks and from 1943? and Robin Hood from 1937. Amazing.

Good call on Children of Men. My favorite film of 2006 but yeah, there's some issues. Universal is aware of this so hopefully a re-do is soon. I sent mine back to amazon too.

Enjoy your movies Jim.
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