How is the HD-A2 for DVD playback?

[Blayze]

I'm going to buy my first HDTV sometime in a few months (yeah I'm late to the HD party), and I've been thinking about the Oppo 981 for a DVD player. With the prices of HD DVD players dropping, it wouldn't cost much more to just get a HD DVD player. I don't need the region free capabilities of the Oppo either, so I'm sort of leaning toward the HD-A2.

What I was wondering is how is the DVD playback on the HD-A2 compared to a Oppo? Are you able to zoom non-anamorphic DVDs, or do you have to use the TV to zoom. And how are the layer changes on DVDs (are they noticeable)? I have a lot of DVDs (well a lot for me ), so DVD playback is very important. I'm currently using a Sony Progressive Scan DVD player (DVP-NS50P).

 

[SLCentral]

It's fantastic. I wouldn't say its up to the Oppo 981 quality, but it's pretty damn close. I don't know about the zooming though, it's not something I ever use. The director's intentions are always best!

 

[Blayze]

Originally posted by: SLCentral
It's fantastic. I wouldn't say its up to the Oppo 981 quality, but it's pretty damn close. I don't know about the zooming though, it's not something I ever use. The director's intentions are always best!

I agree. I'm OAR all the way, but some DVDs (True Lies, etc...) are not anamorphic on Region 1 so it would have black bars on all four sides. I was talking about zooming in on that, to get rid of the bars on the sides.

 

[SLCentral]

Originally posted by: Blayze

Originally posted by: SLCentral
It's fantastic. I wouldn't say its up to the Oppo 981 quality, but it's pretty damn close. I don't know about the zooming though, it's not something I ever use. The director's intentions are always best!

I agree. I'm OAR all the way, but some DVDs (True Lies, etc...) are not anamorphic on Region 1 so it would have black bars on all four sides. I was talking about zooming in on that, to get rid of the bars on the sides.

Ah, gotcha. I haven't tried that with the HD-A2, but I don't recall seeing any zoom button on the remote/settings.

 

[Shawn]

Regular DVDs look AMAZING! It's one of the best upconverters I've ever seen (basically because it's a small computer). Highly recommended.

 

[Blayze]

Thanks looks like I might get the Toshiba instead of a Oppo.

I was reading a review that said layer changes on DVDs was slow on the HD-A2. I'm a little worried about that. I don't notice them on my Sony, but I had a older player and the layer change was annoying on some discs.

 

[Shawn]

Haven't noticed any problems with layer change with my HD-A2.

 

[BornStar]

Layer changes do show up for me on my HD-A2 but they aren't as bad as other DVD players I've used (my dad's Denon is awful).