Answer to that is yes if it is manufactured in Israel. What normally happens is that the product is normally not so ....

The Clock for jitter is true, but unless u r a true audiophile and u use ur system for 2 channel stereo u r unlikely to see a difference. Especially if u r using it thru an AV amp.

As for the Sony stuff, I find it hard to accept it. The BDA will not allow it since it has many other members in the association.

Anyway, I have no proof of this so, it is just hearsay.

The Digital to Analog conversion has to be done somewhere, in this case it is done in the player, thats all. If you use HDMI and bitstream then it would be done in your AVR but if you don't bitstream the conversion is done in the player but output in MPCM (still digital) to your AVR. The AVR would decode the digital info to analog outs to your speakers. The final product that you hear is analog sounds from your speaker anyway. Of course if you use the analog outs from the player, that in essence means that the decoding is done in the player. One thing to note would be bass management. Most players have a -10dB bass management for the subwoofer out when decoded in the player. Check this out and make sure that the correct bass management change is done at the AVR side. This is one area where HDMI might be more "fool" proof. Some people don't realise this when they do analog outs.

This post has been edited by anfieldude: Jun 13 2009, 10:34 AM

To all considering imported BD players, you might want to consider the fast loading JVC XV-BP1. It's priced competively and close to the Panny BD60 and is regarded as a direct competitor. This is only for import folks though, since it does not appear in the JVC malaysia website. It is made in Indonesia so if it does reach our shores it shd be comparable to the Panny BD60 price range.

The world of electronics sucks....

Seems like a good deal...Let me know if u get it. Can calibrate the Panny again based on the output of the BD player.

After u get it don't suffer from buyer's remorse if the price then drops....

Will PM u on my travel plans.

Wow that's good news. It something new. Shd have mine by next week.

dirtrun,

I meant it is new news to me that is region free. I guess the one I am getting is definately not region free. The ones being talked abt in Spore is that it is a hardware mod to make it region free. I definately will get the hardware mod. I got mine at USD499. Wonder how much the mod is?

I'm familiar with Oppo and have seen their 983 in action in US. Its an impressive set. Very impressive. I believe the BD83 would be as well. Anyway, will check it out for myself this weekend.

I suspect the main reason most of the players don't do SACD and DVD Audio could be licensing rights.

Does the Dune/BD60 play SACD?

I have actually compared the Blu Ray quality of the BD25 burned Blu Ray vs the actual on some of them that I have. The picture quality is different. It seems to be noisier than the original. I believe that for there is some compression going on even for titles that are BD25 to start with. Maybe burn speeds? I am not sure, but there is a difference. Audio as well.

Actually thats what I expected. I expected not to see any PQ differences but I was seeing quite a bit of differences. I compared U571 (BD25 original and "local") and also another title I forget. The difference was noticeable.

Not too sure. But the same with DVDs, I have seen clear differences between R1/R2 DVDs compared to our R3s and our local rips (RM10) stuff. Some are very good but some are downright ugly.

Maybe it is a combination of the ripping and the mass burning or maybe even the BDRs quality.

Anyway, they sell the BD25s at abt RM40+, at that price the originals are not too bad, especially if u manage to get them on a sale or used.

Received my Oppo BD-83 today. Its a beast. 5+kg, heavier than my standalone CD player.

Quick tests, did not see too much a difference between the PS3 and the Oppo at quick check, slightly sharper images. Need to recalibrate and recheck.

SACD sounds much better by sending a DSD to the Onkyo 876 compared to the Pioneer DV-600. CD comparisons need more time.

DVD upscaling was better than both the PS3 and the Pioneer DV-600. Check Star Wars Phantom of Menace and Mission Impossible III.

For the 1st time, watched my AVR light up with Dolby TrueHD...

More to come, but in 1 week. Off for a business trip and will only be back next week.

Enjoy.

Update : Applied the Region Free Hack....works great...now Region B can be played. DVD is also region free!

I applied the firmware (software) hack. My hardware hack will arrive early July.

I was part of the early interest adopters and bought it direct from Oppo US in May. Sent over to a friends house in US since I was back in Malaysia. He has been using it for 1 month, and finally got in yesterday. It can be bought from Oppo US as is released officially in US today for USD499. They might ship to Malaysia. Also you can check with SLT Technologies in Spore as they are doing MO for SGD899 + SGD20 for the Spears and Munstil Calibration Disc.

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Added on June 27, 2009, 6:11 pmjchong,

Prefer the hardware mod since using the firmware hack, I need to wait for someone over in the UK to mod each firmware that comes after this. For instance, Oppo just released a new firmware yesterday, if I update the firmware, my region free mod will not work. The hardware solution should not be susceptible to firmware updates.



This post has been edited by anfieldude: Jun 27 2009, 06:11 PM

Actually for this set, it does not need any soldering. It is supposed to be a simple add on...Let's see I will know soon enuf.

I don't think Panasonic is releasing any more new Blu Ray players this year. I think this is to clear the stock that the retailers split sold the S10 and the BD60.

Terranova,

Yeah, played around with it only for a while. More serious testing coming up this weekend when I am back home.

I have seen the instructions for the hardware mod in avforums. It seems to be changing out a ribbon cable and hooking up a power cable. Looks simple enuf if I don't mess it up.

Will keep you guys posted when I install it.

1st impressions were pretty good. Especially on being able to get it region free with a firmware hack. Check the calibration compared to the calibrated PS3. Looks like the Oppo turns up the brightness quite a bit. Will recalibrate this weekend. Grayscale is unaltered. Colours are spot on. The upscaling is pretty darn good. Need to check it out with a bigger screen though.

Need to do some 2 channel listening to see the differences.