MSRP: £499.00
Introduction
Oppo may have been a little late to the Blu-ray party but when they finally did show up they certainly brought their 'A' game. The BDP-93 was simply the best all-round player on the market and the BDP-95 was one of the very few Blu-ray players to be awarded an AVForums Reference Status. Yes the players were more expensive than some of the competition but if you were looking for uncompromised performance, thoughtful design and superb build quality, there really was nothing better. If anything, Oppo were in danger of being victims of their own success and would to need to deliver something very special this year, if they were going to eclipse former glories. Perhaps that's why it has taken the manufacturer nearly two years to launch their new players?
Well on paper, at least, it certainly looks as though it was worth the wait, with the BDP-103EU includes all the features that made the BDP-93 so great and then adding even more. That's no easy task as the original BDP-93 offered a truly impressive set of features, including Blu-ray, DVD-Audio and SACD playback, as well as 3D compatibility, dual HDMI outputs and Marvell QDEO video processing. The BDP-103 includes all that but has also added 4K upscaling, 2D to 3D conversion, a dual-core processor, two HDMI inputs, MHL support and improved network streaming. Oppo appear to have also fine-tuned the design, which suggests they've been listening to our feedback. So let's plug the BDP-103 in and see if it can live up to our decidedly high expectations.
Well on paper, at least, it certainly looks as though it was worth the wait, with the BDP-103EU includes all the features that made the BDP-93 so great and then adding even more. That's no easy task as the original BDP-93 offered a truly impressive set of features, including Blu-ray, DVD-Audio and SACD playback, as well as 3D compatibility, dual HDMI outputs and Marvell QDEO video processing. The BDP-103 includes all that but has also added 4K upscaling, 2D to 3D conversion, a dual-core processor, two HDMI inputs, MHL support and improved network streaming. Oppo appear to have also fine-tuned the design, which suggests they've been listening to our feedback. So let's plug the BDP-103 in and see if it can live up to our decidedly high expectations.
Styling/Build/Connectivity
At first glance the BDP-103 appears to be using exactly the same chassis as the previous model and whilst this is true, on closer inspection you realise that Oppo have made subtle improvements. The chassis remains wonderfully solid with an attractive brushed aluminium front and simple buttons, disc tray and displays that provide a minimalist and elegant appearance. There is an on/off button on the left hand side, some basic controls on the right hand side and an eject button next to the disc try itself. However now these buttons are slightly raised, making them easier to find and there is a tiny illuminated icon on the eject button, which again makes it much easier to locate in a darkened home cinema. It's subtle improvements like this that make you realise how much thought Oppo put into their designs and it also shows that the manufacturer listens to feedback. The centrally mounted disc tray operates smoothly and quietly and adds to the feel of a well-engineered high end player.
Last year's twin displays have been replaced by a single one on the left hand side showing the times, chapters, text and other useful information. We found the display to be informative and easy to read and, if you so wish, it can be dimmed or even turned off. There are also a pair of LED indicators to the right of the eject button, one tells you if the player is outputting 3D and the other if it's upscaling to 4K.
Finally on the front right of the BDP-103 there is a USB 2.0 port and an HDMI input that is compatible with MHL (Mobile High-definition Link). The feeling of a high-end player even extends to the well written and informative manual as well as the solid and well-padded packaging; inside which you will find the BDP-103 itself wrapped in a rather nice bag and a separate box for the player’s accessories. Aside from the remote the other accessories include a high speed HDMI cable, a Wi-Fi dongle, a USB extension cable for locating the dongle away from the player and a detachable kettle style power cable.
The BDP-103 has an impressive array of connections including two HDMI v1.4a outputs and a composite (diagnostic) video output using an RCA connector, although as is the case with all Blu-ray players these days, the component video output has been dropped. There is also a second HDMI input at the rear, allowing you to connect another device and take advantage of the Oppo's superb video processing. There are also two more USB ports, a LAN port (in case you don’t have a wireless router), a connector for the external IR sensor, a digital audio out using both optical and coaxial and an RS-232C connector for custom installers. Finally the BDP-103 includes 7.1 analogue audio outputs via RCA connectors for those that don’t have HDMI capable receivers. The only thing missing is a dedicated stereo analogue output but you can downconvert the 7.1 channels to two channels if for some reason you want stereo audio output.
Whilst the remote control is quite large, we really like it because the sizeable buttons, intuitive layout and backlight make it very easy to use in the dark. The remote's design and build quality reflects that of the player, as does Oppo’s attention to detail. The remote feels solid and comfortable to hold, the buttons themselves are easy to differentiate by touch and have a nice tactile response when pressing them. The buttons include all the usual controls for playing a disc and navigating menus, along with buttons for engaging the 2D to 3D conversion or bringing up the 3D menu. There is also a Pure Audio button that shuts down the video when listening to music, a button for changing the resolution and one for dimming the front display. There is even a dedicated button for directly accessing Netflix, which has now been added to the player's internet platform.
Features
If we had one criticism of the previous Oppo Blu-ray players it was that their internet platform was very limited, especially when compared to some of the feature-laden systems offered by the competition. Oppo have tried to address this with the BDP-103, providing an expanded platform of services and better networking and streaming capabilities. Whilst this certainly looks good on paper, the reality is that most of these services are not currently available in the UK and thus the platform remains rather limited.
All the features offered by the BDP-103 can be accessed from the Home page and initially it looks impressive. However, in the UK at least, the only services that you can actually use are Picasa, Netflix and YouTube, with the rest (Vudu, CinemaNow, Film Fresh, Pandora and Rhapsody)not being offered here. The inclusion of Netflix is certainly welcome and it makes sense to concentrate on Video on Demand services but the addition of more useful services like BBC iPlayer or LOVEFiLM would be useful. The problem that Oppo have is that the BDP-103EU is available throughout Europe and the company thus has to services that support different countries. The BDP-103 is also compatible with the Roku Streaming Stick, when and if that feature is supported in the UK.
The BDP-103 is certainly a much better performer when it comes to streaming content over your home network. It includes both Digital Media Player (DMP) and Digital Media Renderer (DMR) features, enabling wired or wireless access of audio, picture, and video files stored on DLNA-compatible digital media servers. The BDP-103 worked well in our testing and appears to support the majority of media and file formats including JPEG, AVCHD, MP3, MP4, DivX, MKV, FLAC and WAV files. All these audio, video and picture files can be accessed via your home network, discs or USB drives.
The BDP-103EU can play CDs and HDCDs, as well as Super Audio CDs (SACD) and DVD-Audio discs. For both SACD and DVD-Audio, the player supports both stereo and multi-channel high resolution audio programs and for SACD, users can select whether to output the DSD (Direct Stream Digital) signal in its native format or convert it into PCM. A new addition is the ability to connect to Gracenote's global media database over the Internet, offering an enriched playback experience by displaying Cover Art, Title, Artist, Genre and other media information for CD, DVD, Blu-ray and a wide range of digital media files. Although, we're not really convinced that Scott Walker should be classed as 'Alternative & Punk'.
Along with most other manufacturers, Oppo offer a remote control app for use with a smartphone or tablet. The remote control app for Android is already available in beta form and the app for Apple iOS devices is coming soon. We tried out the Android app using a tablet and it worked very well, connecting with the player and creating a facsimile of the remote control. It isn't as slick as some of the competition but offers a nice alternative to the provided remote and can be used with the BDP-93/95 players as well.
All the features offered by the BDP-103 can be accessed from the Home page and initially it looks impressive. However, in the UK at least, the only services that you can actually use are Picasa, Netflix and YouTube, with the rest (Vudu, CinemaNow, Film Fresh, Pandora and Rhapsody)not being offered here. The inclusion of Netflix is certainly welcome and it makes sense to concentrate on Video on Demand services but the addition of more useful services like BBC iPlayer or LOVEFiLM would be useful. The problem that Oppo have is that the BDP-103EU is available throughout Europe and the company thus has to services that support different countries. The BDP-103 is also compatible with the Roku Streaming Stick, when and if that feature is supported in the UK.
The BDP-103 is certainly a much better performer when it comes to streaming content over your home network. It includes both Digital Media Player (DMP) and Digital Media Renderer (DMR) features, enabling wired or wireless access of audio, picture, and video files stored on DLNA-compatible digital media servers. The BDP-103 worked well in our testing and appears to support the majority of media and file formats including JPEG, AVCHD, MP3, MP4, DivX, MKV, FLAC and WAV files. All these audio, video and picture files can be accessed via your home network, discs or USB drives.
The BDP-103EU can play CDs and HDCDs, as well as Super Audio CDs (SACD) and DVD-Audio discs. For both SACD and DVD-Audio, the player supports both stereo and multi-channel high resolution audio programs and for SACD, users can select whether to output the DSD (Direct Stream Digital) signal in its native format or convert it into PCM. A new addition is the ability to connect to Gracenote's global media database over the Internet, offering an enriched playback experience by displaying Cover Art, Title, Artist, Genre and other media information for CD, DVD, Blu-ray and a wide range of digital media files. Although, we're not really convinced that Scott Walker should be classed as 'Alternative & Punk'.
Along with most other manufacturers, Oppo offer a remote control app for use with a smartphone or tablet. The remote control app for Android is already available in beta form and the app for Apple iOS devices is coming soon. We tried out the Android app using a tablet and it worked very well, connecting with the player and creating a facsimile of the remote control. It isn't as slick as some of the competition but offers a nice alternative to the provided remote and can be used with the BDP-93/95 players as well.
3D Playback
We would expect any 3D Blu-ray player to output the content on 3D Blu-rays correctly and the BDP-103 doesn't disappoint, delivering a flawless performance. All the discs we tried played first time, with no hand shaking problems or other unexpected issues and navigation and playback was equally as effective. The BDP-103 handled the high definition audio equally as well and the resulting experience was incredibly immersive with the added dimensionality of the 3D image and the enveloping surround sound being delivered perfectly over HDMI. A new 3D feature is the inclusion of 2D to 3D conversion which we regard as little more than a gimmick, it works to a degree but the results never actually look like native 3D.
1080p Playback
As with the 3D performance, the digital nature of the content means that any Blu-ray player capable of outputting 1080p should be identical to any other player over HDMI, assuming of course the manufacturer isn't doing anything they shouldn't. We checked and thankfully Oppo have resisted the temptation to fiddle with the 1080p output and, as a result, the BDP-103 again delivered a flawless performance. We also checked there was no backdoor processing going on by comparing source direct to the 1080p output and once again everything was perfect. The BDP-103 correctly output 1080p video without any issues as demonstrated by the multiburst and zone plate patterns on our Spears & Munsil disc. The BDP-103 also includes 4K upscaling to a resolution 3840 x 2160 and although we were unable to test it, we can't help feeling that such a feature is something of a gimmick, given the current lack of 4K displays.
1080i Playback
When it comes to 1080i content the opportunity for the player itself to add value is far greater than it is with 1080p content. The ability of the player to detect film content inside the interlaced signal and correctly deinterlace it without introducing artefacts is dependent on the quality of the processing in the player itself. The BDP-103 passed every single cadence test on both my Spear & Munsil and HQV Blu-rays, so the video processing is as good as we expected. We also used the HQV Blu-ray disc to check the quality of the video deinterlacing. This disc has a jaggies pattern that uses three rotating bars and with the BDP-103 all three bars were smooth with no jaggies. The BDP-103 also had no problems with the video resolution loss test, correctly processing the moving portion of the image and leaving the background free of artefacts. The BDP-103 was also able to handle discs with film content that is encoded at 1080i/50Hz without any problems. Whilst there isn’t a great deal of 1080i content on Blu-ray it is good to know that the BDP-103 is capable of such excellent performance and if you do have any 1080i content the player will be able to output it flawlessly.
480i/576i Playback
Overall the BDP-103’s performance with both NTSC and PAL content was of reference quality. Using the HQV DVDs the BDP-93EU was also able to fully reproduce the SMPTE colour bar tests for both PAL and NTSC, correctly scaling the full 576i/50Hz and 480i/60Hz images without any loss of detail or unwanted ringing. With the video deinterlacing tests the results were also excellent, the BDP-103 reproduced the rotating line without producing any jaggies, even at the most extreme angles. In the motion adaptive deinterlacing test the performance remained superb with all three moving lines being reproduced correctly, even on the bottom line. The BDP-103 also had no problems in resolving all the fine brickwork in the detail tests on both the PAL and NTSC discs.
The BDP-103’s performance was equally impressive with the film detail test, correctly locking on to the image and in the cadence tests it also performed flawlessly, correctly detecting the most common types 2:3 (NTSC - USA/Japan) and 2:2 (PAL - European) format as well as all the more obscure variations. There is also an option to restore the original 24 frames per second progressive-scan video from well-authored NTSC DVDs and output at 1080p 24Hz. This is a handy feature if you have a lot of movies on US DVDs but remember to turn it off for video based content. The BDP-103 also had no problems with the test displaying film material with scrolling video text, the text was always clearly readable without any shredding. This was a superb performance by the BDP-103 and represents some of the best processing, deinterlacing and scaling that we have seen, not only from a player but even from some dedicated video processors.
The BDP-103’s performance was equally impressive with the film detail test, correctly locking on to the image and in the cadence tests it also performed flawlessly, correctly detecting the most common types 2:3 (NTSC - USA/Japan) and 2:2 (PAL - European) format as well as all the more obscure variations. There is also an option to restore the original 24 frames per second progressive-scan video from well-authored NTSC DVDs and output at 1080p 24Hz. This is a handy feature if you have a lot of movies on US DVDs but remember to turn it off for video based content. The BDP-103 also had no problems with the test displaying film material with scrolling video text, the text was always clearly readable without any shredding. This was a superb performance by the BDP-103 and represents some of the best processing, deinterlacing and scaling that we have seen, not only from a player but even from some dedicated video processors.
Subjective Audio Tests
Unlike the video performance which can be measured using a series of established tests and viewed on a calibrated reference monitor, things are a little more subjective when it comes to the audio performance. As with video, the audio will also be subject to the quality of the system being used, how it is setup and how it has been calibrated. In addition, since most people will be sending the audio as a digital bitstream over HDMI, this means that the digital to analogue conversion is actually being handled by their receiver or audio processor.
We tried a number of different audio formats on the BDP-103 including multichannel PCM, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA soundtracks from Blu-rays and Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks from DVDs. We also listened to the multichannel audio from SACD and DVD-Audio discs as well as two channel audio from SACDs and CDs, including HDCDs. We tried different methods of connecting the BDP-103 to our receiver, including HDMI, optical, coaxial and analogue multichannel cables and we also switched between bitstream and PCM.
The result of all these experiments was that we could not detect any differences between these various modes and every format sounded wonderful. The BDP-103 is clearly a very capable audio performer and whether it was DTS-HD Master Audio or a stereo CD the audio sounded fantastic. The BDP-103 was also able to detect all the different discs and audio formats without any problems and played each one back flawlessly.
We tried a number of different audio formats on the BDP-103 including multichannel PCM, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA soundtracks from Blu-rays and Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks from DVDs. We also listened to the multichannel audio from SACD and DVD-Audio discs as well as two channel audio from SACDs and CDs, including HDCDs. We tried different methods of connecting the BDP-103 to our receiver, including HDMI, optical, coaxial and analogue multichannel cables and we also switched between bitstream and PCM.
The result of all these experiments was that we could not detect any differences between these various modes and every format sounded wonderful. The BDP-103 is clearly a very capable audio performer and whether it was DTS-HD Master Audio or a stereo CD the audio sounded fantastic. The BDP-103 was also able to detect all the different discs and audio formats without any problems and played each one back flawlessly.
Disc Load Times
The BDP-103 uses new dual-core processing and as a result it is incredibly fast at both powering on and loading discs. It only took 5 seconds for the BDP-103 to power on and extend the disc tray and whilst the loading times of discs will vary from studio to studio, it was still very fast with most discs loading in about 20 seconds. When it came to DVDs, the BDP-103 was equally as fast and most discs had reached their menu page before we had sat down. The BDP-103 is also very quick at navigating discs and thanks to the steel chassis, aluminium faceplate, and centre-mounted disc loader, it's also very quiet.
Energy Consumption
- Standby: 0.0W
- Idle: 10W
- Playing a disc: 12W
Conclusion
Pros
- Universal playback
- Reference video processing
- Excellent build quality and quiet operation
- Very fast load and response times
- Easy to use with well designed menu system
- Two HDMI outputs
- 7.1 Analogue audio outputs
- WiFi dongle included
- Well designed and high quality remote
Cons
- No dedicated stereo analogue outputs
- Limited internet functionality
- More expensive than many other 3D Blu-ray players
Oppo BDP-103EU 3D Blu-ray Player Review
The BDP-103 uses essentially the same chassis as the previous BDP-103 but Oppo have made some subtle improvements based on review feedback. In fact this is one area where they are exceptionally good, not only in fine tuning their designs but also regularly releasing firmware updates when any bugs are reported. The front facia is basically the same but the buttons are easier to locate in the dark and there's now a MHL-compliant HDMI input. At the rear are still two HDMI outputs but there's now a second HDMI input, along with 2 USB ports. The remote control remains a text book example of thoughtful design, with large, intuitively placed buttons and backlight making it easy to use in the dark. The build quality is still superb and as a result the BDP-103 is very quiet in operation, whilst the addition of dual-core processing means that disc loading is fast and navigation very responsive.
Thanks to the Easy Setup Wizard, you'll have the BDP-103 up and running in no time and a concise, informative and easy to navigate menu system makes fine tuning the setup even easier. The BDP-103 doesn't have Wi-Fi built-in but it comes with wireless dongle and now includes an expanded internet platform, although if we're being honest it's still a bit of a disappointment. Whilst it makes sense to include Video on Demand services, and we welcome the inclusion of Netflix and YouTube, the majority of the other features don't work in the UK. On the plus side the network streaming capabilities are much improved and the file support is excellent. The inclusion of 4K upscaling and 2D to 3D conversion feel like gimmicks to help with marketing but the addition of access to the Gracenote global media database and a remote app for Android/iOS are actually quite useful.
The BDP-103 is marketed as a universal layer and it certainly is, providing playback of CD, HDCD, DVD, DVD-Audio, SACD, Blu-ray and 3D Blu-ray. In terms of its performance, the BDP-103 was superb with a flawless delivery of both 3D and 1080p that was free of any unwanted processing. The handling of 1080i was equally as impressive and the deinterlacing and scaling of DVDs is of a reference standard, equalling some of the best video processors. The audio performance was equally good, regardless of what audio format you chose. The BDP-103 includes 7.1 outputs if your receiver doesn't support HDMI and our only minor complaint was the lack of dedicated stereo outputs.
The BDP-93 was a tough act to follow but Oppo have managed it, delivering a new player with even better build quality, more features and an equally superb performance - all for the same price. Whilst there are cheaper players available that will play Blu-rays just as well, if you're looking for an uncompromising universal player then the Oppo BDP-103 should be at the top of your list - Highly Recommended.
Thanks to the Easy Setup Wizard, you'll have the BDP-103 up and running in no time and a concise, informative and easy to navigate menu system makes fine tuning the setup even easier. The BDP-103 doesn't have Wi-Fi built-in but it comes with wireless dongle and now includes an expanded internet platform, although if we're being honest it's still a bit of a disappointment. Whilst it makes sense to include Video on Demand services, and we welcome the inclusion of Netflix and YouTube, the majority of the other features don't work in the UK. On the plus side the network streaming capabilities are much improved and the file support is excellent. The inclusion of 4K upscaling and 2D to 3D conversion feel like gimmicks to help with marketing but the addition of access to the Gracenote global media database and a remote app for Android/iOS are actually quite useful.
The BDP-103 is marketed as a universal layer and it certainly is, providing playback of CD, HDCD, DVD, DVD-Audio, SACD, Blu-ray and 3D Blu-ray. In terms of its performance, the BDP-103 was superb with a flawless delivery of both 3D and 1080p that was free of any unwanted processing. The handling of 1080i was equally as impressive and the deinterlacing and scaling of DVDs is of a reference standard, equalling some of the best video processors. The audio performance was equally good, regardless of what audio format you chose. The BDP-103 includes 7.1 outputs if your receiver doesn't support HDMI and our only minor complaint was the lack of dedicated stereo outputs.
The BDP-93 was a tough act to follow but Oppo have managed it, delivering a new player with even better build quality, more features and an equally superb performance - all for the same price. Whilst there are cheaper players available that will play Blu-rays just as well, if you're looking for an uncompromising universal player then the Oppo BDP-103 should be at the top of your list - Highly Recommended.
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