Plastic discs encompass – DVD, Blu Ray, UHD Blu Ray 4K, CD, DVDA, SACD, Blu Ray Audio.

So what do I review those shiny Plastic discs on?

• Denon DBP-A100 + Denon Link4

Denon DBP-A100

• Oppo BDP 103

Oppo BDP-103

• Oppo UDP 203

Oppo UDP 203

• Oppo UDP 205

Oppo UDP 205

Even though these players have all their video processing set to off, there are observable differences in sharpness, contrast ratio and color saturation between them all, even though the usual test discs show little obvious differences. I have to put this down to their MPEG decoders based upon tests I have done looking at the serialized SDI outputs directly from their decoders. For HD Blu Ray, the new Oppo UDP 203/205 both provide the sharper image, better color saturation and deeper blacks (less noisy) with any HD playback driving the Darblet processor. If the disc will not play for some reason, very rare, I use either the Denon A100 or Oppo BDP 103 which all provide the next best level of reliable decoding. The Oppo UDP 203 and UDP 205 are both 4K UHD players. I use the 203 for most HD playback and the 205 for all 4K playback as it is hardwired directly to my JVC DLA-RS640 projector, my Denon AVP A1 does not support 4K.

NOTE: My Denon AVPA1 HDCI pre-amplifier always operates in 3D mode; this causes it to fully bypass all the video processing and on screen graphics insertion hardware.

Previously my system was connected using professional 270Mb/s or 1.5Gb/s SDI, and any video processing (typically vertical stretch for my Panamorph lens) was accomplished in a DVDO iScan VP50pro. The Anchor Bay video processing in this hardware is excellent and it allowed me to stop using the unreliable encrypted HDMI connections that introduced artifacts that could clearly be seen when compare to the SDI connectivity. These artifacts were probably a result of other hardware within the players that the signal passed through on the way to the HDMI chips; however, I have no way of easily confirming that. Anyway, this connectivity can no longer be used with 4K so I have converted the system back to all HDMI with the associated annoying handshaking issues.

There are also audible differences between using HDMI, Denon Link and converting formats to LPCM audio when driving the AVP pre amp. This will be discussed at a later date.