High-end electronics manufacturer Oppo Digital has announced an update to its line of reference quality Blu-ray players, replacing the existing BDP-93 with a new BDP-103.
The BDP-103 evolves from the superceded model with 4K video upscaling, interpolating Blu-ray and DVD video for compatible 4K TVs like the Sony BRAVIA XBR900 and LG 84LM9600. The new player also has twin HDMI outputs to drive two televisions simultaneously, or to run high quality audio to an amplifier while still outputting the highest quality video possible to a connected screen.
Oppo’s Blu-ray players have previously been lauded for their excellent picture quality and image processing, and the BDP-103 continues that trend with reference-grade components and a Source Direct mode which lets the player output video with no processing — letting purists view their Blu-ray films with as little interference and adjustment as possible.
Twin HDMI inputs also mean the BDP-103 can function as an A/V receiver, taking the video and audio output from another device like a media streamer, processing the signal and outputting it. One of the HDMI inputs is on the BDP-103’s front panel, and supports the MHL micro-HDMI standard becoming common on smartphones and tablets.
The player has three USB 2.0 ports and a wired Ethernet LAN port, and comes bundled with an 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi adapter. The BDP-103 can access videos, music and photos in a comprehensive range of formats over both USB and DLNA through both wired and wireless networking.
Like all new Blu-ray players released by the end of 2012 and the start of 2013, the Oppo BDP-103 incorporates Cinavia digital rights management technology. Cinavia detects counterfeit or copied Blu-ray video, using inaudible frequency pulses to match video playback against a database of matching authorisation keys (generated by an authorised disc in an authorised, Cinavia-enabled player). If an appropriate key is not generated — if a counterfeit disc, or a backed-up copy of a legitimate disc, is being played — the Cinavia system stops playback 20 minutes into the video.
A new dual-core processor means the Oppo BDP-103 is much faster than its predecessor. Initial testing by users shows the new player booting up in half the speed of the superceded BDP-93.
The Australian version of the Oppo BDP-103 will include built-in applications for NetFlix, VUDU, FilmFresh, Pandora, Picasa and the new YouTube Leanback interface, optimised for lounge-room viewing. Several of these services — most notably NetFlix and VUDU — aren’t available in Australia at this time, though.
The Australian Oppo BDP-103 will cost $699 when it’s made available in late November or early December.
