Rooski
07-23-06, 04:12 PM
Hi all!
Keep in mind that my opinions of these two players are purely subjective.
I'm currently in a quest for a good budget player. I've already lived with with the Sony 75H for almost a month (returned it), and now I'm using an Oppo 970.
My TV is a 26" Sharp LCD (bedroom). With both players, I've found the best picture quality to be when using the HDMI output at 1080i. I've calibrated the best I could, and then adjusted for personal taste.
First off, I think the overall picture quality with the sony is outstanding! True to life colors/contrast and excellent detail. The gripe I had with the sony was a problem with the blacks when using HDMI. Dark scenes and darker areas of scenes had a "hazy" look, as if some fog rolled in. I've read some posts from users complaining about "grainy" blacks, but on my small screen, it looks like fog. When using component output, this effect is greatly reduced, but it's still noticeable. On medium to highly lit scenes, the PQ is fantastic. The colors are deep and rich, without being overblown. The contrast ratio from black to white is very wide, and gives the picture a more lifelike and almost 3D look (compared to the Oppo 970). Facial detail is outstanding, with near perfect skintones. When watching certain movies, it's like one scene would leave me in awe (well lit) and then the next scene would totally disappoint me (low light). This was very frustrating.
Now, using the Oppo 970 is a different experience. There's no trace of "hazy" dark scenes (this ruled out a possible faulty HDMI input on my tv). There's much more PQ consistency from scene to scene, and between movies, although overall the picture is much softer (even with sharpness cranked up), has less contrast ratio, and the whites sometime seem kind of dingy, causing some scenes to take on a sort of brownish hue (compared to the sony). It's almost as if the color temperature is off (too warm?).
At this point, I would choose the 970 over the 75H only because of the consistent PQ and better features, but the 970 just cannot offer the same level of PQ that I've seen from the 75H, but the 75H blows chunks in the dark scenes. When watching a movie on the 970, although it looks good, I find myself yearning for that magic lifelike PQ I've seen with the sony.
Is there another player (reasonably priced) I can try that will give me a great picture like the sony, but without the hazy/grainy blacks? I was thinking of trying the 971, but read it has an even softer picture then the 970, which I find too soft as it is.
Also, I've read over on the 970 thread that the 970 and the 75H use the same chipset, but how could this be? The PQ is so different as well as the menus. If not the same. what chipset is the sony using?
Thanks in advance for any comments!
Keep in mind that my opinions of these two players are purely subjective.
I'm currently in a quest for a good budget player. I've already lived with with the Sony 75H for almost a month (returned it), and now I'm using an Oppo 970.
My TV is a 26" Sharp LCD (bedroom). With both players, I've found the best picture quality to be when using the HDMI output at 1080i. I've calibrated the best I could, and then adjusted for personal taste.
First off, I think the overall picture quality with the sony is outstanding! True to life colors/contrast and excellent detail. The gripe I had with the sony was a problem with the blacks when using HDMI. Dark scenes and darker areas of scenes had a "hazy" look, as if some fog rolled in. I've read some posts from users complaining about "grainy" blacks, but on my small screen, it looks like fog. When using component output, this effect is greatly reduced, but it's still noticeable. On medium to highly lit scenes, the PQ is fantastic. The colors are deep and rich, without being overblown. The contrast ratio from black to white is very wide, and gives the picture a more lifelike and almost 3D look (compared to the Oppo 970). Facial detail is outstanding, with near perfect skintones. When watching certain movies, it's like one scene would leave me in awe (well lit) and then the next scene would totally disappoint me (low light). This was very frustrating.
Now, using the Oppo 970 is a different experience. There's no trace of "hazy" dark scenes (this ruled out a possible faulty HDMI input on my tv). There's much more PQ consistency from scene to scene, and between movies, although overall the picture is much softer (even with sharpness cranked up), has less contrast ratio, and the whites sometime seem kind of dingy, causing some scenes to take on a sort of brownish hue (compared to the sony). It's almost as if the color temperature is off (too warm?).
At this point, I would choose the 970 over the 75H only because of the consistent PQ and better features, but the 970 just cannot offer the same level of PQ that I've seen from the 75H, but the 75H blows chunks in the dark scenes. When watching a movie on the 970, although it looks good, I find myself yearning for that magic lifelike PQ I've seen with the sony.
Is there another player (reasonably priced) I can try that will give me a great picture like the sony, but without the hazy/grainy blacks? I was thinking of trying the 971, but read it has an even softer picture then the 970, which I find too soft as it is.
Also, I've read over on the 970 thread that the 970 and the 75H use the same chipset, but how could this be? The PQ is so different as well as the menus. If not the same. what chipset is the sony using?
Thanks in advance for any comments!