Recommend Upconverting Divx DVD player with USB

[parry]

Asking you experts as it is so confusing to decide which one to pick. I am looking for the following features:

1. USB input
2. Divx player
3. Upconverting

I was leaning towards:

1. Philips DVP5960- reasonably priced. Heard it uses the same chipset as Oppo 970. Can anuone confirm?
2. Oppo 970HD- better picture quality compared to Philips?
3. LG LDA-731
4. Oppo 981- when it comes out. Unsure if it will have USB?
5. Anything else?

Please recommend.

[parry]

anyone?

[dr0s]

[QUOTE=parry]1. Philips DVP5960- reasonably priced. Heard it uses the same chipset as Oppo 970. Can anuone confirm?
2. Oppo 970HD- better picture quality compared to Philips?
[/QUOTE]Both use Mediatek chipsets, but apparently slightly different versions. The Oppo picture is better, and it does other things right (eg, pillarboxing 4:3 material at upscaled resolutions). On the other hand, its USB support is iffy - people report choppiness playing movies over the port - while the Philips will happily play movies from thumb drives or even external hard drives without complaint. - DR

[parry]

Thanks. Should I wait for Oppo981?

[danieljw]

Given your desire for USB support and playing Divx files, have you thought about media servers? For example, checkout the Neodigits Helios X3000: it upconverts DVD's and video files to 1080P over component, has a USB port, and supports wireless streaming of audio/video files. Slightly more than a standalone DVD player, but if you have use for the features, it might be viable.

[dr0s]

[QUOTE=parry]Thanks. Should I wait for Oppo981?[/QUOTE]

We don't know if it will have a USB port, or - for that matter - if the USB port will be fast enough for movies.

You could also consider getting a media streamer without a built-in DVD player, and an Oppo or better player.

If your TV is not huge, or you are not extremely finicky on picture, the image quality of the Philips is really pretty decent. - DR