Mihaitaa
I tend to agree with much of your comments.
BDP 97?
According to Oppo…. Netflix, BB, etc., asked for a possible upcoming product designation so as to enable them to setup their own proprietary assignments to various company players so they don’t have to fuss with it repeatedly. Oppo has no designs on a model 97 as of this posting.
Also, the 95 can be used as a DLNA device for audio file playback and in that regard, be used as a DAC. An Explorer type folder tree will reveal 8 folders at a time, and their consequent files. Oppo says the Saber chipset using 32 bit word structure vs 24, and the upgraded power sup from Rotel as well as two pair of DACs for stereo sampling, should easily exceed the performance of the 83 SE.
It’s reputedly going to sell for $999 and as release dates go, I was cautioned to not be expecting editorialized or professional reviews on the 95 until as late as mid summer, perhaps. Summer? ???
Both 93 & 95 models sport a new TEAC drive assembly. Have networking functionality, read NTFS discs. Play a larger assortment of files including lossless file types. Cnnect directly to ESATA drives. Have 3-d Blue ray replay.
According to one Oppo employee, It was said the BDP 83 would replay SD DVD marginally better via the Anchor Bay chip than thru the new Marvel chips… but very marginally. Less than 5% difference. Due primarily to scaling and some other aspect of SD DVD play. Blue Ray would not be so affected. No mention of the upscaling feature for SD DVD was revealed as better than or less than in the BDP 93. the newer model does enable streaming video and 3D video, so the chipsets do have a different set of priorities to deal with most commonly.
I suppose then it comes down to this….
IF NETWORKING of, and playback of video and audio files via something other than a computer is important,, AND THEY ARE ON A Hard Disc Drive, networked or not … USB, ESATA.
IF having 2 HDMI outputs is key
IF 3D BR content playback is a big deal
IF streaming (renting) movies from offsite venues is a biggie
And you don’t mind the 4-5% loss of video perfection which accompanies this added functionality…. The 93 is the deal!
IF however you want a boost in the audio department for better disc or file playback, and as well all the other aforementioned bells and whistles … and there are more so check out the Oppo website…. Then the added $500 is required provided you want the Oppo name riding on it.
Otherwise…. If you aren’t headed for a new 3D display… don’t care to rent online, your BR discs, or DVDs from Netflix, BB, etc., and aren’t into audio file playback from storage or networked devices, and you like what the BDP 83 is giving you… keep your ’83.
I’ve decided to sell my BDP 83. I’ve not decided on which Oppo model to buy next however. I’m inclined to wait till this summer in fact…. But who knows. I’m not the most paitient man in the world… just more so than ever before. The BDP 95 does interest me more so than the 93…. But both are IMHO a step up if for no other reason than the networking aspects.