All-Region DVD and Blu-ray Player Advice

[swo17]

If you're getting a Momitsu, does it matter if you get it from atacom or somewhere else (i.e. is atacom modifying it in a way that other sellers aren't)? I've noticed quite a few customer complaints about them. I already placed an order, but just realized that I never had the opportunity to enter an email address, and I don't know what my order number is, so I'm kind of in the dark until it (hopefully) arrives. This makes me a little nervous...

[kekid]

Does anyone have any experience as to how the newly announced OPPO 83ES compares (primarily in audio) with the original OPPO 83? Is it a significant difference?

[Perkins Cobb]

Yeah, I'm not trying Atacom without some reports from the front -- Swo, I guess you're the guinea pig again. Good luck!

Anyone buy a region-free Blu from 220 Electronics? They have a Panasonic DMP-BD60K for $350, which is kind of ridiculous (the un-hacked version goes for less than half that). But at least it's a brand name and I have received adequate customer service from 220 in the past.

[nsps]

No, it doesn't make a difference where you buy your Momitsu. In fact, even the cheaply priced rebranded clones that were in Target could be made region-free with remote codes. Hope Atacom doesn't suck for you!

[zombeaner]

I bought my Momitsu from xpcgear and it is region free. Still needs remote codes, but I tested it a couple of days ago and it worked on an RB locked disc.

[kekid]

I recently got the bfi Blu Ray of "The Leopard", and played it on both Momitsu and OPPO 83. In this process I discovered an effect on OPPO that baffled me. (My OPPO 83 has been modified for all region through a DIY kit).
Shortly after the beginning of the second track, the camera moves through a building into a room. The window curtains are moving with breeze. When I play the disc with OPPO, there is a moment when the image of the moving curtain breaks up. The same thing happens a few seconds later when the curtain of the second window moves with the breeze. The Momitsu plays the entire scene without any aberration. Both players play this scene in the Criterion Region 1 disc of the Leopard without any problem.
If anyone has a modified OPPO 83 and the bfi Blu Ray disc of the Leopard, I would like to know if you can replicate this problem.
I also experienced problems in playing some SACD-only discs (not hybrids), and reported these to OPPO. They confirmed the problem, but have no solution so far. I cannot report the above DVD problem because OPPO will not deal with problems of a modified player. The problem bothers me because it might signal the possibility of other distortions that are less obvious.
OPPO 83 has received rave reviews, and is considerably more expensive than the Momitsu. My experience so far has been decidedly mixed.

[fiddlesticks]

FWIW, I have several (at least) discs that play perfectly on one machine and have problems in another. Which machine (BD player, PC, or any of four DVD players) is the culprit varies from disc to disc. I've always assumed that the problem was on the disc, not in the player.

[pashalifi]

I have exactly the same problem: digital breakup on that scene when played in my modified Oppo 83.
I took the disc back to work (I work in the BFI and bought it internally) and played that same disc with staff from the DVD department on their Sony bluray player, it played perfectly. They've given me a new copy to try, I'll try it tonight and report back both here and to the DVD team, in case it's something they can follow up with the bluray authoring people.
Incidentally I have watched four other BFI blurays on the Oppo, they all played perfectly.

[perkizitore]

I have experienced the same problem with my BDP-83 and and it's only firmware modified. I am glad you contacted Oppo, let's hope they fix this!

[gyorgys]

I recently got the bfi Blu Ray of "The Leopard", and played it on both Momitsu and OPPO 83. In this process I discovered an effect on OPPO that baffled me. (My OPPO 83 has been modified for all region through a DIY kit).
Shortly after the beginning of the second track, the camera moves through a building into a room. The window curtains are moving with breeze. When I play the disc with OPPO, there is a moment when the image of the moving curtain breaks up. The same thing happens a few seconds later when the curtain of the second window moves with the breeze. The Momitsu plays the entire scene without any aberration. Both players play this scene in the Criterion Region 1 disc of the Leopard without any problem.
If anyone has a modified OPPO 83 and the bfi Blu Ray disc of the Leopard, I would like to know if you can replicate this problem.
I also experienced problems in playing some SACD-only discs (not hybrids), and reported these to OPPO. They confirmed the problem, but have no solution so far. I cannot report the above DVD problem because OPPO will not deal with problems of a modified player. The problem bothers me because it might signal the possibility of other distortions that are less obvious.
OPPO 83 has received rave reviews, and is considerably more expensive than the Momitsu. My experience so far has been decidedly mixed.

Are you on the latest firmware?
I have also a modified Oppo BDP-83 (done by CRT in the UK) and the BFI Leopard blu-ray disc and will check later.

[perkizitore]

No, i am on the first region-free released firmware.

[pashalifi]

Are you on the latest firmware?
I have also a modified Oppo BDP-83 (done by CRT in the UK) and the BFI Leopard blu-ray disc and will check later.

Yes, I'm on that firmware as far as I know (CRT shipped the modified player with the latest firmware so I'm assuming it's up to date). The problem is very noticeable straight away in the scene immediately after the opening titles/credits: the pan across the building/ curtains blowing - vertical lines pixelate / show heavy digital breakup.

[kekid]

Are you on the latest firmware?
I have also a modified Oppo BDP-83 (done by CRT in the UK) and the BFI Leopard blu-ray disc and will check later.

Yes, I am on the latest firmware.

[perkizitore]

I haven't done a research if the latest firmware has been modified to be region-free because i didn't think it was important. I hope they fix it until The Leopard hits all retailers on February.

[kekid]

I haven't done a research if the latest firmware has been modified to be region-free because i didn't think it was important. I hope they fix it until The Leopard hits all retailers on February.

I did not report this problem to OPPO because their (unmodified) player is a Region A player, and they would likely not address a problem experienced on a region B Blu Ray disc. (Is there an OPPO version for region B? If there is, someone from region B should report the problem to them. Otherwise it will likely go unresolved.).

I did report to OPPO a problem in playing a number of SACD-only discs (SONY SACD versions of some of the Szell, Bernstein and Copland recordings). They replicated the problem, but have not yet found a solution to it.

[pashalifi]

I haven't done a research if the latest firmware has been modified to be region-free because i didn't think it was important. I hope they fix it until The Leopard hits all retailers on February.

I did not report this problem to OPPO because their (unmodified) player is a Region A player, and they would likely not address a problem experienced on a region B Blu Ray disc. (Is there an OPPO version for region B? If there is, someone from region B should report the problem to them. Otherwise it will likely go unresolved.).

I did report to OPPO a problem in playing a number of SACD-only discs (SONY SACD versions of some of the Szell, Bernstein and Copland recordings). They replicated the problem, but have not yet found a solution to it.

Oppo suppport emailed me, they ask me to send them the Leopard disc for diagnosing the problem. I'll send it this week.
Interesting that Oppo support are responding to an issue with a modified player, playing a Region B bluray - perhaps since they abandoned their Europe release plan they have a tacit support policy for modified players?

[zedz]

Oppo suppport emailed me, they ask me to send them the Leopard disc for diagnosing the problem. I'll send it this week.
Interesting that Oppo support are responding to an issue with a modified player, playing a Region B bluray - perhaps since they abandoned their Europe release plan they have a tacit support policy for modified players?

Even if they don't stretch to formal 'support' for modified players, you can understand why they'd want to knock this problem on the head a.s.a.p., as any consistent playback issues with their machines (modified or not) would impact on their reputation, and that's a large part of their commercial capital.

(I certainly hope they sort it out, as I'm about to buy a modified Oppo!)

[kekid]

This is encouraging. Please keep us posted on the developments in this area.

[TMDaines]

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/58_9932.htm

Is this the region-free Tevion Blu-ray player at UK Aldi stores?

[Perkins Cobb]

Or maybe the Oppo tech guy has just always wanted to see The Leopard....

[tojoed]

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/58_9932.htm

Is this the region-free Tevion Blu-ray player at UK Aldi stores?

Yes, that's the one. It's not region-free out of the box, but there's a simple remote hack.

[swo17]

Yeah, I'm not trying Atacom without some reports from the front -- Swo, I guess you're the guinea pig again. Good luck!

Guinea pig here, reporting for duty. I got my Momitsu BDP-799 from atacom today just fine. Out of the box, it's locked to DVD R2 and BD RA. (Is it typical for it to be locked to R2?) I tried a Criterion Blu-ray and it played just fine. (Actually, I was very impressed with how quickly it navigated through the Criterion BD menu screen, which seemed like more of a chore for my Panny.)

However, here's the rub--I can't get the region unlock codes to work. (For region 1 DVD, it's supposed to be 973501 or 973511, according to info I've found online.) I power on the player with the tray empty and enter the code, but I don't see any change on my screen. (Should I?) Then I put the disc in, it tries to read it for a few seconds, and then it spits it out.

I would greatly appreciate anyone that could walk me through exactly how to unlock the region coding. An R2 DVD player is of little use to me!

[manicsounds]

I would greatly appreciate anyone that could walk me through exactly how to unlock the region coding. An R2 DVD player is of little use to me!

[/quote]
Momitsu BDP-799 Region Changing Instructions

You can alter the player's region code at any time using the remote control.
*
1) Keep no disc loading , and press 8751+0+1 or 2,
0 stand for DVD free zone,
1 or 2 stand for BD A or BD B zone.
can not enter BD free mode or open mode. But it can be changed at anytime

You have 3 codes which you input and enter via the player's remote control:
875101 is Region A plus all 6 DVD regions.
875102 is Region B plus all 6 DVD regions.
875103 is Region C plus all 6 DVD regions
*
2) Please set the DVD region as "1"
Because some of DVD disc require player to be region 1 in order to play.
It is the disc set up so just match the player with disc region sould be fine.
*
875111 is Region A plus US DVD region1.
875112 is Region B plus US DVD region1.
875113 is Region C plus US DVD region1.
*
*
As for DVD R2 / BD RA, those are Japanese specs. But strangely, I've never seen a Momitsu BD player in Japan....

[swo17]

Beautiful, thank you!

[Perkins Cobb]

Swo, I hope you'll neglect your family over the holidays in order to play with your new toy and report back on how user-friendly it is (or isn't)!