Q Do you think the top-of-the-line Oppo BDP-83 is the Blu-ray player to get?
–N.L., Eden Prairie, Minn.
A The Oppo BDP-83 was discontinued, and its replacement, the BDP-93, has not been released so I cannot comment. Every Oppo has been critically acclaimed so I think it is a safe bet it will be excellent.
Any Blu-ray player will deliver phenomenal picture quality from Blu-ray discs. The differences tend to be in features such as video streaming and Web connectivity, the player’s speed of operation, manufacturer support, and picture quality from DVDs. DVD picture quality is one of the biggest variables among Blu-ray players, with performance varying widely across manufacturers and model lines. The BDP-83 has top-quality video processing that will make your DVDs look noticeably better, which is one reason it was beloved by movie buffs.
The best values are undoubtedly the Panasonics, with outstanding DVD picture quality, fast performance, extensive online features and excellent manufacturer support. The Panasonic DMP-BD65K can be found for $129 and is one of the best values going. The PlayStation 3 has not been talked about as much lately since there are many excellent stand-alones available for under $150. If you have $300 for your Blu-ray player the PlayStation 3 definitely belongs on your shortlist.
I think the most important thing to say to everyone out there is that if you have an HDTV bigger than 32 inches, you really should have a Blu-ray player by now. With well-mastered discs Blu-ray picture quality is noticeably better than broadcast HDTV and DVD isn’t even in the same league. Sound quality is dramatically improved as well and most Blu-ray players stream content from online sources such as Netflix and Pandora. With the Insignia players from Best Buy selling for under $85 and offering streaming capabilities to boot there is no longer any excuse not to have one. Feed your high-definition TV a proper high-definition signal!
Q I have Sennheiser HDR 120 wireless headphones that I use for viewing TV. I use them with a Samsung TV and it works fine. I have also used them with a 26-inch Toshiba TV/DVD Combination. The Sennheisers worked fine on this set for a couple of months and now do not work at all with it. It still works on the Samsung. I figure this is telling me the headset is fine and it is the TV that is not working properly.
Is there some troubleshooting I can do to find out where the problem is? This set is still under warranty so I would like to get this problem solved rather quickly.
— S.R.
A Substituting something you know that works for something you are unsure of is a useful way to troubleshoot. In your case the wireless headphones have potential for error because of the nature of a wireless device, with a transmitting unit and a receiving set of headphones. A wired set of headphones, however, are either going to work or they aren’t. Try a wired set of headphones with the Toshiba and see if you get sound. If you do, you know you have a problem with the connection or a setting on the wireless headphones. If you do not, you know you have a problem with the TV somewhere.
Read past columns and product reviews by Don Lindich at www.soundadviceblog.com, and contact him using the “submit question” link on that site.
