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OPPO BDP-105 Universal Blu-ray Player Review

John E. Johnson, Jr.

OPPO continues its tradition of being leader of the pack with the introduction of the BDP-105 Universal Player. It has every type of input that one could want, making it truly a player that can handle all types of media and sources. The video quality is superb (video results coming in Chris Heinonen's review of the 103 which has the same video circuit as the 105), and the audio quality (tested in this review) is what we have come to expect from OPPO: audiophile-grade.

Universal Players

CalMAN Calibration Software Version 5

Chris Heinonen

 

There are a few different programs out there to assist in calibrating a display, but CalMAN from SpectraCal is currently the most prevalent. CalMAN is used for ISF Level I and II training, and is available in a variety of different configurations ranging from the DIY user to the full time calibration professional.

Video Calibration

JVC X70 Three-Chip D-ILA Projector

Chris Heinonen

Just two years ago, 3D was the all the rage at the CEDIA Expo. Now 3D is in almost every display you buy and is not the hot, new thing. It has been supplanted by 4K, promising to offer so many pixels that we will never see them again, and out-HD our current High Definition. JVC took a half step onto the 4K platform with their e-Shift projectors, which use a slight pixel shift to potentially produce an effective resolution of 4K, though with only 1920 x 1080 panels and no 4K input capability. The JVC X70 is one such projector, and is reviewed here.

Projectors

Sony BDP-S790 Blu-ray Player

Chris Heinonen

The Sony BDP-S790 Blu-ray player does a good job of performing at a high quality level, but at an affordable price. Dual HDMI outputs, Original Resolution mode, and multiple video settings are available to work well in any system.

Blu-ray Players

Sony 46HX929 46″ Backlit LED-Array HDTV

Chris Heinonen

All LED LCD TVs are not designed the same. Manufacturers have two approaches they can take with an LED design: An edge-lit design that is thin and functions like a conventional CCFL backlight, or a backlit LED-array that isn't as thin, but allows for precise control over lighting individual areas of the screen. In this review, we take a look at the Sony 46" backlit LED-array HDTV, model 46HX929.

HDTV

Toshiba 55ZL2 4K LCD 3D Display

Ofer Laor

When Toshiba announced the idea of a glasses-free 3D display, I was less than enthusiastic. I have been seeing lenslet based 3D glassless displays for a few years (mostly in the B2B and Digital signage spaces) and they were far from ready for consumer prime time. Now, Toshiba has announced their 55ZL2, which is a 55" LCD 3D display that has 4K native resolution. It's a first generation produce. How did it work with 4K video material, and does native 4K resolution improve the clarity of 1080p?

HDTV

BenQ W7000 Single-Chip DLP 3D Projector

Chris Heinonen

Many people are eager to experience 3D in their home, but often disappointed when they get their projector setup. The wonderful demos we see at trade shows or in stores are commonly using custom screens that add a lot of light to 3D, but most of us don't have these. The end result is often a dark, dull picture that doesn't resemble what they were hoping to see. The BenQ W7000, reviewed here, is a single-chip DLP 3D projector that has plenty of light, even in 3D, and also scored well in our Benchmark tests.

Projectors

Lumagen Radiance XS-3D Video Processor

Chris Heinonen

Last year I looked at the Lumagen Radiance Mini-3D video processor and its interaction with ChromaPure software for automated calibrations. Paired with an older projector, it was able to provide an accurate grayscale, gamut, and gamma providing an image that was far more accurate than without it. Now, we take a look at the Radiance XS-3D video processor, which is a step up from the Mini-3D.

Video Processors

Toshiba 50L5200U LCD TV

Stephen Hornbrook and Chris Heinonen

Toshiba is targeting value with its L5200U line of LED LCD TV's.   The 50L5200U is a 50" 1080p set featuring a 120Hz panel with ClearFrame™ technology for crisp images and smoother movement.  Like most LED-edgelit TVs, the Toshiba employs a dynamic lighting system (DynaLight®) that adjusts output based on the image content.

HDTV

Sony BDP-S590 Blu-ray Player

Chris Heinonen

Sony was the inventor and chief advocate of Blu-ray and has probably put more players into homes than any other company with the PlayStation 3.  However when we ran a pair of their players through our HDMI Benchmark, one of which is the subject of this review: the Sony BDP-S590.

Blu-ray Players

Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 5010e LCD Projector

Chris Eberle

For several years now, Epson has been the undisputed leader in the LCD projector market. They took a technology that seemed forever destined for boardrooms and churches and improved it gradually, until it became hard to tell apart from high-end LCoS and DLP designs. Enthusiasts who would have never considered an LCD are now taking a serious look at Epson's offerings. One of them might be the 5010e, reviewed here.

Projectors

Runco LightStyle LS-100d DLP LED Projector

Chris Heinonen

For a truly immersive home theater experience, nothing compares to a large image that fills your field of view.  Unfortunately many of us don't have a room that will work for a projector due to space and throw limitations and are forced to make do with a far smaller plasma or LCD display.  Runco has a solution for those challenging situations with their LS-100d, a short throw, LED-based projector capable of producing a 100" image while being placed right up against the wall.

Projectors

Optoma HD8300 3D DLP Projector

Chris Eberle

Now that 3D has become commonplace in HDTVs, projectors are following suit. Most of the new models introduced at CEDIA 2011 incorporate 3D into their feature set. While 3D has not lured me into upgrading my reference equipment just yet, I can't help but wonder when I might really want to watch Avatar in 3D. So, I managed to obtain the new Optoma HD8300 DLP projector which just happens to have 3D capability.

Projectors