Denon 'universal' Blu-ray players take on Oppo
Denon has announced two new "universal" Blu-ray players that offer 3D Blu-ray compatibility and Netflix streaming in addition to SACD and DVD-Audio playback.
Denon's DBP-1611UD is priced to be competitive with Oppo's BDP-83.
(Credit: Denon)Oppo's BDP-83 may be one of the most expensive Blu-ray players we've reviewed, but in the world of high-end AV equipment, it's actually a bargain compared with similar universal disc players like the $2,000 Denon DBP-4010UDCI. Denon is clearly aware of the competition, and the company's two new universal players look to be worthwhile alternatives to the Oppo.
Key features of the Denon DBP-1611UD:
- Universal disc player (Blu-ray, DVD-Audio, SACD, DVD, CD)
- 3D Blu-ray compatible via a firmware update coming in the fall
- Netflix and YouTube streaming
- 1GB onboard memory
- $400 list price; available in June
Key step-up features of the Denon DBP-2011UDCI:
- Anchor Bay video processing (ABT2015 chip)
- 7.1-analog outputs
- RS-232 port; IR inputs/outputs
- $800 list price; available in August
The DBP-1611UD is the most interesting to us, undercutting the Oppo BDP-83's price by $100 while also adding much-desired features like Netflix streaming and 3D Blu-ray compatibility. (Oppo also offers the cheaper BDP-80, but it's not intended as a standalone Blu-ray player.)
Yes, the Denon lacks the 7.1-analog outputs available on the BDP-83, but they're not essential if you've got an HDMI-capable AV receiver. The big question is whether the DBP-1611UD offers comparable image quality performance, so we're looking forward to getting a review sample and seeing how it stacks up to the Oppo.
