It’s not “M” for MUST but “D” for DARBEE . Having recently won the EISA Award for the Best Home Theatre Universal Player 2013-2014 for the OPPO BDP-103EU Universal Network 3D Blu-ray Disc Player (more below) the hot, just launched OPPO BDP-103D, is the new “Must Have”. Let’s try to decipher what that D for Darbee Edition means in terms of the difference in performance.
In simple layman language, the “D” means that the OPPO BDP-103D incorporates Darbee’s Visual Presence™ processing technology, whereas the BDP-103 (or also referenced BDP-103EU) uses the Qdeo™ Processing technology, with the rest of the high quality features remaining the same.
OPPO BDP-103D
Darbee’s Visual Presence™ technology is a video enhancer or “sharpener” that provides greater depth, clarity and realism to any video content, whereby the user has the option to “customize” it to his or her own personal visual preference for a more dynamic, lifelike experience.
The increased perception of more dynamic depth in the image is created thanks to their DVP (Darbee Visual Presence™) technology to embed stereoscopic depth information generated from a patented human-vision-based model into 2D or 3D video, by using one of the three adjustable Darbee enhancement modes, that can be turned on or off as the viewer decides. The BDP-103D doesn’t lose anything when the Darbee Visual Processing enhancement is turned off, which makes the player similar to the Award winning BDP-103, including upscaled 4K displayed video content.
From the information we have received (as this is a completely brand-new concept which we will follow-up the developments as more products come to market) is that unlike many other image technologies, the Darbee processor does not alter the global image, therefore reduces image artifacts that are normally created. In addition, it does not adversely affect calibrated settings such as contrast, gamma, and color.
The BDP-103D has three chips, including a MediaTek chipset that handles deinterlacing and upconversion as well as basic video processing, in addition to the Darbee processor that takes care of luminance-based processing to add more depth, and the Silicon Image SiI9616 chip that performs the 4k up-scaling as well as HDMI transmitting.
DarbeeVision Inc. was founded by Paul Darbee and Larry Pace to commercialize system products, discrete hardware and embedded solutions based on Darbee Visual Presence™ Technology and has licensed this technology to Mountain View-based OPPO Digital for the 103D Blu-ray player.
“Being selected by OPPO as their new feature is a wonderful confirmation that we provide a high value video enhancement technology. We know that the OPPO platform provides unparalleled image fidelity for a Blu-ray player. Being associated with their 103 Model Blu-ray player system, at the pinnacle of home theater fidelity, guarantees that our processing is being seen at its best,” says DarbeeVision, president and COO, Larry Pace. “We are certain that the 103D will produce an un-paralleled viewing experience.”
DarbeeVision offers its Darbee Visual Presence™ technology for consumer electronics product integrations. For more detailed information, here is a white paper on the product features: darbeevision.com
OPPO BDP-103EU Front
OPPO BDP-103EU Back
The BDP-103 Darbee Edition, or BDP-103D, is the latest addition to OPPO’s award-winning line of Blu-ray Disc™ players, where the OPPO BDP-103EU just won the EISA Award for the European Home Theatre Universal Player 2013-2014.
OPPO BDP-103EU Internal
OPPO BDP-103EU Main Board
The BDP-103EU incorporates Marvell’s Kyoto-G2H video processor with the latest generation Qdeo™ technology. Reproduction of high-quality Blu-ray content is exceptional, whereas DVD content is up-converted. The BDP-103EU offers multiple enhancement features including video noise reduction, compression artefact reduction, intelligent colour, contrast, detail and edge enhancements. Learn more about the Qdeo™ video processing technology in the Qdeo™ Extended Technology Brief
Oppo BDP-103EU EISA Award logo
OPPO BDP-103EU Click on the above image to see the EISA video
This is what the EISA jury had to say about the OPPO’s BDP-103EU:
OPPO’s BDP-103EU is a state-of-the-art Blu-ray player, matching a luxurious, heavyweight build quality with an astonishing range of features. In addition to two HDMI outputs, external sources can take advantage of the player’s high-grade processing via its twin HDMI inputs, while USB, Ethernet and Wi-Fi capability make it easy to play back your own media files. As a universal deck, the OPPO will happily spin Super Audio CDs and DVD-Audio discs as well as Blu-rays – its performance, aided by extensive user adjustments, is sublime. 4K upscaling and HDMI passthrough mean it can be combined with the latest high-end displays at the heart of a home cinema.