Oppo Digital made its entrance in the DVD arena towards the end of 2004 or around the beginning of 2005 selling upscale DVD players, which placed them in the entry-level slot then. With evolving time and changing market trend, Oppo have proven themselves to be one among the high-end disc manufacturers dominating a good chunk of the Blu-ray market, with the Oppo BDP-95 Blu-ray Player proving the same. It looks to be an audiophile version of the BDP-93, but with a surprising difference in the overall design. It is not just larger in terms of size, but comes with significantly different internals as well. Looks like Oppo has done its homework perfectly well with a lot of effort being placed on making the BDP-95 a notch above its predecessors. Also it weighs a solid 16oz as against its elder brother the BDP-93 which weighed 10.6 pounds. Let us take a quick tour of this flagship model offered by Oppo and see if it is worth all that hype!

The All New Front Panel

The BDP-95 is significantly a full inch taller when compared to the BDP-93, with the depth and width remaining the same. The front panel has been refurbished with a contoured look as against the flat anodized façade seen on the BDP-93 giving the layout a neat and functional look. The main power button has the name OPPO embossed along with the five backlit capacitive-touch playback buttons as opposed to the dedicated mechanical buttons that we get to see on the BDP-93. No major change has been made to the Open/Close button that sits next to the tray. Towards the center sits the disc tray flanked by the control and display buttons. As mentioned earlier, the BDP-95 is significantly heavier than its predecessor due to the custom-designed Toroidal power transformer. Toroidal transformers are competent with a less mechanical hum in comparison to the conventional cheap laminated steel core transformers offering a more robust power source to all critical audio components. Also, these transformers are designed to give out superior inrush current and significant low exterior magnetic field as against conventional steel core laminated transformers.

Back Panel

The rear houses an array of comprehensive outputs and network connectivity panel, the most prominent of them being the inclusion of a pair of dedicated stereo RCA outputs and balanced XLR audio outputs. These take care of high performance analog audio with the latter featuring a true differential signal path commencing right from the DAC to the three-pin XLR connector. The balanced output offers better common-mode noise rejection via transmitting a set of differential signals, thus enhancing signal quality. The DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter) in the BDP-95 Blu Ray Player is driven by SABRE32 Reference ES9018 from ESS Technology. This is pretty much the same DAC used for professional studio equipments and high-end consumer apps. The SABRE boasts of a Dynamic Range (DNR) of up to 135dB with a Total Harmonic Distortion plus Noise (THD+N) of -120dB, which is supposedly the industry’s best performance level that satisfies even the most challenging audio conformist. The BDP-95 is also loaded with a full set of 7.1-multichannel analog outputs, which are also powered by SABRE32. Again, there are two assignable ver1.4a HDMI outputs, which offer flexibility in terms of wiring up your spinner. You are also provided the option to connect one output to a HDTV for casual viewing while the other can be connected to a projector for home theatre viewing. If you are looking at a multi-room installation, the BDP-95 is equipped to output video and audio to dual 3D/2D TVs concurrently.

The rest of the connections in the rear panel go on to include coaxial and optical digital outs, component and composite video outs, a LAN port, a USB port, and an eSata port that aides with viewing external hard drive contents. Additionally, there is a fan as the unit gets fairly hot owing to the high performance and also partly due to the Toroidal transformer.

Remote control

There is a full backlit remote control that accompanies the BDP-95 that is easy to use in dimly-lit home theatres. The ergonomic key layout and legible labelling makes operating the disc player seamless than ever

Features

Although the BDP-95 is an exclusive “bells and whistles” disc player, it does the job that it is intended to do perfectly well and outshines in performing its core function – deriving the last bit of content from the disc spinning within and delivers the same in its purest form possible thereby down streaming components. The custom-designed Toroidal Power Transformer built by Rotel via its robust power to internal audio components drives out delicate signals perfectly with minimal distortion. This universal disc player plays both 2D and 3D discs along with CDs, DVD-audio and video. It also decodes lossless codecs like and DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD providing Hi-Def entertainment yielding both of these hi-res formats through the 1.4 a HDMI output in bit stream format.

In terms of video streaming, the BDP-95 Blu Ray Disc Player is powered by the Marvell’s Kyoto-G2 video processor along with the second-generation Qdeo technology. Qdeo video processing is famous for its immersive viewing experience that renders natural videos devoid of noise and artifacts, regardless of the content. In terms of high-quality Blu-ray content, the BDP-95 loyally reproduces content exactly as the director would have intended to. In terms of DVD, the picture upconversion is almost equal to HD content.

While Upscaling for HDMI 1 and video processing is powered by the Marvell Kyoto-G2 QDEO 88DE2750 chip, scaling for HDMI output 2 and video processing is powered by Oppo’s on-board video scaling chip, manufactured by Mediatek. There are on-board adjustments on offer for Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation and Brightness as well as adjustments for scaling and video processing for Noise Reduction and Edge Enhancement. It is worth mentioning that the options provided for video adjustment setting for HDMI 1 and 2 outputs would vary slightly, as two separate video processing chips have been utilized for each HDMI output.

Disc Playback Compatibility

The BDP-95 supports the following formats and discs: BD-Video, DVD- Video/Audio, Blu-ray 3D, SACD, AVCHD, CD, HDCD, CD-R/RW, Kodak Picture CD, DVD+R/RW and DVD+R DL, BD-R/RE. Also of note, SACD and DVD-Audio can be accessed via both HDMI outputs and 5.1 channel analog.

USB and eSata

There is an eSata port that provides access to media files, which is stored on external hard drives. The front and rear mounted 2.0 USB ports come in handy to access photos, videos and music content via a flash drive.

Network/Internet Connectivity

Internet Connectivity is via Ethernet or the on-board USB Wi-Fi adapter. The BDP-95 offers access Netflix/Blockbuster streaming services along with media files that is stored on network connected devices.

Memory

This Oppo BDP-95 Blu Ray disc player comes with a 2GB internal memory wherein 1GB can be used to access BD-Live. Nevertheless, there is always the option to expand memory capacity via a flash drive, if required, by utilising either one of the USB ports.

Power Supply

The Roten-designed Toroidal Power Transformer takes care of the audiophile-grade power supply.

Control Connections

The IR sensor and RS232 connections takes care of efficient integration via a central PC-based or IR-based remote control. The option for these connections is provided, which aides with full control integration for custom-installed home theatre set up.

Warranty

The Oppo BDP-95 offers limited 2 years warranty for parts and Labour from the original purchase date. The same can be availed of by registering your purchase for warranty cover by visiting the official website http://www.oppo-bluray.co.uk/customer-services/warrenty/product-registration.aspx.

Final Take

You might want to consider this player if you are looking for a versatile and adept audiophile-grade universal player (which the player definitely is) along with being a great bargain for its price. The BDP-95 is a definite star performer in terms of audio and video.

You might want to look further, if you want a player with a much higher level of performance in terms of sound quality (which we doubt if you may succeed and even if you do, it could take several multiples of the BDP-95’s reasonable price). Again if you are not a great fan of the BDP-95’s compelling DACs/analog audio section, then we guess the BDP-93 might be your best bet.

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Oppo BDP-95 3D Blu Ray Player – Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer Oppo
Model Name Oppo BDP-95
Model Number BDP-95
Product Type Blu-Ray 3D player
Date and Month of Release March 2011
Form Factor Table top
Dimensions H x W x D 9.8 cm x 43 cm x 31.1 cm (16 x 12 x 4 inches)
Weight 7.3 kg (16 lbs)
Colour Black
Full HD 1080p Resolution Yes
True 24p Video Yes
Disc Types BD-Video, Blu-ray 3D, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, AVCHD, 

SACD, CD, HDCD,

Kodak Picture CD, CD-R/RW, DVD±R/RW, DVD±R DL,

BD-R/RE, BD-R/RE DL
Operating Temperature 5 °C to 35°C (41°F – 95°F)
Operating Humidity 15% to 75% No condensation
Audio Characteristics Frequency: 20Hz – 20kHz (+/- 0.2bB), 20Hz – 96kHz (+/- 1dB) 

Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >125dB (A-weighted, with auto-mute),

>115dB (A-weighted without auto-mute)

THD+N: <0.0003% or -110dB (1kHz 192/24 at 0dBFS, 20kHz LPF),

<0.002% or -95dB (1kHz 44.1/16 at 0dBFS, 20kHz LPF
Audio Codecs Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, 

Dolby TrueHD (bitstream), DTS, DTS-HD Master Audio,

DTS-HD Master Audio (bitstream), PCM, SACD, DVD Audio
File Formats MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC (H.264), VC-1, MKV
Video Characteristics Composite Video Amplitude: 1.0Vp-p (75O) 

Component Video: Y: 1.0Vp-p (75O), Pb/Pr: 0.7Vp-p (75O)
BD Profile BD-ROM Version 2.4 Profile 5 for 3D (also compatible with Profile 2, 

Profile 1 Version 1.0 and 1.1)
Internal Storage 2GB (Approximately 1GB available for BD-Live persistent storage. 

Actual storage varies due to system usage)
Output Analogue Audio: 7.1ch, 5.1ch, or stereo 

Dedicated stereo analogue Audio: XLR Balanced and RCA single-ended

Digital Audio: Coaxial, Optical

HDMI Audio: Stereo, up to 7.1ch high-resolution PCM, up to 5.1ch DSD

bitstream or LPCM conversion of Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus,

Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio

and DTS-HD Master Audio.

Analogue Video: Composite, Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr, 576i/576p,

720p/1080i available for non-restricted content only)

Digital Video: HDMI with HDCP (PAL576i/576p/720p/1080i/1080p/1080p24

NTSC: 480i/480p/720p/1080i/1080p/1080p24)
Key Features Blu-ray 3D Playback 

Video Processing by Marvell’s Qdeo technology

Dual HDMI 1.4a Outputs

Supports Netflix Instant Video Streaming

Fast Loading & Response Times

BD-Live & BONUSVIEW

Plays SACD & DVD-Audio Discs

USB 2.0 for Media Playback

Supports 24/192kHz FLAC & WAV files

eSATA Port for media playback from Hard Disks
Power Supply 100V – 120V or 200V – 240V, 50/60Hz AC
Power Consumption 45W (0.5W Standby)
Warranty 2  years

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