OPPO DV-970HD Firmware

Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Update Instructions

Version: MVer: 05.00.01.07 Batch: 3A-0916
Category: Major Update
Release Date: September 22, 2006

Warning: Although DIY firmware upgrade is an easy and usually trouble-free process, an improper or failed firmware upgrade could render the DVD player unusable. Choose DIY only if you are aware of and accept the risks of performing DVD player firmware upgrade. Otherwise, you can contact OPPO at service@oppodigital.com or OPPO authorized resellers to send the player back for the upgrade.

Before You Start

• Follow the instructions EXACTLY; Don't press the "Open/Close" key until the player reboots itself. The entire process takes between 2-3 minutes. Stay focused and be patient during this process.
• Make sure the AC power connection is secured; use an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) from your PC if necessary (in areas where AC is not stable). Do not interrupt power on the DVD player during the update process.
• The firmware will have factory default settings that may be different from the settings you currently have. You may want to note your current settings as you will have to reconfigure them after installing this firmware.

DIY Instructions

1. View the release note below.
2. Download the firmware from http://www.oppodigital.com/dv970hd/download/DV-970HD-3A-0916.iso
3. Burn a CD from the downloaded ISO image file. Be sure to burn the CD as an ISO image file, not a data file. The CD should contain a 935.BIN file if you burned it successfully. Please consult your CD burning software's help/instruction manual for more information on how to do this. Some general instruction for common CD burning software is listed below.
4. Turn on your TV display and the OPPO player.
5. Open the player tray and insert the firmware CD, and then close the tray.
6. As soon as the CD is loaded, you will see "Press Play To Start" on your TV display. Press the PLAY key on the remote or the player once.
7. The TV display shows "File Copying" and then "UPGRADING"
8. In about 8 seconds, the CD will be ejected.  Remove the CD quickly; DO NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE. What follows is the process when the player will reboot itself.
9. DO NOT PRESS ANY BUTTONS NOR ATTEMPT TO CLOSE THE TRAY NOR UNPLUG THE POWER DURING THE REMAINING UPGRADE PROCESS.
10. After approximately 1 - 2 minutes, the player reboots itself and closes the tray automatically to complete the process. The update process is completed when the front panel of the DVD player shows "No Disc".
11. After updating the firmware, the TV display may lost synchronization with the player and show no picture. It is recommended that you turn off the DVD player, unplug it from the AC power, wait a few seconds and then plug back the AC power.
12. Turn on the DVD player and adjust the settings if necessary.
13. With the tray ejected, press the "OSD" button on the remote control to verify the firmware version.
14. Congratulations! You have just completed the firmware upgrade.

Release Note

The following new features and improvements are included in this version:

1. Improved HDMI Audio Compatibility and High Resolution Audio Output through HDMI

This version improves HDMI audio compatibility with TV, A/V receivers and audio processors. It also enables high resolution multi-channel audio output through the HDMI interface. The following setup menu settings are recommended:

When the HDMI output is connected to a TV directly, please use the factory default settings. The related settings are:

• Speaker Setup Page:
  • Down-mix: Stereo
  • Front Speaker: Large
  • Subwoofer: Off
• Audio Setup Page:
  • HDMI Audio: LPCM

With the above factory default settings the DVD player will down-mix center and surround audio channels to stereo and send in LPCM format to the TV. High resolution audio will be down-sampled to meet the TV's playback capability. The 2-channel LPCM format is most compatible with all types of TVs.

When the HDMI output is connected to an A/V receiver or audio processor with HDMI v1.1 or above specifications, please use the following settings:

• Speaker Setup Page:
  • Down-mix: 5.1 CH
  • Front Speaker: Large
  • Center Speaker: Large
  • Rear Speaker: Large
  • Subwoofer: On
• Audio Setup Page:
  • Digital Output: Raw
  • HDMI Audio: Auto

With the above settings, the DVD player will send CD, Dolby Digital and DTS audio signals as raw bit streams to the receiver for decoding. For high resolution stereo or multi-channel audio contents such as DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD, the DVD player will send multi-channel PCM audio signals with the highest available sample frequency and bit numbers to the receiver. Depending on the original audio content, the format could be 44.1kHz - 192kHz, 2 - 6 channels. Setting all speakers to "Large" allows bass management to be handled by the receiver or audio processor.

Note: If you use HDMI to connect audio to an HDMI A/V receiver or audio processor, it is recommended that you choose 720p or 1080i HDMI output resolution when playing high resolution audio content (DVD-Audio and SACD). According to the HDMI specification, the bandwidth available for digital audio is proportional to the total bandwidth used by digital video. At 480i/480p/576i/576p resolution, the HDMI specification can only support 2 channels of audio with high sample rate (up to 192kHz), or 8 channels of audio with standard sample rate (up to 48kHz). Depending on the capability of your A/V receiver or audio processor, if you play high resolution audio content at 480i/480p/576i/576p resolution, you may encounter problems of incomplete audio channels or no audio/video output at all. Choosing a high HDMI output resolution such as 720p or 1080i allows enough bandwidth for all high sample rate audio channels.

2. Easier Track Skip for SACD and Digital Music Playback

When playing Super Audio CD or digital music files, the "Skip Prev" (|<<) and "Skip Next" (>>|) buttons on the remote control can be used to skip to the the previous or next track. This function enables the user to skip tracks without using the navigation menu on the video screen. When playback is stopped, these buttons can still be used to turn pages for the the on screen navigation menu, just like with the previous firmware version.

3. New Default Contrast Setting for Component Video Output (Same as 1A-0613 Beta Firmware)

The factory default contrast setting for component video output is slighted adjusted (tuned down to approximately -3 level of the previous firmware 1A-0526). This adjustment brings the default contrast for component video output to standard level and make it consistent with the HDMI output. The default contrast for the HDMI output is not affected. Please note that the brightness and contrast settings of your TV display also affect the final visual result. It is recommended that you calibrate the DVD player and the TV display together using a reference DVD such as The AVIA Guide to Home Theater or Digital Video Essentials.

4. Improved DVD-Audio Disc Compatibility

This version resolved compatibility issue when playing certain DVD-Audio discs, such as Remain in Light by TalkingHeads (UK version) and Greendale by Neil Young & Crazy Horse.

5. Improved DivX and Xvid IDX+SUB Subtitle Support

This version improved compatibility for IDX+SUB type of subtitle used by some DivX and Xvid files. It now properly displays subtitle for 2-CD split DivX and Xvid files using the IDX+SUB subtitles.

6. Enhanced Power-on Response Time

The response time it takes from power-on to video playing or tray ejection is reduced by 3-4 seconds. This firmware version also improved overall stability.

General instructions on working with ISO image files

Note: These are general instructions on how to burn the firmware CD with common CD burning software. Please consult your CD burning software's help/instruction manual for more detail.

• In Nero Burning Rom version 6 or 7 , go to the ‘Recorder > Burn Image…' menu and select the ISO image you downloaded.
• In Nero Burning ROM version 5 or earlier, just go to Nero Burning ROMs ´File > Burn Image' option and select the ISO image you downloaded.
• In Nero Express select the option for 'Disc Image or Saved Project' to select the ISO image file you downloaded and burn to CD.
• In Easy CD Creator , go to 'File > Record CD from CD Image' and select the ISO image you downloaded.