Oppo has confirmed that its first ever Ultra HD 4K Blu-ray player, the UDP-203, is set to launch in the UK this year.
That’s good news for AV enthusiasts, as Oppo has often set the standard when it comes to Blu-ray decks.
What’s more, the UDP-203 isn’t just a UHD player; it’s also HDR-ready. Its Mediatek SoC is, in theory, capable of supporting both HDR 10 and Dolby Vision, though the latter will be subject to certification and could come as part of a later firmware update.
That translates to an especially wide and rich colour gamut with the right TV, and based on our time with the new deck at the UK launch in Bath, your retinas will notice the difference. Deadpool looked cinema-sharp in our preview.
Related: UHD Blu-ray – The ultimate guide
In fact, Oppo has previously teased the UDP-203 – first on Twitter and then at CEDIA.
So what does the new player look like in flesh? Pretty snazzy, if you ask us. The brushed metallic front exudes a classy air that’s fit for even the most refined living room, with the centrally positioned disc tray easily accessible.
On the rear of the machine, there’s an ample array of connectivity options – most importantly dual HDMI outputs, so owners of legacy AV receivers should be able to slot the 203 into their home theatre arsenal with ease.
Related: What is HDR?
The deck also comes with Wi-Fi capabilities (5GHz), a pair of USB 3.0 ports and a 7.1-channel analogue output.
This is Christmas wishlist stuff by the looks of it, and Oppo has confirmed that the UDP-203 will be available in Q4 with a speculative RRP of £599.
Of course, we’ll need to put the player properly through its paces before being able to firmly recommend it, but based on first impressions, this looks like it will be one of the best on the market.
Oppo also announced that a trio of audio products unveiled earlier this year in the US would be coming to the UK – the £279 Sonica, £699 Sonica Grand and £799 Sonica DAC.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
