Review: Region Free Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray Player


**Update: With Oppo no longer creating their Blu-ray Players, we recommend the Pioneer Elite UDP-LX500 as the best alternative. You can read our review of it here or purchase a region-free one here.**


The Region-Free Oppo UDP-203 is the newest Blu-ray Player in Oppo’s lineup and also the company’s first 4K Ultra-HD player. We finally got our hands on a region free version just recently and we have to say that we were quite impressed. It features true Oppo quality, just as we had expected.

One of the first things we noticed upon opening up the box was the weight and feel. If you’ve ever owned or picked up an Oppo Blu-ray player, you’d know what we’re talking about. It’s heavy, sturdy, and feels like something that’s built to last – because it IS built to last. In fact, picking up the Region-Free UDP-203 makes the players from other popular brands feel like a cheap children’s toy.

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Tbe UDP-203 has plenty of features for both audio and video, with dual HDMI outputs that support HDMI 2.0 and HDR, as well as a single HDMI input. It also comes equipped with a high-performance DAC with 7.1 channel audio outputs than can be used for 7.1 channel PCM or 5.1 channel DSD to achieve the perfect audio arrangement for our particular preferences and home theater setup. The audio output is managed by premium “Velvet Sound” digital-to-analog audio converters from AKM of Japan, giving some of the best, lossless, reference quality audio available anywhere.

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Optical and coaxial digital audio outputs give you even more options for flexibility when it comes to your sound setup. There is also, of course, a RS-232 port which is a staple of high-quality blu-ray players such as the Region Free Oppo UDP-203. For those of you who prefer a hardwired internet connection for speed & security, a Gigabit LAN port is available to connect directly to your internet source. There are 2 USB 3.0 ports at the rear also, plus an additional USB port in the front for quick and easy access.

To ensure durability and playback stability, the UDP-203 features a rigid steel chassis construction. While it surely makes the player more durable, it aids in lending stability and security by reducing the effects of shock and vibration on playback. This isn’t one of those players where the disc skips when the bass hits on your surround sound system, and it’s definitely not going to slowly vibrate off the shelf. At 18 lbs, you’re getting what you pay for – and that’s a player that can handle serious use. Oppo is known for their exceptional build quality and the UDP-203 is no exception.

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Keep in mind, that as a Region-Free model, this unit will play anything, anywhere, on practically any TV in the world. This is a true universal player that plays DVDs and Blu-ray discs from any region in the world. It also has worldwide voltage which lets you use it in any country, with any voltage from 110 volts to 240 volts. It also has internal PAL to NTSC conversion which eliminates the need for audio/video converters in foreign countries. It’s a global plug-and-play machine that gives you the flexibility to live, move, or travel anywhere without compatibility issues. We find the region-free aspect to be a highly valuable feature, as aside from travel compatibility, you can watch foreign discs with ease – something important to those of us who truly enjoy foreign cinema.

The Region-Free UDP-203 is 3D ready for playback of 3D titles on any 3D TV. With true 4K UHD resolution, it delivers a picture that cannot be compared to. This is literally 4 times the resolution of HD, with a impressive resolution of 3840 x 2160. Combined with the high-quality components and quad-core video decoder, it renders an amazing picture. Depth, clarity, sharpness and contrast is exceptional as is the rich and true display of color. It’s really one of the best we’ve seen and with Ultra-HD, we think it’ll be quite some time before another manufacturer is able to match the quality and clarity.

The player is loaded with plenty of useful and user-friendly features, too. Built in 802.11ac Wi-Fi gives you fast and easy access to the worldwide web, streaming media & apps (including 4k streaming) and DLNA compatibility with other devices or servers for utilizing your media library. The user interface is clean, fast and user-friendly, making it a breeze to find and share media from other devices on your home network, adjust settings, or search for apps and streaming media. The Wi-Fi holds a solid and speedy connection at all times and we experienced no lagging at any time.

Some of the other features included with the Region Free Oppo UDP-203 Blu-ray Player are:

Advanced Audio Support –Use all of the latest and greatest audio formats, including Dolby HD, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, or bitsream output for formats like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X.

Dual HDMI Outputs –If you’re looking for flexibility, the UDP-203 has it. HDMI 2.0 ports allow you to connect to the latest UHD TVs, projectors and receivers. You can also connect to older A/V receivers with a HDMI 1.4 audio port. 4K, HDR-ready quality is ready and waiting.

4K Upscaling – For older DVDs or Blu-ray discs of HD or lower resolution, the UDP-203 can upscale the resolution to near-4K quality, giving you the best picture possible, each and every time.

4K at 60fps Video – The UDP-203 has support for all current SD, HD, and UHD resolutions including 4k@60p, 4k@50p, 4k@30p and 4k@24p. This includes compatibility for various color systems such as PC RGB, Video RGB, YCbCr 4:4:4, 4:2:2, and 4:2:0.

Disc & File Format Support – There is nothing this player won’t play. From DVDs and Blu-ray to SACD, it plays everything. It also supports all types of popular media file formats for movies, music, home videos, photos and more.

Advanced Picture Control – Adjustments for brightness, contrast, hue, saturation and sharpness let you tune your picture to your personal preference, or to compensate for any shortcomings with your other home theater components.

Overall, we were very happy with the Region Free Oppo UDP-203. From its looks to its performance, there was nothing left to be desired. The audio and video quality are both phenomenal, and we think you’d have a rough time finding anything that can out-perform it at the same price. Ultra-fast disc loading times and the ease-of-use were a big bonus for us because these things aren’t as pronounced with other brands and models. We give the Region Free UDP-203 Blu-ray Player a solid 5 stars. It works great, it looks great, it’s superbly built and it performs extremely well. Get your own or learn more about the Region Free Oppo UDP-203 4k Blu-ray Player here, at the guaranteed lowest price.

IMPORTANT: Please note that Blu-ray Players are NOT produced as Region Free from the manufacturer, and are NOT available in major retail stores. Region Free units require professional hardware & software modification and are only sold by specialty retailers. Be sure to check the player’s specifications before making a purchase to ensure the player is being advertised and sold as a unit with region free capability.


Comments

Review: Region Free Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray Player — 32 Comments

    • Thomas, the Oppo UDP-205 will be available soon. Check out 220-Electronics.com, they are our #1 recommended retailer because they guarantee the lowest prices and have a wide selection of models. They don’t seem to have the 205 in stock yet but I’d expect it very soon. They had the Region-Free UDP-203 very soon after its official release. Their models are professionally modified for global use, including Ireland.

  1. Thank you very much for the article. What are the differences to other existing Blu-Ray players and for which use cases it makes sense to buy it?

    • Well, the region-free model (which is professionally modified and not available from normal retailers) has improved capability which allows for global use and playback. Furthermore, Oppo is a high-end brand that delivers some of the finest image/audio quality available. The build quality is stronger and beter and the player is designed to last a lifetime.

    • They should not, and 99% of the time they do not. Just be sure you are purchasing a region-free version from a reputable retailer who uses quality hardware & software mods.

      • If it would modify, would it default to Region 1/A or 2/B… is the base unit a US model or a UK model?

        All my collection is Region B so if it would default to B it would minimize the ipmact.

        • The player is most likely going to default to Region A the first time, but you can very quickly and easily change to Region B. If your player remains on standby, it will continue to load Region B discs until you changed it again. The model we tested was from 220-Electronics.com and it worked nicely. Thanks.

  2. Could you confirm clearly that all DVD zones (1,2,3,4,5) and all BlueRay regions (A,B,C) can be read on this player ?

  3. I didn’t know about 220-Electronics so I bought my Region Free Oppo UDP-203 from Worldimport though Amazon. Are their players professionally modified to the same standards for global use even though they are pricier?

    • Hi, Benny. If the player is advertised as region-free, than it’s modified to whatever standard the retailer implicates. There are different versions of hardware and software that can be used for region-fre modifications and while they all result in the same region-free functionality, not all are created equal. It’s best to do your research and make the decision for yourself. We personally recommend 220-Electronics as they are our preferred retailer, but the choice is yours. Whatever you do, be sure you’re purchasing your region-free model from a reputable retailer who deals specifically in modified players.

    • Visit 220-Electronics.com, they’re our recommended source for purchasing. They ship globally and I believe North Korea is no problem for them but you’d need to inquire.

  4. kinda Funny because ive got the Australian Model UHD oppo 203 Model and its not Multi Region at all……? Only Australian – European Blu-Rays I can Play and all native 4K Discs …..? But USA Blu-Rays and a lot of Euro DVDs I cannot play ?????? So Why are you Guys Advertising this Player if you did not Check it out yourself …..? So this Player is NOT multi Region……

    • The model we reviewed is the Region-Free Oppo UDP-203 and it is not available in retail stores. This model has been professionally modified for universal use. No Blu-ray players come Region-Free from the factory – you need to purchase a model that’s advertised and sold specifically as Region-Free. Sorry for the confusion!

    • The only version that is region free is one that’s been modified for region-free playback. The standard version available in stores is NOT region free. Check out 220-Electronics.com, you can purchase the region-free model there and use it anywhere in the world to play anything.

  5. I’ve got a good HD telly it’s not 4K or UHD but it will do, I’m thinking of buying this though… would I notice a difference and get the benefit with my telly being a good 4 years or 5 years old?

    • Oppo makes extremely high-quality players so you’re definitely going to have a better picture quality. With that said, you’re not going to have drastically improved picture just because you purchased a 4k player. You will definitely get a better picture than with a cheaper player, but for the full experience you’ll want to invest in a 4k TV in the near future.

  6. Hi,
    Have just bought the OPPO UDP-203 on understanding it will play my USA DVD’s. Sadly it does not and wondered if there is anything I can do or add to the player so it will play USA (Region 1?)DVD’s.
    Any suggestions/help would be much appreciated.

    • David,

      You might be able to send it somewhere to have it modified. You can try contacting 220-Electronics.com, but your best bet is to return it and buy a real region-free unit.

  7. Hello,
    I’m in Canada and purchased an Oppo UDP-203 from a regular retailer.
    I chose Oppo for the capability to be easily modified to multi-zone. I didn’t know about the 220-Electronics.com alternative unitl now.
    Do you have any recommendation to have my device modified to multi-region?
    I read that previous models could have the modification made easily without welding or reprograming.

    Thank you,
    Jorge P.

    • Hi Jorge. Sorry to hear of your troubles. If it’s still possible to return the unit, you might consider doing that and purchasing a Region-Free model. Oppo’s are not cheap and you don’t want to risk damaging it trying to make a modification.

      Visit 220-Electronics.com, they sell the Region-Free 203. If you contact them, they may be able to modify your player for you if you send it to them. The least complicated process would probably be to return it and order a Region-Free model.

  8. Hi Sir, I am from India. It will great if you could confirm that 220-Electronics.com may supply the region free Oppo 230. I am interested to order the same.

    Sanjay

    • I believe you meant to say the BDP-203. Yes, they will ship it to India. I replied to your latest comment too! Give them a visit. Take care!

  9. Good day Sir,

    I am from India and want to inquire if OPPO 203 region free could be shipped to India as I wish to order for the same. Please advise details so I can act accordingly.

    Sanjay

    • I’m unable to verify that it plays .ts video format, Jan. The Oppos usually play anything and everything, but I cannot guarantee this.

  10. Pingback: Review: Region Free Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray Player – PayLess DVDs

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