Lexicon BD-30 = Oppo BDP-83

[Chris Gohlke]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/transports/high-definition-dvd-players-hd-dvd-blu-ray/lexicon-bd-30-blu-ray-oppo-clone/oppo-inside-lexicon-outside-1' target='_blank'>http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/...xicon-outside-1</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"It's an Oppo BDP-83. Normally we'd launch into a statement like this with more tact. We may, for example, wax eloquent about the Lexicon BD-30's beautiful chassis or it's billet aluminum front face. We could tell you about the heft of the unit, or the fact that comes double boxed with enough padding to warrant throwing it off the FedEx or UPS truck while it's still moving. While all of that is true, the Lexicon BD-30 is still an Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player. And what's more, it's not just using the same parts - they actually stuck the player inside - chassis and all. This would be OK, were it not for the $3000 premium over the Oppo and THX certification."</em></p><p><em><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1263778095.usr10.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></em></p><p>Part of me thinks that if you are willing to drop over $3,000 on a Blu-ray player, you deserve to get duped. &nbsp;But lots of other companies&nbsp;re-badge&nbsp;lower priced products as other products (like Toyota/Lexus for example), but in most cases those are not 100% duplicates. &nbsp;I wonder if this is happening with Oppo's knowledge or if Lexicon is buying these through the retail channel.</p>

[Hooch Tan]

Whether or not Lexicon is buying through retail, white-labelling it, or just happened to find the same manufacturer who did the job for Oppo, I'm not sure what Oppo could do, short of some sort of patent lawsuit. If it is retail however, the ground they have to stand on is even less.

I tend to agree with you though. If someone wants to spend $3000+, it is their money to spend. I would really, /really/ hope that the $3k would give you some benefits, like better customer support or something.

[Felix Torres]

As an owner of the Oppo, I don't mind if somebody wants to drop an extra $2500 for the same capability. I do have better uses for that kind of cash, though. (A high-end HT PC, for starters.) ;-)

(It *is* a very good player but it really isn't $3000 good. No way. No how.)

But then I don't tell others how to waste their money, as long as they don't tell me how to waste mine.

[Stinger]

Oppo players are (legally) re-badged as Cambridge Audio in the UK. I doubt that Lexicon did anything illegal here. Morally dubious though? Oh yes.

[Yukster]

Nothing wrong or illegal about badge engineering.

As for the Toyota/Lexus argument, they are not branding "cheaper" models as more expensive models. Whatever that is sold as a Lexus overseas has its respective Toyota model in Japan. For example, the Lexus ES300 that was sold in the US was the Toyota Windom in Japan. They may have the same engine and drivetrain, along with the chassis, but the sheetmetal, interior and noise reduction technology is vastly different.

If you MUST use cars as an example, a better example may have been those GM SUVs that were popular a few years back. The only difference between a Chevy, GMC, and a Cadillac were a few leather parts and and several thousand dollars.