Like Theta or Lexicon which are derived from the fantastic Oppo blu ray player.

Goldmun???

Marantz at $6K. Is it based on the Denon, since they are both owned by the same company?

I use the HDMI out for both audio and video for Blu Ray. I don't use the Oppo for CD - for that I have the PS Audio PowerWave Transport. The Oppo is wonderful as a HDMI transport. I might be willing to pay a bit of a premium for a better clock and power supply, but I am not very trusting re the Lexicon or Theta players and that they will offer a discernable improvement for the boutique pricing.

If I was going multi-channel analog out then I'd follow Tyree's lead with a Pioneer Elite O9 with Wolfson DACs.

What about you?

Could Profile 2.0 change again to something else thus outdating all those bucks on a Blu Ray player? Especially with HDMI 1.4 and 3D?

ANd will boutique playes continue to get firmware update support periodically, and for years, like Panasonic, even Oppo, or will be stuck with lotsa bucks in an antique model quicker?

Your five cents please?

Not me. I simply don't see the value with HDMI as the interface. They're all simply transports if HDMI is your display input.

I'm big into Meridian and have been very impressed with their HDMI implementation, the HD621. It has, IMO, elevated HDMI to 'audiophile' status as an interface. Makes me wonder whether the quality of the transport doesn't now become largely irrelevent, particularly a hi-end, uber $$$ version. I've been using the Oppo BDP-83, and even on CD thru the HD621 it is something of a tossup versus my Meridian 800. Having said all that, however, a rebadged Oppo (or something comparable) in a Meridian case, with upgraded clock, power supply, Meridian comms, would be appealing - as long as the markup were not too eggregious.

Having said all that, however, a rebadged Oppo (or something comparable) in a Meridian case, with upgraded clock, power supply, Meridian comms, would be appealing - as long as the markup were not too eggregious.

Meridian and non-egregious mark-up may be an oxy-moron. (I'm a Meridian fan but they ARE a high end manufacturer). It's a $500 player and maybe Meridian buys it for $350 in large quantities. I would be amazed if they sold it for less than $2500.

this topic has been talked about a lot.

I would pay extra to have matching equipment, and things like and OLED display, power supply and brand/build to match my system. Sadly the brand I like wont clone the Oppo so ill just keep my Oppo hidden in my nice B&O rack :)

Other then that its money out the window IMO.

they are just transports and money should be spent on the display and/or SSP to get noticeable improvements.

Meridian and non-egregious mark-up may be an oxy-moron. (I'm a Meridian fan but they ARE a high end manufacturer). It's a $500 player and maybe Meridian buys it for $350 in large quantities. I would be amazed if they sold it for less than $2500.

Yes, good point! The first two Oppo re-badges are selling for $3,500 (Lexicon) and $5,000 (Theta), so even if Meridian did something similar, the price would presumably be comparable - probably not worth it IMO.

It speaks well for the Oppo. I have one and am pleased with speed, PQ and reliability.

it speaks well for the oppo. I have one and am pleased with speed, pq and reliability.

+1

hdmi should be called the "practice of hdmi"

this is unfortunately a work in process, and i do not believe you can justify the boutique pricing from the high end brands. $2500-5000 blue ray players do not make any sense.

the oppo blue ray is on my buy list next month as i am in the process of changing my theater to a front projection system.

Someone here needs to design a really col box to put the Oppo in.

Art

Someone here needs to design a really col box to put the Oppo in.

Art

A great business would be to take the insides of the Oppo and put it in virtually any existing CDP, DVD, or BD player box.

What is wrong with the original box? IHMO this look better then the Lexicon version.

http://news.digitaltrends.com/images/stories/2009/07/8547/oppo-s-bdp-83-blu-ray-player-hits-the-streets-1.jpg

I like the original Oppo box. I am simply interested in even better HDMI transport performance, if this is possible, without extra bucks for fancy faceplates, etc.

I like the original Oppo box. I am simply interested in even better HDMI transport performance, if this is possible, without extra bucks for fancy faceplates, etc.


"HDMI transport" suggests that you are using HDMI cable(s) for audio,
which I am not.

Given your focus on top end audio (as well as video), I suggest that you ditch HDMI for audio.

Analog (RCA) all the way for me.

Cheers

What is wrong with the original box? IHMO this look better then the Lexicon version.

http://news.digitaltrends.com/images/stories/2009/07/8547/oppo-s-bdp-83-blu-ray-player-hits-the-streets-1.jpg


It needs some wings.

A nice faceplate, with four holes, instead of added wings would be even better.

This box doesn't fit in a standard rack.

"HDMI transport" suggests that you are using HDMI cable(s) for audio,
which I am not.

Given your focus on top end audio (as well as video), I suggest that you ditch HDMI for audio.

Analog (RCA) all the way for me.

Cheers

Not using it for CD. For that I've got the PS Audio PerfectWave Transport, which is great with the Extreme DACs, and I am now just warming up the Perfect Wave DAC which cold out of box equaled the Extremes.

I like the original Oppo box. I am simply interested in even better HDMI transport performance, if this is possible, without extra bucks for fancy faceplates, etc.

I agree and think the looks kill the Denons, integras, anthems, sonys etc of the world but would like something to match my system or at least look good enough to be on display.

Like this
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l269/vancouver_03/BeoCenter2.jpg


or this
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l269/vancouver_03/CDP502-HR.jpg



I guess this stuff is purely subjective, and that I should be happy the Oppo looks as good as it does.

Im such a complainer.

Happy w/the Oppo, see no reason for anything else.

In the Meridian world, looks like the 621 takes care of jitter, so as a transport, don't see what the value of a BD 800 type player would be. Will be interesting to see how (and if) Theta deals w/jitter over HDMI in whatever they come out with. Thought a Compli might employ the Sony HATS or Pioneer's system, making the transport more integral to the process, but no go.

I'd love something like a lower-cost Denon.

A good solid BD player but with a high quality analog section.

The only thing I use HDMI for is as a video transport; I'm not going to be upgrading my Lexicon MC-8 anytime soon, so that means that BD (and DVD-A and SACD) audio all needs to be passed through the Lexicon in pass-through mode.

Aside from the excellent value, the one thing that has always been lauded about the Oppo over other BD players was it's speed.

I expect that Denon, Pioneer et al have closed this gap to make the difference minor (?), but it was always a big factor for me having been used to the PS3 load times.

the one thing that has always been lauded about the Oppo over other BD players was it's speed.



Yea, I love when you hit eject it does it immediately instead of thinking about it for three minutes then still not doing it sometimes (my Pioneers):D

art

"HDMI transport" suggests that you are using HDMI cable(s) for audio,
which I am not.

Given your focus on top end audio (as well as video), I suggest that you ditch HDMI for audio.

Analog (RCA) all the way for me.

Cheers

I asked this on another thread regarding HDMI to HDMI sound quality but wouldn't HDMI pure digital to digital produce better sound than analog and if not then why not ?

I asked this on another thread regarding HDMI to HDMI sound quality but wouldn't HDMI pure digital to digital produce better sound than analog and if not then why not ?I cannot answer your question because there are too many variables involved. Basically, imho, posters such as the one you quote are still clinging to outdated paradigms of audio connectivity. That said, there's no reason to doubt that in some cases analog would be better but, again imho, those situations are fading away.

Arcam will have a unit early 2010. MSRP: $2,500.00

The prototype was at CES and CEDIA this year.

Arcam will have a unit early 2010. MSRP: $2,500.00

The prototype was at CES and CEDIA this year.

Finally. That is goood news. I compared my old Oppo 83 to the Arcam DV 139. The Arcam was more dynamic, bigger soundstage, and well, just plain better. I sold my Oppo a week later.

Sounds like a possible winner. I'd like to see the speed of the Oppo combined with a great 5 channel analog audio section.

One key consideration regarding these upgraded Oppo players is firmware updates. If they are leaving the core alone and the updates get pushed through Oppo, then life is good. If they delay it to do their own test or have made enough changes to make the upgrades incompatible, then that is bad news.

One key consideration regarding these upgraded Oppo players is firmware updates. If they are leaving the core alone and the updates get pushed through Oppo, then life is good. If they delay it to do their own test or have made enough changes to make the upgrades incompatible, then that is bad news.

My understanding is that Oppo isn't sharing proprietary info, so modding companies can upgrade power supply, clock, resistors, etc but
the basic design of the player remains. I wouldn't think cause any problem with the Oppo firmware. However, Amirm, I defer to your wisdom and knowledge in this regard.

Basically, imho, posters such as the one you quote are still clinging to outdated paradigms of audio connectivity. That said, there's no reason to doubt that in some cases analog would be better but, again imho, those situations are fading away.

Nicely said. I now find HDMI into my Meridian 621/861 combo superior to all other connections.

Nicely said. I now find HDMI into my Meridian 621/861 combo superior to all other connections.Me, too. ;)

I asked this on another thread regarding HDMI to HDMI sound quality but wouldn't HDMI pure digital to digital produce better sound than analog and if not then why not ?


I cannot answer your question because there are too many variables involved. Basically, imho, posters such as the one you quote are still clinging to outdated paradigms of audio connectivity. That said, there's no reason to doubt that in some cases analog would be better but, again imho, those situations are fading away.


Kal, I know that you generally are helpful as well as well thought of by most at AVS, but this (above) is misleading and I don't much like being labeled as "outdated"

General comment by me: the one place I would use a digital cable is to connect a 2 channel digital audio disc player to a separate 2 channel DAC unit; and I'd 1st try using either an RCA digital coax cable, or an XLR cable.

General question for you:

Isn't it true that "ordinary" RCA interconnect cables (for sound obviously) in general sound as good as sound carried via HDMI cables???

All ears :)

PS: FWIW, as you know I make my own interconnect cables and a L/R pair costs me about $14 for the 4 Canare RCA connectors (excellent, no death grip, and easy to grip too) and the RG6 (solid center which is easier for me to work with) costs less than 50 cents per foot.

Kal, I know that you generally are helpful as well as well thought of by most at AVS, but this (above) is misleading and I don't much like being labeled as "outdated"I was being intentionally provocative. What I was decrying was the knee-jerk reaction of many long-term audiophiles in always preferring a simple analog connection to an equally simple digital connection.

General comment by me: the one place I would use a digital cable is to connect a 2 channel digital audio disc player to a separate 2 channel DAC unit; and I'd 1st try using either an RCA digital coax cable, or an XLR cable.Of course. Technically, either of those would be superior but neither is adequate for more than 2 channel.

Isn't it true that "ordinary" RCA interconnect cables (for sound obviously) in general sound as good as sound carried via HDMI cables???

All ears :)That is my point. One simply cannot make a blanket statement about this because there are so many uncontrolled variables in the comparison. The signal paths are very, very different and the number of options, digital and analog, immense.

PS: FWIW, as you know I make my own interconnect cables and a L/R pair costs me about $14 for the 4 Canare RCA connectors (excellent, no death grip, and easy to grip too) and the RG6 (solid center which is easier for me to work with) costs less than 50 cents per foot.I am not a cable-guy, so I do not find this relevant. I will not bandy cables with you. ;)

I was being intentionally provocative. What I was decrying was the knee-jerk reaction of many long-term audiophiles in always preferring a simple analog connection to an equally simple digital connection.

Of course. Technically, either of those would be superior but neither is adequate for more than 2 channel.

That is my point. One simply cannot make a blanket statement about this because there are so many uncontrolled variables in the comparison. The signal paths are very, very different and the number of options, digital and analog, immense.

I am not a cable-guy, so I do not find this relevant. I will not bandy cables with you. ;)


I thought that I'd snip at the top after the 1st sentence by you.

But your comments flow together, and your "equally simple digital connection" hit hard with me.

And yes, this is somewhat off topic to this thread, but you started it as a follow-up to my post.

Anyhow, one does not need my comments to understand that digital cable connections (coax/optical/HDMI) are anything but simple, as well as possible jitter issues with each of them.

Which is why I've mostly gone back to using RCA analog interconnect cables.

To others, sorry about the off topic posting.

Cheers

What do you mean by a "Boutique" player?

I thought that I'd snip at the top after the 1st sentence by you.

But your comments flow together, and your "equally simple digital connection" hit hard with me.

And yes, this is somewhat off topic to this thread, but you started it as a follow-up to my post.

Anyhow, one does not need my comments to understand that digital cable connections (coax/optical/HDMI) are anything but simple, as well as possible jitter issues with each of them.

Which is why I've mostly gone back to using RCA analog interconnect cables.

To others, sorry about the off topic posting.

Cheers

I do not have any argument with what you say but I do not think one should make a decision between one route or another based solely on this type of analysis. Based on my hand's-on experience, I almost always prefer keeping things digital as long as possible and have had little problems with handshaking or jitter. You may have practical experience to the contrary.

What do you mean by a "Boutique" player?

Either a modded player or a more "boutique" company like Lexicon, Theta Digital, heck, even Goldmun taking someone else's players and making some changes and adding their own faceplate or whatever.

Either a modded player or a more "boutique" company like Lexicon, Theta Digital, heck, even Goldmun taking someone else's players and making some changes and adding their own faceplate or whatever.

This could be a nice sideline for you Steve.:D;)

Art

This could be a nice sideline for you Steve.:D;)

Art

Would you pay 3 grand for "The Bruzer" blu ray player?:D

I thought forum members would get the industry standard 65% industry accomidation discount off MSRP.

I thought forum members would get the industry standard 65% industry accomidation discount off MSRP.Actually, you can get it for 90% off if you supply your own Oppo! (Did I really say that? :eek:)

Would you pay 3 grand for "The Bruzer" blu ray player?:D

I don't know, what does the box and logo look like ?


Bruzon

art

I don't know, what does the box and logo look like ?


Bruzon

art


Here's the anticipated company mascot:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/customavatars/avatar1219_11.gif (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/member.php?u=1219)