Official OPPO BDP-103/BDP-105 Anticipation Thread - Page 54

With all the connectors this unit has, WHY is AES/EBU DIGITAL missing?

I've never heard of it and OPPO never employs features I've never heard of.

-Bill

AES/EBU:
This digital audio standard is also called AES3 and was
published as part of IEC 60958. It is used for carrying digital audio signals between devices. Developed by
the Audio Engineering Society (AES) and the European
Broadcasting Union (EBU) Several different physical connectors are defined as part of the overall group of standards. A balanced connection (IEC 60958 Type I) uses 3
conductor, 110 ohm twisted pair cabling with a 3 pin XLR
connector (this is the variant used on the BDP-1 and other
Bryston products). See also SPDIF which is a variant of the
AES3 standard. This is from a Bryston manial
I'm sure OPPO has heard about this connector.

As you can tell, we are not very good at answering "Why?" questions here.

Hmmm, another guess might be that with two S/PDIF outputs and two S/PDIF inputs on the 105 they felt they had it covered?
--Bob

Thanx Bob

Also, AES/EBU digital outputs aren't especially common on consumer gear and I don't think I've ever encountered a component that didn't also have one of the other types that is supported. I'm sure someone will come back with a list of everything that has them , but the bottom line is that it won't matter to the vast majority of users.

Could you name a few. I am not familiar with the magazines.

Thanks

Here's a few:

Home Theater
Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity
Sound & Vision
Stereophile
Home Theater Review

A couple are on-line only but all have on-line versions. For the primarily print magazines, the reviews may not show up on-line until a month or two later. Once reviews appear you can expect to find links in this threads to the reviews, usually in the first or second post.

What sort of comparison are you looking for between Denon and Oppo?

Some of the Denon players have DenonLink, none of the Oppo's do. So if you have a Denon receiver that supports the version of DenonLink the player has, that ~might~ be important to you. Note that Denon is currently changing the DenonLink connector, so players coming out now won't connect to their previous receivers via DenonLink and their older players won't connect to their newer receivers via DenonLink. Look at the relevant Denon threads for more details on this change if DenonLink matters to you.

Denon's top of the line player, the DVD-A1UDCI, has a custom aluminum disc tray and presumably has better analog audio outputs than the 103. At a MSRP of $4500 it ought to).

Otherwise, the edge goes to Oppo IMHO. But your question is really to vague for anyone to give you a really good answer.

Disconnecting the cable takes care of it. My monitor must have a hot stanby when even when turned off.




I have a 103. Everything you said here is exactly right and I can only figure that even when turned off my monitor on HDMI 2 is still not "completely off."

^ The usual trick for fixing that is to change the secondary monitor to a different input prior to turning it off. Also check for whether it has any settings for disabling HDMI CEC (remote control over the HDMI cable), as that's the usual excuse for keeping that last used input live.
--Bob

Support is infinitely better. I had a Denon 3910. Excellent player. Superb DVD upconversion. Cost me $1000.

The laser went bad, and this was a pattern of failures in this model, so clearly it was a matter of bad initial design. Sent it to Denon for repair. They had it for 8 weeks and charged me hundreds of dollars to get it fixed. Later I found it was a $5 part that failed.

Later I bought an Oppo 83 was it $400 as part of the 2nd EAP? I think so. Also has excellent upconversion although I like the 3910 slightly better. After 3 years the loader went bad. Similar to Denon it's a known problem with the loader. I sent it back to Oppo. They fixed it immediately and shipped it back it the SAME DAY it arrived. FREE. Out of warranty.

Conclusion: Denon makes very high performance products, as good as Oppo, maybe better in some areas. They charge high prices for that performance. Their support is not anywhere near as good as Oppo's.

I will never ever buy a Denon again if I can find an Oppo product that meets my needs.

Hoping the 103/105 is better at upconversion yet.

I fully expect that the 105 has a better DAC than the Touch which is mediocre.

What you suggest, substituting that 105 for a DAC is exactly what I am planning to do, and why I am going to buy a 105 instead of a 103.

Right now I have 3 squeezeboxes in my home, 2 classics and a Touch. I feed the Touch SPDIF to my Anthem D2V in my HT system which works very well as a DAC . I also have a Lavry DA10 that I use as a DAC / Head amp with a SB Classic that I control via the web interface.

Finally I have a Classic that I use the analog outs with an integrated amp. Most of the time I use this as an alarm clock. Eventually this is probably going to be where the 105 goes. Unless I determine that the 105 DAC is better than the D2V.

I paid about $1000 for the Lavry. It's going to be interesting to see if I can hear a difference between the DA 10, the D2V and the 105.

My guess is I won't be able to. I'm not that fussy a listener.
Edited by ehlarson - 10/8/12 at 10:40am

Great thanks. I'll keep an eye out for them.

I would say mainly the performance, picture and sound quality. Also would probably take in consideration the the same price target range. The DenonLink connector, I am not too worried about since I don't have a Denon receiver.

The unit I was thinking is like the DBT-3313UDCI and DBP-2012UDCI. I know the VRS AnchorBay on the 2012 but it doesn't say that the 3313 has. Probably thinking VRS AnchorBay is better than Marvell is it not?

I see thanks. I have the Oppo 83 and 93. I may consider the 103 depending on how the unit performs and probably sell one of the previous units or give it to a family member.
Edited by Sango - 10/8/12 at 10:54am

Is there a reputable company for U.S. consumers that want to order a region-free Oppo BDP-103 DIY kit?

^ For SD-DVD Region Free, the Super Disc solution is free and readily available. See the Unofficial FAQ linked at the top of the first post in the 103 Owner's Thread.

For Blu-Ray Region Free, hardware has to be added to the player. It's not clear to me that anybody has such hardware ready just yet -- not surprising since the player has only been out there for a short period. As for "reputable", I think we'll have to wait to see what happens when people start buying these mods and using them. It wouldn't surprise me to discover that all of the sources are either European or Asian outfits -- albeit willing to sell into the US.
--Bob
Edited by Bob Pariseau - 10/8/12 at 10:57am

The ones we know about so far are in the FAQ, and are outside of the US: Region Free Modifications

The hardware mods are still in development, expected to ship before the end of the year (they say).

-Bill

Question from an Oppo 83SE owner who uses it for CDs and DVDs only.

My music files --- all WAV format --- are on my hard drive in a Windows 7 computer. A long Toslink optical cable runs from the computer room under the floor into the Toslink input on my Marantz 6003 receiver. The music on the computer is controlled by the quite-comprehensive "Media Monkey" program. I have an Oppo 83SE, but it is not used for these purposes.

I well understand that the DACs in the new Oppo 105 are likely superior to whatever is in my Marantz 6003 receiver. I believe I am understanding that I could run the Toslink optical cable from the computer motherboard to the Toslink input of the new Oppo 105, which, in turn, would be connected to the Marantz receiver via analog cables (as is the case with my current Oppo 83SE). All in all, the only change would be the insertion of the Oppo 105, as an outboard DAC, in the path from computer to receiver.

Do I have this correct so far?

So now I further understand (see quote above), that I could copy the music files on my computer to an external/portable hard drive having a USB output, then connect the portable hard drive DIRECTLY into the Oppo 105 --- thereby no need to boot up the computer. But here's the REAL question: How, minus Media Monkey (or other such program), would one control the playing of music files? Unless Oppo has some sort of built-in program, it seems that the only manner to select and play files is through a Windows-like file manager --- quite cumbersome, to say the least.

Comments appreciated.

Howard

I look forward to hearing your opinion how the Lavry DA10 and Anthem D2V compare to the forthcoming 105 DAC.

If I take the plunge on the 105, I will do an A/B comparison with my Fostex HP-A7, a 32 bit solid state DAC amp and post an opinion.

It may be an expensive solution, but Logitech sells the Squeezebox Touch for about $250.00 which has a user friendly interface allowing you to use either a remote control or keyboard/mouse to view all your music by cover art, artist, album name, type of music, and which lists all the tracks in numerical order, and allowing you to pick what you want to hear. The Touch itself is very small and hard to see (for use with a remote control), but using your computer's browser to look at the Touch's music (via the Touch's software) on your 55 inch HD theater room TV makes choosing songs convenient.

Thanks for the idea, but I'm thinking that I would want to get away from the computer altogether, and merely plug the portable hard drive into the Oppo 105. If I have to use "the computer's browser to look at Touch's music", thereby requiring the computer to be running, I may as well run the signal from the computer using Media Monkey over the Toslink optical cable and into the Oppo 105. (By the way, I understand that there is a third-party app that will control Media Monkey from any Android tablet, but that still requires the computer to be up and running, and Media Monkey to be loaded.)

I suppose that I was thinking about an application of some sort or another built into the Oppo or loaded onto the hard drive whereby the music files on the hard drive would be controlled by the Oppo remote, or otherwise. Then again, this would make the Oppo almost a media server, which, it would seem, is not its primary purpose.

Howard

Thank you Bob, that sounds promising. As soon as a convenient app is announced, I'll go for the Oppo!

@ Howard, such an App would solve your issue on a proper way to select and play files from your own music collection as well!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NZ6r7Njpq1E

I think that is how the Oppo-105 works with the USB hard drive.

You connect the hard drive which has all your music files using USB, then you use the Oppo remote to navigate through directories/folders and you make a play list or you choose a music file and just play it.

Isn't it how Oppo works with the music files and directories?

I also think I read somewhere that Oppo displays album art (I'm not sure about it).

As an FYI, Logitech recently discontinued the Squeezebox line. I'm sure there are a few still out there for sale though. They now have the Logitech UE Smart Radio (about $180 USD) which is similar. It has a free controller app for IOS and Android. Still need the computer on though so not what Howard was looking for.

@Howard, you can connect the USB drive and turn on the TV to make your selections on your 83 and on the new player. From what I have read here, the new players have what ever is needed for the control apps many folks are asking about. Thought I read that an Android app is in the works but that may not be correct. I do know that Oppo is very much aware that this is wanted and that they are super busy getting these new players out. At present I have an alternative way to get the music to the 105. I'm hoping to use that USB input that we are all anxious to hear more about once Oppo releases that info.
Cathy

From personal experience, I second this comment as regards the Denon high cost of repair.
Edited by sta363 - 10/8/12 at 5:02pm

I currently own a BDP-93 which I really love.

However, compared to my Squeezebox Touch, I find it's quite user-unfriendly as a music streamer. With over 1000 albums on my drive navigating through the Mezzmo menu is a slow PITA. Great for streaming video content however.

A couple of things that would really make me jump for the 105 would be a decent Linux compatible USB input and/or a controller app that can rival the Touch's. That way I could eliminate my ES9018 based Eastern Electric DAC, my Musical Fidelity USB/SPDIF converter, my AQVOX power supply and maybe even the Touch. Not to mention all associated cables.

If you don't own a Denon receiver and therefore can't use DenonLink, I quite honestly see no good reason to consider a Denon player. IMHO of course (and I own a Denon DVD-3930CI in addition to a few Oppo players).

The Eastern Electric Minimax DAC is not strictly compatible to the upcoming 105 DAC since the Minimax is a Tube DAC, while I understand the new 105 DAC is going to be solid state. It is nice to have both tube and solid state DACs to hear the music in two different ways.

Guess my main concern was the video processor it was using. Wondering if VRS Anchor Bay is the better one or Marvell.

I suspect you meant comparable. I agree that the possibility to switch fron SS to tube output is a nice feature on the EE DAC. The problem with the EE is that it's USB input is pretty much useless.

The Touch sounds better when it's connected via a USB/SPDIF converter to the EE SPDIF or AES/EBU inputs as opposed to a direct connection. IF the 105 has a well implemented USB input that is compatible with the Touch's Linux OS it could prove to be a great all-in-one solution. I figure I could unload my BDP-93, DAC,USB converter, etc and cover a good part of the cost of the 105. The 4K and other goodies would be gravy.

But I'm in no hurry - my current setup is quite nice as is.