Official OPPO BDP-105 Owner's Thread - Page 97

So, if using the highly heralded OPPO DAC, we must add a Processor down the chain to get multichannel, correct? The OPPO DAC only delivers 2.0 audio.

I understood UPTHREAD (yes, I've read the entire thing), that this in some way would compromise or circumvent the high quality output from the onboard OPPO DAC.


Still learning....Thanks.

You can play 5.1 straight from the Oppo - no processor required. What you cannot do is play 5.1 from the USB DAC input (directly from your computer using the Oppo as the "sound card") - that input is for stereo only. I have a bunch of 5.1 DVDA rips that I play from an attached USB directly to the Oppo analog outputs - sounds great.

Thanks stevepow.


So you are connecting your PC to one of the OTHER USB ports on the OPPO. Which one? Or does it even matter?

In your opinion then, you are not losing anything by bypassing the special USB DAC, which is one of the most heavily discussed difference makers and discriminating features on this unit?

Thanks for your reply. Much appreciated.

You aren't bypassing the DAC. The USB input is just another way of using the onboard DAC in the Oppo. Its input only allows stereo.

Is there some sonic advantage then to having a SEPARATE USB DAC that does only stereo?

I guess I'm having a hard time understanding why all the hoopla over the special USB B connector DAC, when the other USB A DACs do just as much, or more (multichannel).


Thanks.

I don't believe you can connect a computer directly to the other USB "A" Dac's, you can only connect a computer to the USB "B" DAC as it acts as a sound card. You can still connect a computer to the SPDIF or coaxial digital inputs of the Oppo if your computer has this type of output. The benefit of the USB "B" DAC is that it's asynchronous provided that you have a Windows 7 computer or a Mac.

You still get excellent quality using the SPDIF or coaxial and you can make up for the asynchronous part if you run ASAPI for your music playback program on your computer (Foobar, Jriver, etc.).

The USB "A" inputs can be used if you connect an external harddrive directly to the Oppo, not a computer. At least that's the way I understand it.

You can do that using "HDMI Split" Mode: HDMI1 to the TV for the video, and HDMI2 to the receiver for the audio.

If you use split mode, it is by design that there is no audio from HDMI1 - this explains it well: http://watershade.net/wmcclain/BDP-103-faq#how-does-dual-hdmi-output-work. For most receivers that cannot "matrix" HDMI video to different sources (listen to one input while watching HDMI video from another), split mode will only be useful with HDMI1 connected directly to the TV. Then you need another input on your TV to use for the AVR menus.

The main reason for buying the BDP-105 versus the 103 is to take advantage of the analog outputs. For playing content over HDMI, both players are identical. So you spent about $600 for the analog outputs - and they do sound very good. There are 3 possibilities for SACD DSD playback:
1 - Set the Oppo SACD Playback mode to DSD and use the analog outputs. This avoids ALL processing in the Oppo (no speaker trim, no crossover/bass management, etc) - it is a very pure way to play SACD and you hear the mix as it was engineered. If your speakers are placed well and your room sounds good, this can be an awesome way to hear SACD.
2 - Set the Oppo SACD mode to PCM and use the Oppo analog ouputs. This will take advantage of the Oppo processing - speaker trim, crossover/bass management, etc.
3 - Send DSD or PCM over HDMI to your Onkyo to playback. If you send DSD to the Onkyo, you most likely lose all the processing the Onkyo can do (bass management, trim, Audyssey, etc). If you send PCM to Onkyo, then you take advantage of all the processing the Onkyo can do including Audyssey. But you are now using the Onkyo converters and analog section rather than the well-regarded Oppo analog section. Which sounds better? You have to do some listening and decide.

For split AV, you leave HDMI1 connected to the TV and HDMI2 to the receiver - there should be no need to shuffle the connections around.

You should at least try analog playback of SACD/DVD Audio - although you may like the processing from the Onkyo better - that depends on so many things, only you can decide that.

HDMI1 Video with simultaneous Analog out works fine - in Split AV or Dual mode.

In Split or Dual mode, the Oppo menu screens for playback control and setup appear on both HDMI 1 & 2. If you are using Split AV and connecting HDMI1 directly to the TV, you'll have to switch to another input on the TV that is connected to the Onkyo AVR to change any of the AVR settings. If this is inconvenient, you have to decide if Split AV is worth it for any perceived video quality improvements.

Ah, well that would definitely explain the difference.

Unfortunately that takes me back to Square One as all of my rather large collection of digital material is stored on my Home Server (WHS 2011). It makes little sense to export it to an external drive.

Yes, the vast majority of it is in Stereo format (FLAC), and I do understand that I can get 2.1 (subwoofer) out of the USB B DAC with some wiring tricks, but call me crazy, I have become fond of 7.1 multichannel reproduction via my Processor, of much of this stereo material . Yes, I know it is not true multichannel, but to my ears, the participation of all 8 speakers is often superior to plain stereo.

Thanks for that important clarification.

Thank you!

Comparing the CD audio and Blu-ray could be tricky if it is not the exact some audio content. From above, it sounds like the entire setup is stereo only. If this is true, you are probably having to set the Blu-ray content playback as down-mixed to stereo. Down-mixing attenuates each channel so as not to overload the processing (stuffing 7.1 channels into 2). That down-mixing can make some playback seem low. That might be the issue - hard to say. There's a lot of variation in audio levels even from CD to CD - depending on the artist and style.

The only Blu-ray content I have evaluated so far is this sampler / calibration disc - AIX Records - Blu-Ray Audio Calibration Disc and HD Music Sampler - and it sounds wonderful. That and Stones Live at the MAX - pretty great sounding as well.

My experience as well. The low end will start filling in for you after a few days.

Try the DTS Neo:6 processing in the Oppo for stereo sources. It can sound pretty cool if you like to get all your speakers involved while still enjoying the Oppo's analog output - should work on FLAC audio coming from your server over Ethernet.
Edited by stevepow - 1/17/13 at 9:58am

Someone suggested that (or something similar) early on.

I don't believe that works with the USB B DAC.

However, I will try it again tonight. Isn't that a configuration setting off the Main Menu in "Audio Setup", or something like that?

Thanks.

No, DTS Neo is only for the other stereo inputs; however, using the USB Async DAC is a very purist way to play stereo audio - taking that and then turning it into faux surround would be sort of audio heresy - likely with punishments up to and including having your Oppo confiscated.

Hi Steve & HK thanks, Yes my setup is purely 2ch stereo using the rca-xlr analogue out. As for the downmix I was under the impression that this would only affect the multi-channel DAC. I am always using the other pure audiophile one ? The difference in level is quite significant almost double ie 3db

Well, the "multichannel" thing is probably out the window.

The bottom line: It looks like I MUST use the USB Async DAC if I want to stream DIRECTLY from my Server. With that constraint, and in lieu of a Processor (which I suppose is also considered a heresy), I am limited to 2.0 or 2.1.

I'll just have to get used to good old STEREO again.


Thanks.

What about network access? Via DLNA or SMB.

-Bill

You don't need the USB DAC to connect your home server to the Oppo. You can use either the SMB shares or DLNA (depending on your hardware/software on the server) and link your server directly to the Oppo.

I'm not sure what you are getting at.

Are you referring to alternative network protocols which would allow DIRECT playing of media from my server, WIHOUT using the STEREO ONLY USB B DAC (async) port/connection?

Thanks.

Yes. This is standard on many Blu-ray players and media servers. See the DLNA sections in the FAQs linked in my signature.

-Bill

I'll have to explore that, as I'm not sure of the implementation of that scheme. I MUCH prefer to use the WIN7 PC interface to the primitive GUI on the OPPO.

Doesn't DLNA require the use of Windows Media Center?

I've been using the richly featured Media Monkey as my player.

There are many different DLNA servers available. Microsoft's are not the best loved.

-Bill

OK, thank you very much for the information.

Looks like I have STILL more reading/learning to do.

As if this ENTIRE thread wasn't enough. LOL.

The term "DLNA Server":

Is that referencing a software media player such as Media Monkey, J River or MS Media Center/Media Player? Maybe even VLC?

It does not refer to a separate Server OS, I assume?

As mentioned, my Server is WHS 2011 , but I pull media from it via a number of Win 7 machines, running various media player softwares.

Yes, it's a program running on a computer. You can run it along with all your other stuff. See the FAQs, there is a list of what people have reported using with the OPPO. We have a separate thread here on DLNA for OPPO.

-Bill

The Stereo XLR outputs have two possible settings: Stereo Downmix or Front L/R (see page 74 in the manual). If you have them set as Front L/R, then the other 5.1 analog outputs must be used to get all channels of a multi-channel source- otherwise the other channels are sent off into nowhere. If you have the XLR outputs set as Stereo Downmix, then all multi-channel sources (other than SACD DSD) are mixed down to stereo - probably what you want.

I just did a quick test - the Stones MAX Blu-ray has both a DTS Master and a Stereo LPCM version of the audio - I have a meter on the stereo outputs of my system and the down-mixed DTS Master track indeed measures roughly 6dB lower on peaks than the same track played back from the Stereo LPCM version. I also tossed in a regular CD (not the Stones live though) and that track was also about 6dB hotter on peaks than the down-mixed DTS Master.

Now, back to the Stones...using an SPL meter in the room with the DTS Master playing back in 5.1 compared the same track played back from the LPCM version, the SPL was almost identical. This is exactly what I would expect since there are simply more amplifiers and speakers playing back the individual channels versus when they are down-mixed.
Edited by stevepow - 1/17/13 at 1:10pm

There's only one USB connection you can connect a PC to.
If you have have a digital input and an analog output there is no way you can ever bypass any DAC.

You don't have to use the USB DAC, it's only an option for people who need it. IF you don't need it there's no point in trying to find a use for it. Many people have seperate external USB (or other) DACs connected to their computers already. If you already have the 105 then you can get rid of your other DAC. Since my DACs cost as much as the 105 did, the 105 saved me a lot of money. And the 105 DAC still provided much more capabilities than any external DAC.

New User Manual Available for BDP-105

http://www.oppodigital.com/blu-ray-bdp-105/blu-ray-BDP-105-Support.aspx

In the US, OPPO Digital has now posted V1.6 of the User Manual for the BDP-105. Changes appear to be mainly additional clean-up and editorial corrections.
--Bob

Well, my most recent issue is with DVD-Audio & SACD Multichannel playback. It seems that each time I first put in either of these disc formats that are multichannel I initially only get stereo output. I have to turn the player off, then turn back on. Then I get the multichannel output. No other adjustments are made prior or after. Anyone else experience this?

Are you running the latest firmware? Check Setup > Device Setup > Firmware Information. Your "Main" firmware version should end 1220.

How are you connected for audio output when the problem happens? Are you using the multi-chanel Analog outputs? Are you also using Dedicated Stereo Analog outputs in place of the normal LR/RF output pair of the multi-channel Analog outputs (i.e., Stereo Signal = FRONT LEFT/RIGHT)?

What does the on-screen music playback graphic say is happening when the problem happens? For example, for SACD it will display whether it is playing the 5.1 or the 2.0 layer.
--Bob