CD/SACD Recommendation

[ipadasher]

I currently have an oppo BDP 105 completely upgraded by rick schultz from evs. I love this player and in my opinion the mods done by rick schultz are a big upgrade from the stock unit.

Although I love the player i recently upgraded all my components and now I am looking to upgrade the source. I really want something that would be significantly better than my modified oppo and would really appreciate some good recommendations.

It is very important that the player is good for regular cd's and SACD and

So, what you guys recommend? I do not want to spend more than US$ 25K and does not necessarily need to be a new equipment.

Thanks in advance

Ash

 

[edorr]

I currently have an oppo BDP 105 completely upgraded by rick schultz from evs. I love this player and in my opinion the mods done by rick schultz are a big upgrade from the stock unit.

Although I love the player i recently upgraded all my components and now I am looking to upgrade the source. I really want something that would be significantly better than my modified oppo and would really appreciate some good recommendations.

It is very important that the player is good for regular cd's and SACD and

So, what you guys recommend? I do not want to spend more than US$ 25K and does not necessarily need to be a new equipment.

Thanks in advance

Ash

I think your best bet is to get a very good DSD capable DAC (there are many, many choices) and get an Oppo 103 with the latest vanity 103HD board. This board will output native DSD digitally over coax, which you run into your DAC. If you decide to buy say the new Berkeley reference DAC (which does not do DSD), you simply let the Vanity board do proprietary DSD to PCM conversion at 176/24. Either way, you'll get absolute SOTA SACD playback. For redbook, you can use the same Oppo / Vanity 103HD as a transport, but better option is to get a very good music server and run it into your DAC, most likely over USB. For server there are again many options from turnkey packaged to prebuild PC based (CAPS 3.0) to DiY.

 

[ipadasher]

My friend I am looking for a cd/SACD old style player, because i have many SACD discs and rebook cd's (which i do not want to transfer to any hd)
I really want something on the top of the line type of equipment that would do justice to my new constellation altair 2 preamp

 

[GaryProtein]

The Esoteric K-01X

 

[edorr]

My friend I am looking for a cd/SACD old style player, because i have many SACD discs and rebook cd's (which i do not want to transfer to any hd)
I really want something on the top of the line type of equipment that would do justice to my new constellation altair 2 preamp

If you're big into SACD and want a traditional one box player, the contenders would be Playback Designs MPS-5, and EMM labs XDS1 CD/SACD. Esoteric and Krell have some top notch integrated players as well.

In this situation what I do is draw up a shortlist of highly acclaimed players, and wait for a killer deal to show up on one of them on audiogon and scoop it up. Underlying assumption is they are all good players and differences are marginal, so economics prevail. Buying a particular player based on advise you get here is as much as a crapshoot as just getting the first top notch player that shows up at a good price and take your chances.

Then if you want to move in another direction you sell the player with minimal or no loss. This approach is of course heresy for the purveyors of true perfection on this forum, but it has worked miracles for me listening to a lot of stuff at minimal cost of ownership. It simply makes no sense to me to buy a $25K player that will be worth $15K a year from now (at best).

 

[edorr]

The Esoteric K-01X

Buy the K-01 listed for 9K on audiogon and get it upgraded for $1K to K-01x" and presto!

 

[ipadasher]

I do not leave in the US. If I buy a K-01 how can I upgrade for the X version?

Will it be a significant upgrade compared to my mod oppo?

 

[edorr]

I do not leave in the US. If I buy a K-01 how can I upgrade for the X version?

Will it be a significant upgrade compared to my mod oppo?

Check with Esoteric. But don't get hung up on this particular "killer deal". For exmaple. there is a $21,000K ACCUPHASE DP-600 listed for $9,000 (located in London). Can't go wrong with either one. For every audiophile that vouches for the Esoteric, you can find one that swears by the Accuphase. These $25K players show up for 40% of retail all the time. Do your homework and make your move.... Never buy a $25K digital piece that is being replaced by server based systems all over the place for more than 50% of retail (preferably 40% tops).

 

[Bruce B]

Then you should look no further than the Playback Designs MPS-5. I've had mine for years and wouldn't trade it in for anything. They are still being upgraded and the company stands behind their product!

 

[thedudeabides]

FWIW,

There's a used MPS-5 on Audiogon (posted today) for just under $10K.

Ipad, could be your lucky day.

 

[ipadasher]

Do you think that the MPS-5 or the K-01 or the EMM would be a big upgrade compared to my modified op, or just a subtle one

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

From a modded Oppo to a $25K player? Makes no sense to me.

 

[es347]

..legit thread or chain yanking?..hmmm

 

[ipadasher]

the thing is that so many people told me that if i move up the difference will be very subtle, and i am only willing to spend that much money if it really going to be a significant upgrade

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

the thing is that so many people told me that if i move up the difference will be very subtle, and i am only willing to spend that much money if it really going to be a significant upgrade

Keep the Oppo and get a DAC as has been suggested. Send me half of the funds you saved and we'll call it even.

 

[ipadasher]

Even with a separate DAC, my problem is that I listen a lot to SACD and can not send from the oppo to the external DAC through digital cable, so the external DAC would be of no utility when you listen to SACD. Thats why i am looking for a better player

 

[LL21]

Keep the Oppo and get a DAC as has been suggested. Send me half of the funds you saved and we'll call it even.

I concur, having done exactly that myself for years...Oppo 83 and Zanden DAC. That was a super-tough combo to beat, and it was only thru an extremely attractive opportunity that i got the full Zanden set, which i am happy i did. nevertheless, agree.

Even with a separate DAC, my problem is that I listen a lot to SACD and can not send from the oppo to the external DAC through digital cable, so the external DAC would be of no utility when you listen to SACD. Thats why i am looking for a better player

You've got the budget, ipadasher, to get something stupendous (and still have change in your pocket leftover for cables, isolation, etc)...i have PM'd you more details and personal experiences as my two cents.

 

[rbbert]

I think your best bet is to get a very good DSD capable DAC (there are many, many choices) and get an Oppo 103 with the latest vanity 103HD board. This board will output native DSD digitally over coax, which you run into your DAC...

No, it won't. Check p. 64 of the owners manual.

But in any case, although I don't own one, every time I've heard the Playback Designs it has sounded like music in every sense. And it is easily upgradeable, as Bruce points out.

 

[LL21]

Even with a separate DAC, my problem is that I listen a lot to SACD and can not send from the oppo to the external DAC through digital cable, so the external DAC would be of no utility when you listen to SACD. Thats why i am looking for a better player

If you heard the MPS 5 and think its redbook is as awesome as you wish...that is an elegant solution because its SACD is consistently among the best from nearly every person i have read or spoken to. If not, i actually think the mod'd oppo does pretty remarkable SACD though i honestly have not investigated...just heard. And then you've got a great, exceedingly cost-effective base from which you can then output to a redbook/hi-res (DVD-A, etc) DAC you love. MSB, Stahl-Tek, DCS, etc.

 

[rbbert]

the thing is that so many people told me that if i move up the difference will be very subtle, and i am only willing to spend that much money if it really going to be a significant upgrade

One person's "subtle" may be another's "night and day"