I'm still using an early model Pioneer BD. Any word on the load times of the new players? Waiting for my player to load is somewhere in between waiting for water to boil and watching grass grow.
I spoke with the people at Oppo Digital yesterday to try to determine the difference between the BDP 93 and BDP 95. The transport and video sections are identical. The analog audio section is substantially improved on the 95 versus the 93. HOWEVER, if you have a high quality DAC you should use it compared to the 95 section and for $500 you will have a unit that far exceeds the 95 for half the money.
Matches what I heard -- the 95, instead of a 93SE.
What sort of stand-alone DAC would be clearly superior to the 95's outputs? This is not a challenge, I have not kept up with DACs and am just curious. If you save $500 on the player and spend $500 on the DAC, do you win at the same price point?
To put this in context, I have an Oppo 83 (not the SE) and need another BD player to replace an aging DVD in our bedroom. Cost-wise I may just pick up an inexpensive player, but another option is to follow my usual progression of moving the Oppo to the upstairs family room, and older Sony BD on up to the bedroom. Then, I would get the 93 or 95 for the media room. Since I am in no hurry, I could potentially save for a few months and get the 95, or the 93 and a DAC, this summer.
Hi Don
Go for the 95 and forget about the dac (IMHO) I have oppo 83se with Nuforce, AC Bybees and numerous other mods...connected straight to a YPC-1 passive attenuator and am getting very good results. Very clean and transparent but still with an engaging warmth.
I have serious doubts regarding any significant improvement over the 83se or 95 'Sabre 32' dac as compared with BB's, Wolfston and the like. The Sabre also has its own on chip clocking for jitter minimisation!
Sort of what I was thinking... Since I have nothing else that would use an external DAC, my inclination is to try the 95and use it's analog outputs for CDs. I did not hear a difference when I tried switching between HDMI and analog with my 83 (not an SE); those ears of clay of mine again... At least they save me money!
no you would'nt hear any differance on the Std 83...but the 83se via anologue outs is a significant step up because of the sabre 32 stacked in quad config
Let me clarify my statement in my post by saying, if you have a high quality external DAC already for a digital music server, then there is no reason to buy the BDP 95 since it is likely that you already have an analog output that is likely to be superior to the quality of the improved analog section of the BDP-95. As a freestanding unit, the BDP-95 seems like a winner though.
I am not sure what you are asking but I will not comment on the 95 until the review hits the street. Besides, I just unboxed it and set it up yesterday.
I should have said - I am interested in comparison of two players with their built in DACs without mods, upgrades, or going through an external processor, playing same material for 2CH audio performance only.
If one was only interested in stereo reproduction of SACD and CD, which one would you recommend?
I should have said - I am interested in comparison of two players with their built in DACs without mods, upgrades, or going through an external processor, playing same material for 2CH audio performance only.
We will find out. Of course, my report will treat stereo performance only briefly since my column is focussed on multichannel audio. Video will not be assessed at all!
Even a brief comment on which model you would use for your own 2Ch playback would be much appreciated by many who are on the fense including me. ;-)
On the other hand, the Oppo BDP-95 is a different animal with all of its MCH and video capabilities at relatively low cost, I would probably get the Oppo eventually for my HT/MCH set up and the Sony 5400 for 2CH music only set up to play the SACD, CD, and DSD files I would burn.
We will find out. Of course, my report will treat stereo performance only briefly since my column is focussed on multichannel audio. Video will not be assessed at all!
Can't wait to read about your findings on the 95 Kal, Iv'e had mine since March 12th and it has around 500 hours of solid playback and I think it's an outstanding player and wonder just how high up you gotta go up to beat it ?
Show me an Oppo that can produce an actual square wave on it's output with a square wave test signal and I'll be more inclined to buy their hype. My BDP83 performs just as poorly as my 1983-vintage Technics SL-P8 in terms of DAC post filter ringing. If it overshoots on square waves and rings for several cycles, how can it accurately represent the recorded material?
