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In Reply to: RE: SACD to HDMI to ??? to external DAC? posted by Jeff Starr on October 26, 2016 at 22:18:47
Thanks for the ideas, Jeff. So the question is whether the Oppo BDP-93 is a better transport than the Cambridge Audio CXC for regular CDs. Is that a contentious issue? Or is there a general consensus about such things?
Thanks!
Follow Ups:
While neither contentious, or settled, that makes this just one item with various solutions, and opinions.
Some believe all CDs should be ripped to a hard drive. I personally think if that hard drive is part of a dedicated music player then ripping with multiple backups is the way to go. But still learning about computer audio, and using a laptop designed for general use, I am maintaining 4 main sources, analog [vinyl], radio [FM & satellite], PC digital, and digital spinners.
For you I would use the Oppo as your transport for CDs, if your only other option is the Cambridge. Both my Oppo and my transport are getting quite old. The PS Audio Lambda was the best transport I had ever heard when I got it. It had replaced a Cal Delta that was a very good transport, that at $825 sold for half what the Lambda sold for.
Well the Lambda and Oppo 83se used as a transport are very close. I was switching the shelves that the Lambda and the Oppo were set on, yesterday. I had changed the coax cable when I moved them. So I was now using the AQ Cinnamon on the Lambda. I actually prefered the Oppo, it was that close, the coax cable was the deciding factor. So the Oppo is a decent transport, use it with a really good cable and relax knowing you would have to pay about 4-8 times as much as the Cambridge.
As I mentioned PS Audio is beta testing a new transport that will output DSD to it's Directstream dacs. The new transport will retail for $6000 and the dacs either for $3900 or $6000-6800.
I just worked out a deal on one their current transports, which retails for 8 times as much as the Cambridge. I have wanted one for years and I knew I could never afford the DMP, so I moved up to a PWT.
What I am saying is that you will have spend a lot more than $500 to get a better transport than the one in the Oppo.
Jeff Starr (A) wrote:
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For you I would use the Oppo as your transport for CDs, if your only other option is the Cambridge.
What I am saying is that you will have spend a lot more than $500 to get a better transport than the one in the Oppo.
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Wow -- I didn't expect that. I was sure the dedicated transport (Cambridge Audio CXC) would beat the Oppo BDP-93 Blu-ray player.
I'm still tempted to put the BDP-93 downstairs with the TV, because it's a really good upsampling player for DVD and Blu-ray. I do have another Oppo, a DVD-981, that I could use as a transport. I'm not sure it's in the same league as the BDP-93, though, or the Cambridge transport.
Unless I've missed something, the poster you have responded to has not heard the Cambridge.
Sorry for the confusion. I am the original poster. You are correct that I have not heard the Cambridge. I own the Oppo units (BDP-93 and DV-981), but I don't have any basis of comparison with the Cambridge. The only comparison I have is with my old NAD C541i, which didn't sound as good to me.
I heard some people saying that the Cambridge is better than any blu-ray player... something about being optimized for playing CDs. They use the term "single-speed" in their ad copy, which confused me, because I thought the disc speed actually changed as the laser was reading through the disc.
On the other hand, I've other comments (some in this thread) praising the Oppo players. I could just use my blu-ray player. The disadvantages are that it's hard to play with the settings without taking it downstairs and plugging in the TV, and then unplugging it and bringing it back to my audio system. And it's not as quick jumping between tracks or fast-forwarding as my old NAD CD player was. But it would check the boxes for CD digital output, as well as analog output from SACD, using its pretty good (I think) built-in DAC.
Thanks,
David
Why not get a small monitor that has a HDMI input. You should be able to find something between 9"-15" for around a hundred dollars new. Check out Overstock, find one that runs off a wallwart, and hook it up to your Oppo, either one.
Unplugging it every time you want to use it with a DVD-A or SACD, is got to be a pain. A simple little monitor would solve that.
I haven't heard the Cambridge and if you can borrow one, give it a listen, but I have had enough experience with transports, and my Oppo to say that I would be very surprised if it was better than using the Oppo for a CD transport. I think you would have to spend a couple thousand to get any real gains.
But I would also encourage you to listen yourself, if you can return the Cambridge.
Just curious. How does your Oppo compare as a CD transport with your PS Audio? Chap over in another forum (Pink Fish Media)who bought a CXC "on a whim" claims it is almost indistinguishable from his PS Audio.
As I said my Oppo is very close to the PS Audio Lambda a transport that is over 20 years old. A transport that sold for $1895 in 1993.
So, which PS Audio transport is he comparing it to?
The current model the PerfectWave Memory Player Transport [PWT]retails for $4k.
I have found transports to have differences in sound that are easier to hear than similarly priced dacs.
Maybe the Cambridge is a real steal, I haven't heard it, but the PWT is much better than the Oppo. The PWT does a better job of separating instruments and vocals. Arcade Fire's "The Suburbs" is highly compressed and it can be hard to hear the vocals. At least with my Oppo or Lambda, the PWT does a much better job of separating all the clutter.
Remember there are lots of variables when making these comparisons. the dac used, the cables used, isolation, and every other component in the system that follows the dac.
He doesn't specify exactly which model but says it's the one before the current one. I do take the comparison with a grain of salt but in my system the CXC is such an improvement over all the other midfi transports I've used, Rotel, Nad, Audiolab etc. that I do think it's possible it's a real bargain.
I was at a friend's today and he had a Cambridge Blu-ray player just sitting on a shelf. I asked him what he knew about the transport. He said he has heard good things about it.
I think he might be willing to sell the Blu-ray, said it would make a transport.
He has a AR CD9 in his main system, and is using a Bel Canto that is being replaced with a PS Audio DMP, going into a Directstream in his bedroom system.
If I was the OP, I would try the Cambridge with a 30 day return, and get a small monitor for his Oppo. That is silly unplugging it, and taking it to a TV.
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