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Soundstage review of the Simaudio MiND.
Nicely written review. He compares it to the Oppo and Linn streamers, but unless I missed, not to computer playback, a bit disappointing in that regard.
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Thanks for the link.
Interesting that they found the differences between the Oppo and the others to be so big when used only as a transport. One of the main reasons why I purchased the Oppo BDP-103 over other Blu-Ray players was that I was hoping to use it as a transport for SACD and DVD-A playback via HDMI. I have been disappointed with the results. I wasn't sure whether to blame HDMI, but this review suggests the SPDIF output isn't that great either. I wonder if the BDP-105 is any better in this regard, since there are posts praising it for hi-res playback in the Hi-Res forum.
ANY player has to be primarily a great redbook level CD player/digital file playback player. SACD/DVDA should be an afterthought in my opinion.
Besides, - again, my opinion, there are several crossover elements that go into making both very good/great.
Oppo has very few of those elements of a very good, great player. IMO, its redbook playback is crap: and I'd rather have a $600 Arcam RBCD.
The first time I had my hands on a BDP103, - there were 3 traces on the mainboard: hopefully they've gotten it a little bit more together...
"Asylums with doors open wide,
Where people had paid to see inside,
For entertainment they watch his body twist
Behind his eyes he says, 'I still exist.'"
I didn't expect the BDP-103 to be satisfactory as a standalone player, but I hoped it would be fine as a hi-res transport.
My main intention was to use it in my living room music/HT system hooked into a Marantz 8801 pre/pro via HDMI. Given that the Marantz isn't really high end, I didn't expect to be blown away, but I hoped that SACD playback via Oppo -> HDMI -> Marantz would be better than CD playback via Majik DS -> analog -> Marantz and it isn't. In fact it's the opposite. The Majik DS playing redbook with the Marantz in Pure Direct mode blows away SACD from the Oppo using either HDMI or analog out from the Oppo. I've made the comparisons using hybrid SACDs that have an equivalently mastered CD layer. I was similarly disappointed when I tried the Oppo in my other system.
I'm not sure where to go next, but I'm thinking maybe get an old PS3 and rip my SACDs.
I regret selling my APL modded SACD 1000. As you should know, that was probably not a great idea.
In all honestly, I have never been impressed with Oppo in regards to pure two channel audiophile purposes.
Great, great products for audio/video/home theater. It does it all for a very reasonable price, and I use one in my home theater.
I have the 105 and despite all the chatter, it simply can't compete with my other gear. It sounds "electronic" to me.
nt
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