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Volume of OPPO 83 dedicated stereo output on Blu Ray disc

222.166.160.218
Posted on October 27, 2009 at 20:03:43
akltam
Audiophile

Posts: 688
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: September 29, 2002
 After living more than a week with the OPPO 83, I must say I am pretty satisfy with the performance.

In terms of video, I am using a Panny AE3000 projector and the OPPO 83 does performance better than my PS3 especially on shadow details. In terms of CD and SACD quality using the dedicated 2 channel output, it is performing well for its price point.

But I notice a behaviour which may not be favourable for some audiophiles (which I believe to be very few) that have to rely on the dedicated stereo output. For those blu ray disc that has only multi-channel sound track (like the Transformer), the volume of the down mix is substantially lower than CD and SACD. (Also note that I have the volume on the OPPO player set to 100%)

For systems that are specifically designed to have low gain (as in my case) where the gain of the pre-amp is no more than 4 to 5, I have to turn the volume right up to the position of 3 o'clock or beyond and still not achieve the reuqired volume. (Fortunately I resolve this as I have separate HDMI AV receiver and the OPPO works very well with it - obviously not using the dedicated 2 channel output).

I realise especially in the DIY community and some niche audiophile equipment on the market where they design their stuff (stereo only) with low gain pre-amp, this player may not be a good match for those system.

I have informed the OPPO support on this and they viewed this as normal behaviour with the downmix being lowered volume.

Alan
at least you could buy one..., posted on October 28, 2009 at 09:46:50
4frank2
Audiophile

Posts: 312
Location: The Hague
Joined: August 24, 2000
 us poor Europeans are neglected...
RE: at least you could buy one..., posted on October 28, 2009 at 19:13:07
akltam
Audiophile

Posts: 688
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: September 29, 2002
 As I am in HK, I was refused twice by OPPO of buying one until recently. And I bought it through ouku.com which is a authorised dealer in China - Shanghai region.

I don't understand why they were selling Region A Blu ray player in China where China is not region A. That means the people in China has to resort their source to mailing, imports or illegal copies.

To help stopping illegal copies on blu ray disc, HK is region A like the US.

It is a gamble for me too. The unit has to be shipped from Shanghai to HK. If the machine is DOA, then it will be the worst of luck and it will cost half the cost of the player to send it and back. It is like not warranty in my case.

But you know what, ouku.com has sold hundreds of these in China already. And it is very popular. Luckily the delivery service was fantastic and they even rang me up twice to follow up.

If you are in Europe, I think you can get it from CRT projector

http://www.crtprojectors.co.uk/

and have it modded to your required region.

Alan



RE: at least you could buy one..., posted on October 29, 2009 at 10:01:38
4frank2
Audiophile

Posts: 312
Location: The Hague
Joined: August 24, 2000
 I think I'll pass on the OPPO. I just got a DV-981HD player (99 euro) and I am a bit disappointed in the video performance. Despite the upscaling to 1080P I prefer the video from my old Sony 900NS (I know, this was a much more expensive, but non-upscaling player). Also I had some sound/image sync problems.

Of course, at the hi-rez forum it is about the SACD quality. Those tests have to wait till the weekend.

SACD quality, posted on October 29, 2009 at 18:07:15
akltam
Audiophile

Posts: 688
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: September 29, 2002
 Although the OPPO 83 audio performance is not bad at all but you should not expect it to rival similar price dedicated CD and SACD player. That is my 2 cents comment.

But if you are looking for one player do it all including blu ray, sacd, dvd-a, then you do not have much choice.

RE: SACD quality, posted on October 30, 2009 at 10:23:00
Fitzcaraldo215
Audiophile

Posts: 354
Location: Philadelphia
Joined: September 7, 2008
 You might be right if you are talking about analog output (I use HDMI). There is not much out there, and do their DACs do direct DSD conversion like the Oppo or DSD-PCM first?

Because of Oppo's direct internet sales model, you are saving quite a bit of markup money over something that is sold via normal retail channels. So, I believe, the Oppo is worth considerably more than the asking price. The only other Blu-ray Universal machines I know of cost over $2,000 to around $6,000. Obviously, some CD/SACD machines are cheaper than this, but is there really anything around the $500 price point that really does compete with the Oppo for just SACD?

RE: SACD quality, posted on October 30, 2009 at 23:29:08
akltam
Audiophile

Posts: 688
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: September 29, 2002
 Yes, I am referring to the dedicated 2 channel output for SACD. (But I also use the HDMI particularly for blu ray).

And don't get me wrong. At this moment there is no player that do blu-ray, SACD, DVD-A in one package with this price point like OPPO and it is doing exceptionally well looking after all areas. I am very excited of getting this player myself. (I agree what you are saying and my comments are referring to what choice one can have).

Also YMMV due to different location and market, dedicated CD/SACD player like the Pioneer P6 are selling around the same price and the P9 mark 1 (just being replaced) is not much more expensive. And some Shanling SACD player is around the same price.

Alan

RE: at least you could buy one..., posted on October 28, 2009 at 12:41:16
Fitzcaraldo215
Audiophile

Posts: 354
Location: Philadelphia
Joined: September 7, 2008
 I have a hunch it will be back in Europe once the US Version gets more shake down. Of course, I have been wrong before.

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