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In Reply to: Good DVD/CD player? posted by music_lover on March 31, 2007 at 09:48:16:
What other budget DVD players have you compared it to?I've got Oppos based on the input here, and whilst I think their video performance is great ( altho, I would never claim myself as a videophile ), the audio performance is nothing special.
I own both HD981 and 970.
The former sounds fuller and bassy than the latter, but I found neither anything special compared to other budget players I owned. ( altho I haven't direct ABed )A video performance alone was worth for the money for me, tho.
Follow Ups:
I haven't tried much yet. I have a Sony DVD player, which I got for around $60. the video performace is ok.. Audio CD playback is pathetic... to say the least..
The Oppo is a good "plug-and-play" option, but you will need the ancillary hardware. That said, the picture quality using Winamp, FFDSHOW, and VID4WA 2.7 leaves the conventional hardware in the dust. Particularly in regard to video resolution and video noise.
Have you tried out the Samsung DVD-HD950? It's a unversal player that plays CDs, CD-R, CD-RW, SACD, and DVD audio. It's video performance is stunning and is the next best thing to HDTV. There's no macro blocking, no blooming, and incredible shadow detail. It also upscales but I find it best out of its HDMI at 480P into my HDTV flat pannel LCD TV. It's MSRP is $249 but I bought it new online for $149. It's has 192kHz sampling. The last time I tried an Oppo its picture was decent but not great. However, I did like it having a volume control from the remote and being region and not needing HDCP if my memory serves me correctly. I almost forgot, but one great feature of the Samsung is the ability to togle between CD, SACD, DVD audio from the remote without having to navigate an on screen menu so no monitor is required.
*I almost forgot, but one great feature of the Samsung is the ability to togle between CD, SACD, DVD audio from the remote without having to navigate an on screen menu so no monitor is required.*That is a good feature if the player is used only for the music.
But how do you find the Samsung compared to the Oppo audio wise? ( HD970 is comparable price wise )
It's better in my system but that result may be system dependent. It's the best DVD audio I've ever heard from any player, I'm going to check it to hear if it's inverting and I'll post the results.
*It's the best DVD audio I've ever heard from any player*
How is it in a redbook format?
I've been using it with my HDTV so I really haven't tested it throughly on the redbook CD format but that's about to change. I may report my results when and if I get the time. But why would anyone trust my opinions after they so disrespect my polarity calls and apparently won't listen for themselves or even participate in an objective test of their ability to discern relative polarity let alone absolute polarity?
Since records, CDs, DVDs, SACDs, all come both ways, and gear comes both ways, it's silly--and misleading--to call one DVD or one player "inverting" and another "non-inverting." What's more, it doesn't matter one bit. The only thing that matters is having the means to switch polarity to suit each recording, by ear--the only reliable method.Your posts regarding the alleged polarity of CDs and gear and your bogus pronouncements ("99% of CDs are inverted"--oops, that was last week) confuse the issue for folks who otherwise might achieve better sound for about half their record collections, for free.
Dear Markrohr,Live! What else? DA! You're simply wrong when you state that CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, and SACDs very widely in their polarity. So far the only laser read media that's out of polarity are all Reference Recordings CDs and the music tracks on after track number 8 on the first Stereophile test CD STPH 002-2. Yes some vinyl records are out of polarity, e.g. a Shieffield Labs Dave Grusen which fact is stated on its jacket.
with your posts at all is because you spread nonstop misinformation that will confuse audiophiles who might otherwise get better sound for free by exploring polarity.I must admit, though, my forehead is getting bruised and bloody.
Live! What else? DA!
Neither a component nor a disc can be "inverting" compared to "live." They can only be one way or the other, and it's pretty much a crap shoot which it is. One solves the "problem" by listening and adjusting the polarity of one's stereo to suit.
By the way, the expression you're looking for is "duh." Duh.
You're simply wrong when you state that CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, and SACDs very widely in their polarity.
No, I'm not, and I have thousands of CDs and LPs to prove it. Some of the LPs vary by side, and both occasionally vary by track. That tells me that these media must vary--because so many of mine do--and that you either have a ridiculously small collection or simply don't know what polarity sounds like.
So far the only laser read media that's out of polarity are all Reference Recordings CDs and the music tracks on after track number 8 on the first Stereophile test CD STPH 002-2.
Once again, in the absence of an adhered-to standard, no record or CD can be "out of polarity." They are either one way or the other.
I take it you've sampled each and every Reference Recording CD? If not you have no clue.
I take it you've sampled all "laser read media"? If not, you have no clue.
Yes some vinyl records are out of polarity, e.g. a Shieffield Labs Dave Grusen which fact is stated on its jacket.
Actually, about half of them are, which you can tell easily simply by listening. I can only conclude you haven't or, again, don't know what polarity sounds like.
So: once again, your post is useless and misleading, to which we may add error-filled.
Why do you write constantly about polarity when you don't know anything about it, and what you think you know you have wrong? Such is clear to anyone who is up to speed with polarity. You are misinforming and misleading folks who might benefit from polarity awareness. Please stop.
Finally, a knowledgable and useful post. All you have to do is stick with what you know, as opposed to polarity.
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