Post by zeus December 18, 2014 (11 of 128)
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Ubertrout said:
Honestly, this thread is a stark reminder of why SACD failed as a mainstream format.
I thought that SACD sounded substantially better than RBCD on a $100 Sony SACD player and $400 Onkyo AVR going to entry-level Polk Audio Speakers. In fairness the Sony CE-595 was a gem for the price, but still - you can see the benefits of SACD with under $1k in gear.
Personally I've never understood the blanket enthusiasm for Oppo players.
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Post by onenairb December 19, 2014 (12 of 128)
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zeus said:
Personally I've never understood the blanket enthusiasm for Oppo players.
Personally I would say they are a very good Universal device with audiophile level sound.
Depending on the model of course but the latest models:
Play (virtually) all disk formats.
Can be used as a digital streamer - are DNLA compatible.
Support DSD64 (and DSD128 on the 105D) as well as PCM 24/192 streaming both stereo and multichannel up to 7.1.
Host a variety of web Apps including Netflix (HD + 5.1), BBC iPlayer, Youtube etc.
Have a supporting Apple and Andriod device apps for remote control.
Can be configured and used as a multichannel pre-amp.
HDMI in as well as 2 HDMI outs.
Optical in.
Just some of my reasons. Anyone care to add to this list?
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Post by Iain December 19, 2014 (13 of 128)
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onenairb said:
...
Play (virtually) all disk formats.
Can be used as a digital streamer - are DNLA compatible.
Support DSD64 (and DSD128 on the -) as well as PCM 24/192 streaming both stereo and multichannel up to 7.1.
Host a variety of web Apps including Netflix (HD + 5.1), BBC iPlayer, Youtube etc.
Have a supporting Apple and Andriod device apps for remote control.
Can be configured and used as a multichannel pre-amp.
HDMI in as well as 2 HDMI outs.
Optical in.
Just some of my reasons. Anyone care to add to this list?
Several other quality machines, including Sony, have this inherent functionality designed into them. Not hacked into machine firmware after the fact.
I agree with Ubertrout and zeus. Seems you lot would rather gaze at pretty and shiny hardware, rather than actually listen to the music.
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Post by onenairb December 19, 2014 (14 of 128)
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Iain said:
Several other quality machines, including Sony, have this inherent functionality designed into them. Not hacked into machine firmware after the fact.
I agree with Ubertrout and zeus. Seems you lot would rather gaze at pretty and shiny hardware, rather than actually listen to the music.
Oh cock-a-doodle-do what are you talking about?
Why do people on this forum purchase SACD's? Because of the mediocre sound?
I am sure there are other quality machines but because I give reasons for purchasing an OPPO and you slate it as gazing at shiny boxes.
Tell me, what do you gaze at? (Actually maybe we don't want to know)
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Post by Ad Rhenum December 21, 2014 (15 of 128)
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If hearing the benefits from dsd (sa-cd) over pcm is your prime concern, I would concentrate on the da-converter and the quality of the tweeters, and perhaps a fast responding amplifier. Ribbon tweeters are worth auditioning. Most likely in every price range such conciderations can be made.
In theory playback in dsd benefits most in the higher, audible, frequencies, due to the higher sampling rate and perhaps the playback of inaudible harmonics has a possitive effect on the accuracy of the relating audible harmonics. Complicated acoustic music benefits most from dsd playback. It is no coincidence, I think, that the major label (when cd-releases are included) that published sa-cd's, Harmonia Mundi, releases relatively many (polyphonous) vocal works on sa-cd.
Placement of the speakers is also very important. Having all speakers facing the hotspot delivers best, in my experience, whatever the manufacturer says. Sitting slightly behind the hotspot is no problem. The height of your listening position is also important. Listening below the height of the tweeters is more beneficial than above, and the distance to the hotspot becomes less important.
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Post by Ubertrout December 21, 2014 (16 of 128)
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Iain said:
I agree with Ubertrout and zeus. Seems you lot would rather gaze at pretty and shiny hardware, rather than actually listen to the music.
So, I didn't quite say a pox on people who spend a lot of money - I just said that there seems to be an attitude that you need to spend a lot of money to enjoy SACD or for the format's superiority to be audible.
There does seem to be a certain joy in hardware over music at a certain point, but I suspect that's more common in other sectors of the audiophile community than in the SACD world. And if shiny hardware makes you happy, then more power to you there as well. We all like our toys.
And I like Oppo players too - I use a BDP-93 as my go-to transport. I just think that you can get good - and often better - results with lower-cost players from other makers as well, especially from Sony. Those players sounded darn good out of their analog outputs.
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Post by Ad Rhenum December 21, 2014 (17 of 128)
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Just recently I had the privilege of visiting the homebase of Channel Classics, where Jared Sacks introduced guests into his editing room and led a listening session in his mastering room. We listenend to some of the Mahler 1 conducted by Fischer, which I have at home on sa-cd, so I could compare. Taking into account that one of the front speakers in this room costs more than my complete surround set of player, receiver and speakers, I was surprised, maybe even somewhat dissapointed, the system did not outperform my home set as much as I expected. So, afterwards I went home, realizing my system offers great, great value for the money. And taking into consideration the limitation of my housing for the reproduction of music, I have no wish to invest more in hardware for the next five years, just in more sa-cd titles. Even though Jared says his mastering download files sound better (than playstation rips). The surplus value of expensive gear is less than I expected.
Perhaps someone could start a new thread: Advises for a complete surround set (of player, amplifier and speakers) with a total budget of less then 1K (dollar of euro).
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Post by zeus December 21, 2014 (18 of 128)
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Ad Rhenum said:
Perhaps someone could start a new thread: Advises for a complete surround set (of player, amplifier and speakers) with a total budget of less then 1K (dollar of euro).
I would think your $1K limit is too low, especially if you're including speakers (and buying new). Certainly you can put together an outstanding complete surround system for far less than $10K. Though there's nothing wrong with outlaying more ... it's a hobby after all.
As a rough rule of thumb, having a software (music) to gear ratio of say 5:1 (which is about where I am) I think is not unreasonable. I'd be interested to read other's thoughts ...
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1K is definitely too low. I think a budget of at least 2500 is what you should look for.
1200 for speakers, 800 for amp, and 500 for a player like the OPPO 103.
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Post by Bradman December 21, 2014 (20 of 128)
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Ubertrout said:
Honestly, this thread is a stark reminder of why SACD failed as a mainstream format.
I thought that SACD sounded substantially better than RBCD on a $100 Sony SACD player and $400 Onkyo AVR going to entry-level Polk Audio Speakers. In fairness the Sony CE-595 was a gem for the price, but still - you can see the benefits of SACD with under $1k in gear.
+1, on entire post.
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