Post by rammiepie September 22, 2010 (1 of 199)
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A challenge for the progenitor of Music In The Round: How would the NuForce OPPO BDP~83 SE compare to the Sony SCD~XA5400ES via HDMI into the Meridian 621/861 combo?
Since the SONY seems to be discontinued, I have no way of knowing but since you gave it a stellar Class A recommendation in the current Stereophile issue, I would be most interested if you have or plan to review the NuForce?
My preliminary review (the unit really needs many more hours of break~in) was via DSD analogue out into the Parasound P7 Pre~Amp (utilizing Krell 5.1 amplication into an all B&W Nautilus speaker system) and via HDMI into the Meridian 621/861 V.4 (the V.6 should be in my possession momentarily).
My initial impression has been VERY positive. The highs are much smoother than the standard BDP~83, the midbass is exquisite and the bass is rock solid.
But you're the man and if you have or can borrow the NuForce version, I would be MOST interested in your review.
Since the 5400 is now discontinued (or as rare as hen's teeth) I am also wondering if Sony is going to upgrade this particular ES model?
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rammiepie said:
Since the 5400 is now discontinued (or as rare as hen's teeth) I am also wondering if Sony is going to upgrade this particular ES model?
I was expecting Sony to announce a successor to the SCD-XA5400ES as well as the BDP-S5000ES (preferably combined into a single product) at CEDIA 2010 but it started yesterday and I still haven't seen anything.
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Post by rammiepie September 23, 2010 (3 of 199)
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So that's where Kal is....at CEDIA 2010.
But to answer my own question, the SONY was built from the ground up to do two things well, SACD and RBCD and being a Universal Player, I'm sure even the NuForce isn't on parity with the SONY.....but it would be nice to have another pair of ears assessing its merits (of which the NuForce OPPO has MANY).
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It is incredible, but the Sony SCD~XA5400ES was never available in Canada.
I asked a Sony dealer in Canada, and they said Sony would not bring it in, and I could not find a US dealer that would ship it to me.
Hopefully, if they end up with a new model, they will bring it into Canada.
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Post by mbash September 24, 2010 (5 of 199)
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classicrecordings said:
It is incredible, but the Sony SCD~XA5400ES was never available in Canada.
I asked a Sony dealer in Canada, and they said Sony would not bring it in, and I could not find a US dealer that would ship it to me.
Hopefully, if they end up with a new model, they will bring it into Canada.
Yeah, sucks. Australia too. I ordered one from Germany and it's just landed in my city. Delivery very soon.
The European voltage wouldn't suit you, though.
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mbash said:
Yeah, sucks. Australia too. I ordered one from Germany and it's just landed in my city.
I am thinking of ordering one from Germany too. I just have to retire my problematic and mechanically noisy Krell CD Standard! My concern is all the additional costs (freight and customs). What are your experiences with this?
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rammiepie said:
A challenge for the progenitor of Music In The Round: How would the NuForce OPPO BDP~83 SE compare to the Sony SCD~XA5400ES via HDMI into the Meridian 621/861 combo?
Not gonna happen. Sorry.
Kal
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Post by rammiepie September 25, 2010 (8 of 199)
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Now, I'm gonna sulk and fire up the progenitor to MP3: My Nakamichi cassette player!
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rammiepie said:
Now, I'm gonna sulk and fire up the progenitor to MP3: My Nakamichi cassette player!
Everyone has their dirty pleasures.
Kal
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Post by rammiepie September 25, 2010 (10 of 199)
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Kal Rubinson said:
Everyone has their dirty pleasures.
Kal
Actually, Kal, the NuForce would have to be pitted analogue out (not HDMI) against the SONY if such a comparison WERE to take place as there is supposedly no improvement via HDMI but with its beefed up power supply I have noted improvements in every parameter via HDMI. The Meridian 861 V.6 comes standard with analogue inputs so once the NuForce is properly broken in, that would be a better indication of the NuForce's merits.
But thanks for your "frank" reply.
One more query: Would you ever request and test the Playback Design MPS5 in multi~channel (as it can be outfitted with additional DACs but it, again, does not utilize HDMI outputs, only analogue)? It would probably, price~wise, be in direct competition to the dCs Puccini which has received raves in Stereophile (but is stereo, only, not m/c)?
Since Michael Fremer, in his review of the MPS5, whetted our appetite with its astonishingly analogue playback of both Stereo SACDs and RBCD and mentioned m/c via additional DACs, I have been lusting to read a review of this unit in that configuration as most high end SACD players are STEREO, only.
Do I detect another NAY?
Or, perhaps, a MAYBE?
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