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Author Topic: Which BD player to get Scott Balko Expert Film Handler Posts: 136 From: Redwood Falls, Minnesota, USA Registered: Apr 2000 posted 02-13-2012 08:57 PM                     Well, I've got it narrowed down to the Oppo BDP-93 or BDP-95. The 95 has got all the factory sound upgrades, but I'm not sure if they are going to be worth the extra $500 over the 93. I'm going to be running this through the cp200 and JBL 4675's in my screening room, so I do want the best sound I can get. My question is, are the sound upgrades for the analog outputs only, or are they beneficial for the sound process entirely. I guess what I want to know is do I have to get the pricey unit to get the sound I want or will they both do the same performance if I use the correct output?  |  IP: Logged Victor Liorentas Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 800 From: london ontario canada Registered: May 2009 posted 02-13-2012 09:23 PM                     I think you get the benefits both ways? I am looking at that as well as the new Cambridge Audio and Arcam players.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 02-14-2012 12:06 AM                        I know nothing of Oppo players, but the sound upgrades would have to be for the analog outputs only. The only way to get better sound out of a digital output is to use really expensive HDMI cables which "improve" the bits (I think it changes the font of the 1's and 0's so that they are easier to read). What are these upgrades that they speak of? Better DAC? That's really all it could be. Not sure of any DAC that is good enough to cost $500, though.  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 02-14-2012 10:50 AM                     Aren't new Blu-ray players (made after December, 2010) subject to the "analog sunset" rule? Players made before then could output 1080p HD over component video cables. The analog sunset rule states newer players are supposed to limit video quality on component outputs to 480p. Only HDMI is allowed to output 1080p.  |  IP: Logged Scott Balko Expert Film Handler Posts: 136 From: Redwood Falls, Minnesota, USA Registered: Apr 2000 posted 02-14-2012 05:59 PM                     I did a little more research and yes, Joe is right. The upgrade is a SABRE32 DAC on the analog output. It's the same DAC that's used in the W4S DAC-2 unit that sells for $1599 and that unit alone is called an inexpensive top line DAC. So what DAC/preamp unit would work best for interfacing with the cp200? I haven't had time to look for any good information on the "analog sunset" rule, but I'll be using the HDMI anyway, so that will be a non-issue for me.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 02-14-2012 06:24 PM                        If you're using HDMI, then the DAC will make no difference.  |  IP: Logged Scott Balko Expert Film Handler Posts: 136 From: Redwood Falls, Minnesota, USA Registered: Apr 2000 posted 02-14-2012 08:10 PM                     Right, but doesn't it have to be converted to analog and amplified before it will be something that can be used by the cp200?  |  IP: Logged Victor Liorentas Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 800 From: london ontario canada Registered: May 2009 posted 02-14-2012 08:28 PM                     It's a question of which DAC is better? The processor receiving the HDMI signal or the players DAC?  |  IP: Logged Carsten Kurz Film God Posts: 4340 From: Cologne, NRW, Germany Registered: Aug 2009 posted 02-14-2012 08:34 PM                     Why do you care about sound or DAC quality at all when you want to ruin it anyway with a CP200? - Carsten  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 02-14-2012 08:38 PM                        Be careful of sync issues when outputting HDMI video and analog audio. Even the crappiest DAC will be better than anything the CP200 has had fed to it before.  |  IP: Logged Scott Balko Expert Film Handler Posts: 136 From: Redwood Falls, Minnesota, USA Registered: Apr 2000 posted 02-14-2012 09:52 PM                     You know Carsten, you may have a valid point to your smart ass comment about my equipment, and if so, would you please make it. I'm on here to try to learn from those who could help me out to make my efforts more fruitful and for you to make a comment like you just did not only insults me, it's doesn't benefit me one little bit. So if you could enlighten me as to why my cp200 is going to ruin everything, I would like to hear it. I guess I didn't consider that there may be a sync issue here. Please elaborate. I'm just trying to be able to use my theatre sound system for the video instead of just for film. And, by the way, I think that it sounds pretty damn good at this point.  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 02-14-2012 11:03 PM                     Scott, you need to develop a thicker skin if you want to hang with this crowd. Carsten wasn't being a smartass, and he has a valid point. To answer specifically, the CP-200, even with upgraded cards, has a signal-to-noise ratio lower than even the basic DACs, higher distortion than most digital sources, a slightly restricted frequency response compared to the digital source, etc. You are NOT going to notice enough of a difference between the OPPO's original DAC and the $500 upgrade to justify the cost IMHO. The delay issue is simple to explain: HDMI, because of it's signal structure and the pain in the ass HDCP crap WILL have a lag in the video output compared to the audio. You would be wise to process both the HDMI AND audio through a good A/V receiver (DO NOT USE DENON, they suck) and adjust the audio delay to re-sync the sound with the picture. If you output the audio directly from the OPPO, either the player or some other device will need to have a delay capability or you will have sync issues. (If you use the HDMI output that is. If you use the component out the delay is negligible or non existent.)  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 02-14-2012 11:08 PM                        It really depends on the player. Like I said, I know nothing of Oppo. What is cool is that I output my audio on the PS3 via HDMI but the video is output video component (it looks better on my 1080i TV than HDMI), yet everything remains in sync. And I'm saying that as long as you are outputting one of the lossless flavors (DTSHDMA, Dolby TrueHD, Lienar PCM) you are feeding your CP200 a better signal than it has ever been fed before. It rapes the DA20 or DTS or even 70mm mag (Guttag will argue against this point). But basically my point is that it's going to sound pretty good, all other things considered. granted on some movies you may need to adjust the EQ/levels within the CP200 to compensate for the home remix. Also, can the CP200 handle 7.1 channels?  |  IP: Logged Scott Balko Expert Film Handler Posts: 136 From: Redwood Falls, Minnesota, USA Registered: Apr 2000 posted 02-15-2012 09:51 AM                     Thanks for the info Tony. And yes I understand that a person needs a thick skin on things, but the insult that I was refering to was that Carsten's "drive by" reply, while awakening me to possible problems that I had not considered, didn't give any useful input. Maybe he didn't have time and maybe I was a little quick to respond as a result of my own ignorance. No hard feelings Carsten. Anyway, Tony and Joe, now at least I've got some information that I can use. Thanks And Joe from what I know, the 200 is only a 5 or 6 channel. The sub is just a pass through with out the 560 card.  |  IP: Logged Scott Jentsch Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1061 From: New Berlin, WI, USA Registered: Apr 2003 posted 02-23-2012 07:12 PM                        To me, the -95 model's audio upgrades seem best suited for the "$50 for a power cord" crowd. It may be because I am unaware of the amazing differences that this super-duper DAC can bring to the party, but my guess is that spending $500 on room treatments would be money better spent as far as audio quality improvements go. I enjoy good sound, but after all these years of being in the home theater hobby, I have yet to be tempted to go the "separates" route of having all kinds of specialized components to do all the various functions that a $1,000 receiver can do within 90-95% of the performance of the separates, for a fraction of the price. It's your money, so spend it the best way you see fit, but I wouldn't spend an extra $500 for the -95 over the -93. I consider the $500 price tag of the -93 plenty of money already...  |  IP: Logged

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