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Oppo 105 Analog vs HDMI?

I listen entirely to classical music, and when I listen via the the Oppo 105's multi-channel analog outs (I use the main stereo LT/RT for the front channels), the sound is rather boxy/congested and has little depth. Via HDMI, the sound just blooms! The imaging is far wider, deeper, and the sound is simply more open sounding. I find this to be very puzzling since the analog section of the 105 is so highly touted. I do prefer the m-ch outs for solo instruments since there is less of a sense of depth in the first place. Any suggestions?

(Here is my system):

DALI Epicon 2 front speakers
Martin Logan Motif center speaker
Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000 surrounds
Martin-Logan Abyss subwoofer
Sony 5400ES SACD
Oppo BDP 105 SACD/Blu-ray player
Marantz 8801 pre/pro
Parasound Halo A51 5-ch amp
128x128bachtoven
bachtoven's avatar
bachtoven OP
23 posts
 
Why would you "certainly expect it (or any MCH-equipped player) to sound congested the way [I] have it hooked up"?
dopogue
1,773 posts
 
Why? Because you would be sending ALL the multichannel signals to the front left and right instead of just the ones recorded and INTENDED for the front left and right. If this isn't a recipe for congestion, I don't know what is.
bachtoven's avatar
bachtoven OP
23 posts
 
I'll swap it back to the dedicated m-ch outs and see (or hear...) what happens. I don't know why the manual would recommend using the main stereo outs unless I wildly misinterpreted it!
tls49's avatar
tls49
1,351 posts
 

After looking at the manual, the connections you originally described should work, however you must also select for this in the setup menu (page 74). If not, a down-mixed signal is sent to the main L/R stereo out. Also, you should have selected for 5.1Ch in the setup menu(page 70) and NOT be using the SBR/SBL outputs. I assumed a 5.1 system from the equipment list.
bachtoven's avatar
bachtoven OP
23 posts
 
It doesn't sound any better that way. It does sound marginally better if I run the Marantz in the Direct mode, but it still sounds better overall with the Audyssey room correction.
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