OPPO 83 and Benchmark DAC 1

Al the DACs are generaly similar at this price and w/ this transort so I'd pick the one with the features you need, and stop chasing the carrot at the end of the stick. You will be happy with the upgrade with anything by a Benchmark, Lavry, PS Audio, etc.

Ykk, I have not used the pieces you are inquiring about, but the performance of the Oppo and DAC1 should definately be better than the Oppo alone. (I am assuming the Oppo player in question has a COAX or Toslink output.)

As for there being better DAC's, this will always be subjective, but the DAC1 is well thought of by many. When looking into a DAC, just be sure the DAC reclocks the signal.

I have a few comments on the Oppo BDP-83 which have been on my mind as I've been on the lookout for a play-all disc player that won't break the bank.

Given: The Oppo BP-83 is a bargain considering its disc playing capabilities. Capacity for firmware updates is a plus.

However: At first glance this player with its ability to play CD/SACD/HDCD/Blu-Ray discs seemed great, and the chip sets employed in the BDP-83 appear quite good at this price point, but delving a little deeper I found some issues that may make the BDP-83 a deal breaker for me:

1. As audiophiles, obviously sound is of utmost importance, and the Oppo is reported to have lackluster regular CD performance. Many report CD playback well below redbook quality. BDP-83 is a $500 unit, so not knocking Oppo for their stellar efforts.

2. Most audiophiles acknowledge that a disc player (and transports too) are often prone to "wearing-out" far sooner than their other audio components. Not a problem so much with an affordable $500 disc player, but what about BDP-83 buyers who send it out for mods to improve the audio quality/CD playback? Who is comfortable paying as much, to several times the cost of the unit to upgrade when the disc transport is that of a $500 unit (that's retail - think of the wholesale cost of that disc transport). Makes you wonder about the wisdom of upgrading - no?

3. SACD cannot be sent through the coaxial or optical digital output with the BDP-83 due to copyright laws which Oppo must obey (Oppo BDF-83 owners manual page 15). Why a problem? Because it prevents the better connection(s) through an outboard DAC to improve the audio quality (for those who see more wisdom in using an external DAC than paying for modifications on a unit that retails for $500 with a transport that must be in the ballpark of a unit retailing for $500).

Note: I understand some audiophiles see no place for a Blu-ray disc player in a dedicated audio system (although I hold no such prejudices).

Thoughts? Corrections?

Byegolly
I don't believe SACD can go thru most machines COAX or Optical... Its not a PCM or whatever format, meaning it would have to be converted out of its proprietary format DSD anyway. Not many stand alone DACS do SACD, nor does it matter, because from my understanding the only way to get true SACD output from a transport is thru an HDMI cable which of course limits you to having a Video capable DVD player anyway not a CD or SACD transport but simply for the convienence of the Multi channel Concert crowds with standardized HDMI capable surround sound receivers mainly running Multi channel SACD's not even the standard Stereo versions.

I could be wrong but I doubt you will find many if any SACD machines with a digital output that actually puts out SACD as it stays in the machine and has to be hooked up via the machines Analog outputs, and then Redbook can go out to a DAC of your choice for Redbook playback which in turn could beat your SACD's sound now being processed in the machine...

I am interested to see any standalone DACS besides multi channel processors capable of SACD anyway.

So if thats the deal breaker, possibly for you it may not be a deal in the first place. Which by the way is a possibility I believe why so many put a lot of stock into these machines as "upgraded" for large sums of money to keep the full fledge SACD capabilitys in a solid SACD platformed machine, as its not so simple to just pick up and go using it as a universal transport into any dac of your choice, especially if your trying to hold onto the SACD.

Thanks undertow for clearing a few things up. For the price the Oppo seems great to play my CD's, HDCD's, SACD's, DVD's, and BR DVD's from one box. I know I can use my Dac1 Pre through the Oppo to improve the standard CD play. I may be able to use the Dac1 Pre with the Oppo for HDCD coded CD's (or not), but for my SACD discs I'll just listen to them sans the Dac1. I've read the Oppo's playback with SACD discs is very good by itself. My only concern is that the transport mechanism may not be up to the build of even a Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, but for $499 I have to lower my expectations a little and appreciate how much bang you get for a budget player.