Oppo BDP 83SE- RESULTS ARE IN


I recently purchased an Oppo BDP 83SE as it replaced my PS3(first edition). I am a home theater buff(75/25) and pay very close attention to audio detail.

I configured the Oppo 83SE for 7.1 analogue and noticed an immediate positive difference in the audio spectrum as opposed to HDMI audio. I left the HDMI for video duties. I set all my speakers to small and set my distances and left the trims at 0..

A/B Comparision: There was a cleaner and blacker field between sounds. Voices in Transformers 2 were cleaner and more real. Explosions had more dramatic impact and sense of dimension. The surround effects were more prominent, detailed and more precise than in digital. Sounds that were low keyed or voiced jumped out more but weren't overdone. Overall the soundstage was very articulate and had greater realism. My Onkyo SC-885 processor is simply amazing for home theater but I chose the better processing of the SE as the analogue in the Oppo SE is just astonishing....Unbeatable.....

I will later post results in 2 channel analogue as I cant stop feeding all my blu rays to test this machine!!!!LOL

I am extremely impressed with the Oppo BDP 83SE's player. I hadn't experienced analogue before and didnt know what I was missing. On the video side the picture on my Samsung 58" plasma looked amazing...The Oppo really put alot into this machine and gets great regards from me...GOOD JOB!!! AAA+++

Regards Bacardi
128x128bacardi
I guess I was misled by that phrase, lol...just seemed a little difficult to read for my little brain! :)

Anyway, I see your point. I am definitely a novice in HT/Hi-Fi stuff, but definitely an enthusiast.

Would like to hear more thoughts on Oppo SE BD player since I'm giving the regular edition a long hard look for purchase.

Would anybody say the Oppo is a dramatic upgrade over the PS3? Audio or Video, please specify which and why.
I'm no pro, but I don't think it's possible/ideal to hook up a DVD player straight to an amplifier. (e.g. Where would you get the volume control?, etc)" (longhornguy)

I've had at least a couple of old standard DVD players over the years that had built in volume controls. I could simply bypass a preamp or processor all together, and go straight out analog into an amplifier. And - with music cd's and DVDA's, While this was nice and clean, clear, with plenty of detail, it was SEVERELY lacking in dynamics and snap! It basically acted as if you were using an analog passive preamp, or none at all, as was this case.
Still, connecting this way also was weak for movie sound. And, yes, I'm sure the DAC's are much improved over the 24/96 dac's in my old DVD players.

"I still would use the analog outs from the Oppo hooked up to a Processor/Pre-amp to use their " ...."My question was really directed towards using the Oppo's DAC (analog outputs) with the A/V receivers pre-amplifier stage"

First, I'm not so sure that most here could actually quantify or qualify what the applicable differences are between using the analog multi-channel inputs on an AV pre or receiver vs the analog 2 channel in's (direct or processed) vs, say, maybe running things to a dedicated 2 channel analog preamp's in's! Nor, I presume, can most likely be able to quantify the difference - playing the DAC's in the Oppo, in this case - between analog into an av pre/pro vs. dirrect to an amp, if it were possible (as I explained was possible earlier, depending). I also know that most people are rather confused as to what's the most effective and best sounding way to connect all this stuff up, either digial in hdmi, coax, or analog out of your player, processing - and possibly preamplifying - in an outboard pre/pro. I guess that's why were all kicking this still around, because I can't remember ever reading anywhere, at the very least, where some industry pro's have come out and claimed supperiority of one connection and processing method over another! Have any of you?!
I think you're dealing with a whole lot of unknown variables, differing equipment setup options, opionions, connection methods, etc, plus source considerations, such as CD vs hdcd ,vs sacd, vs dolby pcm, dolby/dts hd master, etc.
I'm not so certain it's been established, performance wise, what does what depending on what connection and what is processing where, and which source is bing played. But I do know this. There's a whole lot of uncertainty as to what's the ideal way - or "ways" - to connect it all, using certain gear, and run it all. If it weren't, we'd all be either processing in the source, or all be processing in the outboard processor for any given source consideration.
I do think it's been made clear that connecting digitally, and processing outboard, allows one to utilize critical bass mgmt functions, DSP processing, EQ, phase, and other functions. But in regards to ultimate sonic purity and your considerations there. I think the verdict is not clear cut.
Heck, I'm still confused. Maybe someone can step up here and persuade me on all of this. Because I'm cerainly not claiming to know all the answere here. There's too much of this that continues to change and maybe evolve over the years in tech. Interesting though...
I have an oppo-83 std model.Not the se. I had it modified by Jennifer Crock of Jenna-labs.I use it for both cd 2-channel as well as 5.1 home theatre. I care more about my music playback more than the surround sound for dvds.The $1000,00 mod she did on my oppo-83 turned a $499.00 blu-ray player into a machine that sounds like it should cost several thousand dollars more.I had a Cambridge Asure 840 that retails for $1800.00 and got huge reviews for its sound quality. This modded oppo blows it away. Powerfull bouncy rich bass and unbelievably detailed mids and highs. Not even close. It is that good.I use no digital connections. All analogue.Jene-labs did the majority of the work on the cd 2- channel outs but they also rebuilt the 7.5 outs to a lesser degree.I have a nad surround sound processor that is only used for volume controll on the center channel and surround speakers. I heve a Joule electra tube pre-amp that I use for my cd play, butI also use it in conjunction with the nad processor when I play surround sound.I use the extensivly modded cd two channel outs to run the left and right mains. The only inconvenience is that now you have to adjust 2 seperate volume controls. One for the center and rear and another for the mains. The sound Quality is amazing. I think it is far better than when I had everything running digitally. I play a lot of blu-ray live concert dvds.Because the left and right main channels were modded so extesively my concert dvd audio quality is as good as my cd quality. I get the best of both worlds. Look up Jena-Labs on google and give Jennifer a call. She is very friendly and has a wealth of info and experience. Her web site shows pictures of the modded units as well as full descriptions of what she does. She sells her wonderfull products world wide and is fun to talk to.
I guess my stance thus far is that you can certainly produce a world class cd and sacd player from the analog out of a cd/dvd player. But I have my doubts about producing superior results with the Dolby and DTS processing via analog out (internal processing) vs letting an outboard processor do the dubties.
I just don't think this has be solidified as common knowledge, as to which way is better for digital movie processing.
All, I can actually cycle my settings through my Oppo SE & Onkyo from HDMI and analogue on the fly. It is fairly noticable the differences between the two.

Regards Bacardi