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OPPO BDP-103 (NON Darby)

Hey all, (My mistake, I know it’s Darbee, not "Darby.")
I think I’m finally going to break down and buy a player that plays SACD disks. I know there are not all that many SACD titles available but I tried getting back into vinyl and was not all that happy with the $800.00 table I bought. Perhaps when I can afford a $3,00.00 PLUS turntable I will try again.
Anyway, I currently play DSD & FLAC files via thumb drive with my Marantz network player and CDR via a good Yamaha CD player. My amp & pre-amp are Emotiva and current speakers are B&W.
My thought is to buy an OPPO 103 - NON Darbee addition as I do not expect to use it for anything but 2 channel audio.
So, my qiestion is; how does the OPPO BDP-103 perform when playing Hi-Res audio and especially SACD? Does anyone have first hand experience with other players that may be a better choice for what I want in the same price range? I’ve read that the OPPOs tend to do better with Video play back than audio. Is this true?
I appreciate any & all replies!
wcc10
naimfan
166 posts
 
You might also try a Conrad-Johnson PV10 or similar.  Very good sounding, well-made, straightforward.  From your description of Rotel the CJ could be a better way to move forward. 
wcc10 OP
119 posts
 
Thanks for the input. There is a Audio Research LS-2 available here on Audiogon that I have my eye on. Gets great reviews and there are upgrades available the supposedly make it even better. Any thoughts?
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/tube-audio-research-ls-2-black-tube-line-preamp-excellent-box-and-manual-2016-08-10-preamplifiers-49512-kentwood-mi

Also, if I were to decide to go even a little further, what do you all think of the Wyred 4 Sound STP-SE in standard configuration as compared to the mPRE?
naimfan
166 posts
 
The ARC is a very good preamp.  I suggested CJ based on what you wrote about finding the Rotel to be a bit sterile.  There's also a CJ PV14L on Agon; along with a Classic 2 (new, from an authorized dealer); both are well worth considering. 

NB - I'm not affiliated with or connected in any way to any of the sellers. 
auxinput
2,920 posts
 

wow, we are going off on a tangent! lol.  I would like to say that I am totally NOT a tube preamp expert.  That being said, in the choices that naimfan has suggested, I would probably lean towards the AR LS-2 because of it's balanced outputs (though it is not fully balanced/differential internally).  The newer CJ PV14L looks to have a much better power supply and circuit layout of the three different preamps.

That being said, if I was in the market for a tube preamp, I would really look at the Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) stuff, as it has fully balanced/differential circuits (like the Krell KAV-280p and every other preamp I have suggested).  There's a BAT VK-3i for $999.  But I would probably be trying to push my budget to the BAT VK-31se for $1800.  It has a much beefier power supply section, which translates into stronger bass/midbass punch. It also has both a remote and a phono stage (you mentioned an interest in a turntable).  I would then look at trying different tubes to try to get the most resolution I could out of it. 

Personally, I would probably still go after the Krell KAV-280p from Canada and deal with the remote problem.  It is entirely possible that it just needs a new battery.  You had an interest in the AR LS-2, which is full manual control without any sort of remote, so it may not be a big deal.

My cousin has a Jolida tube CD player that we have modded the heck out of (black gate capacitors, upgraded diodes, internal silver wiring, Furutech RCA connectors, Electro-Harmonix tubes).  It does sound very nice, but it does not quite have the resolution of the Oppo 105 (which has an edge on excitement and snap).  In my opinion, the Oppo 105 is lacking in resolution with what I am currently used to.  We have found that the Electro-Harmonix tube has very good resolution.  Some others have mentioned the Genelex tube being very good as well.

There are many people who love tube based stuff.  It is definitely a personal preference.  If you have listened to tube preamps and love them, by all means go after what you love!

I didn't originally put forth the idea of the STP-SE because of the price and I was thinking of your inherent budget.  However, the STP-SE has a lot of great point.  Fully differential, massive power supply.  It looks fully discrete as well (but I can't completely confirm).  The STP-SE appears to have a very fast response (high resolution), but also is able to keep a lot of "tone" characteristics.  I would probably say I would highly consider this particular preamp.  Between the Krell KAV-280p and this Wyred4Sound STP-SE, I'm not sure which one of these would actually be better.  I'm definitely going to be reading up more on this STP-ES preamp, just out of curiousity.

wcc10 OP
119 posts
 
I wrote this right before you posted your last entry, auxinput. Sorry I didn’t see your post first!

We may be getting too far into the tube realm and away from balanced (or at least XLR) connections. I mentioned the Audio Research LS-2 as it is considered a hybrid and maintains balanced connections. It has, as you know, been around for more than a few years but gets great reviews all around. Not sure how it would pair with my Gen 3 Emotiva power amp tough.
Yes, I was not all that impressed with the Rotel line I listened to at a local stereo store.  (RC-1590 / RB-1582 MKII) I thought they sounded too sterile & fatiguing. I’m sure someone else might have an opposite experience with Rotel. But fatigued is how I feel sometimes after listening to the Emotivas.
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