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High Quality Universal Player??

I’m interested in a disc player for CD, SACD, and cinema DVDs, Blue-Ray.

It MUST have equal or better sound quality than my current Cal Audio HDCD player.

Ideas? How about the Cambridge Audio Azur 651BD Universal Blu-ray/SACD/DVD/CD Player?

or the newer 751? Also, what is the difference between the 751 and 651?

I’d laos like to buy form a company large enough to stay in business for a while :)
randy-11
auxinput
2,920 posts
 

If you're not wanting the balanced XLR stereo outputs of the Oppo 105, the CXU looks to have a very good audio stage.  Different approach than the oppo.  Five wolfson DAC chips, and it looks like each channel output has its own individual SMD op amp (possible a mono op amp).  This could be very good depending on the type of op amp they chose.  You could probable mod this and put in something like AD797 op amps and the result sound would be very nice indeed.  The DAC chips and op amps are supported very well with electrolytic caps all around them.  The only thing is that the CXU uses switch-mode power supply where the oppo uses a linear power supply for the audio stages.

http://www.excelia-hifi.cz/cambridge-audio/img/cambridge-audio-cxu-inside.jpg

Keep in mind that the choice of the DAC chip (wolfson or sabre) has very little to do with sound quality output.

nutty
2,946 posts
 
reubent, auxinput,  (I do prefer balanced outputs as the rest of my gear is balanced and most all of my cables)....

The local shop that I have been dealing with for about 20 years Audible Elegance in Montgomery, Oh. They having are  celebrating  their "30th anniversary".

In addition, I messaged Oppo in regards to production and availability of the BDP105 and here was their response.

We are no longer manufacturing or selling the BDP-10x series of players as we are replacing the BDP-103/D players with the UDP-203 UHD Player (http://oppodigital.com/uhd/) and will be manufacturing a replacement for the BDP-105/D players by early-2017.

Best Regards, 


Customer Service
OPPO Digital, Inc.
162 Constitution Dr. Menlo Park, CA 94025 Service@oppodigital.com
Tel: 650-961-1118
Fax: 650-961-1119

I contacted Audio Advisor and they had a few left in stock. Only black units. I ordered one and it shipped this afternoon. I will demo it first. I can return if it doesn't perform well. It appears the Cambridge CXU will have pleanty of availability. 

N

reubent
7,048 posts
 
Nutty,

I'm very familiar with Audible Elegance. Spent plenty of money there over the years. I didn't know they were a Cambridge Dealer.

Interesting info from Oppo. I didn't know they had stopped production on the BDP-10x. Will be interesting to see what the replacement for the BDP-105D offers.

Let us know how your audition of the two players goes.

TIC
randy-11 OP
1,913 posts
 
re: "the choice of the DAC chip (wolfson or sabre) has very little to do with sound quality"

Do you mean the brand per se?  Or the type of DAC chip?  Or that all DACs are pretty much the same now?

Oppo and others often advertise their DACs as being high-quality, and there was the One-bit phenomenon some years ago, not to mention the Burr-Brown thing...

I'm not saying that any of the above matter much, but am curious.
nutty
2,946 posts
 
I’ve had the OppoBDP105D and the Cambridge Audio CXU in my system since Tuesday. They have been running 24/7. Here is my take.
Oppo...
Pro- The oppo has great mid and high frequencies.
Pro- USB, Optical, and Coax input (especially USB).
Pro- Balanced outputs.
Pro- Headphone outlet on front
Pro- Netflix/Vudu/Pandora software
Pro- 14 awg three prong grounded power cord- upgrade opportunity.

Con- The bass is a bit disconnected- it seems (((bloated))) at times.
.......................
Cambridge CXU
Pro- Music- plenty of detail and energy. Very musical.
Pro- Bass frequency is taught and frankly deeper and more in control over the Opp.

Con- No headphone output on front panel.
Con- No "stop disc" button on front of player.
Con- Two prong non grounded power cord- limited upgrade opportunity.
Con- Single ended outputs only
Con- No Netflix/Vudu/Pandora software

More to follow.




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