Blu Ray player versus CD/SACD player.
No info on my system, just a general, straight-up question for those that would like to offer some general, straight-up input.
I have a decent analog system, but when listening to CDs or SACDs I have been using a hold-over from my home theater days, an Oppo BDP-103 Blu Ray player which can play a variety of discs, including switching between PCM and DSD.
I have been very happy with the Oppo but now it’s getting a little long in the tooth, I’m wondering should I stick with it or start researching a CD/SACD stand-alone player for my digital discs?
Should I get a unit that specializes in music playback or stick with the Oppo as “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” Will I notice a difference between the Oppo and a unit that is built for primary music purposes?
Just looking for a general sense of peoples thoughts, especially those that have maybe made a similar switch?
Thanks for any feedback!
Ian the BigE
Budget? I use a 105 in to a Bryston DAC3. The Bryston has HDMI inputs. I output the DSD layer into the HDMI for SACD, and for redbook I use one of the S/PDIF outputs into a mini DSP (room processor-it won’t work with SACD). Before I had the mini DSP I just used the HDMI output for everything. The weak point of the 103 is the DAC. Keep it as a transport and upgrade your DAC |
+1 From @mahler123 this is the best advice you will ever get, full,stop. |
@mahler123 Wonder if you could explain the 2nd part of your response further? “and for redbook I use one of the S/PDIF outputs into a mini DSP (room processor-it won’t work with SACD). Before I had the mini DSP I just used the HDMI output for everything.” Not familiar with mini DSP set-up that you mention? However, adding an upgraded external DAC and using the Oppo as a transport is a fresh idea I might consider? Budget would be $3-$5K, for either an external DAC or CD/SACD player.
|
The most important part of your question was “will I hear a difference…”. The fact is, you can buy a $7500 Marantz or $16k Luxman and you may not hear a difference. Nobody can predict what you will hear. My advice is to find a dealer and ask if they can set up a demo for you, comparing your Oppo to something more expensive. If there are no dealers, many online outlets offer 30-day trials, but know that there could be restocking fees. If you own a lot of SACDs, you will need a stand alone player like the Marantz SA10. If not, you can add a dac to your Oppo for improved cd quality, but it won’t play SACDs. A lot of balls in the air for right now. Btw- the Oppo is not a bad player at all. I don’t think digital technology has really improved over the last few years. It’s really more that very good dacs are now available at much lower prices. |
