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What's the bottom line on Oppo 980 for CD playback

Ok, apparently no uni player excells at CD playback. I'd like to get something that isn't obsolete right out of the box. Can this thing really satisfy me as a CD player? What about these reports I have heard about it cutting off the first few seconds of every disc? Are you having this problem? Is anybody really using it for CD enough to care? For now, I don't care about SACD, Video, DVDA, Multi Channel, etc. I heard the Cary DVD 8 at over $1000. and was unimpressed, especially when compared to their $4000. CD player. Where should I turn? Cambridge 740? Music Hall 25? Any DVDers that are good with CD? Thanks for any info or input, Chris H.
hifiharv
jylee
306 posts
 
Use the common sense. It's not realistic to expect $200 universal player to outperform $3000 one. If you were not satisfied with $1000 Cary DVD player, there is little chance you'll find a $200 player better in performance. If you don't care about SACD or DVD, get a decent DAC. Benchmark or Bel Canto DAC 3 offers pretty much state of the art redbook performance. If you are still not satisfied with those, then I don't know where else to turn.
hifiharv OP
351 posts
 
Tgrisham, if you find the Oppo quite capable, could you please tell me what other CD playback you are used to? I assume you never had any problem with skipping, etc. on CD's. Thanks for your input
hifiharv OP
351 posts
 
Jylee, I know it is odd, but I don't always find the HiFi price to coincide with what I enjoy. For example, I liked my Proceed player much more than a few others that cost twice as much. Your probably right about comparing the $1000.Cary to the $200. Oppo, but I want every sub $1000. player to sound as good as the $4000. Cary. Thanks for your thoughts.
cruz123
586 posts
 
Is it possible that the rest of your system does not sufficiently reproduce the higher level of detail normally associated with higher priced digital players? I have found that as I have increased the quality of my digital playback, I've also had to improve the quality of my amplification and/or speakers to reap the benefits.
pdn
438 posts
 
This is an excellent question. I've never auditioned any of the Oppo line of players but I hear good feedback. However, one has to be suspicious as to how can a manufacture jam pack a player with all of these features including SACD capability, 1080p HDMI upscaling, and all sorts of audio features I've never heard of for $169.00? Could many of these features just be fluff?

Hell, even the Marantz CD5001 dedicated CD player for $300.00 can not decode SACD's and it's just a CD player. No video capability. You do get what you pay for as others above have mentioned. If you're looking for just a decent quality audio CD player and not concerned with all of those HD formats and no video but don't have much to spend, consider the NAD BEE series or the Marantz I mentioned above. You'll need to spend in the $300.00 area for new gear or less for preowned but really, $300.00 is truly low for something considered to be non mass marketed. I'd be suspicious of any product that boasts so many high end features for such a low price but that's just my humble opinion.
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