oppo 83 se or oppo 83

Of interest is a recent post on www.audiocircle.com under the HiRez Music Circle titled "take SACD and Bluray Hirez directly to your DAC". Its a review of a $219 de-embedder box with an HDMI input that then splits the signal, sending the audio via an optical output to your DAC and the video signal via HDMI to your processor or TV. According to the reviewer, from an Oppo 83, the sound was better than from the RCA outputs. Being registered with audicircle, I took a look at the reviewer's posted pictures of his system. It is impressive and obviously the system of an experienced audiophile not only with sufficient funds, but with the knowledge how the set up a room properly - not just some guy with a mediocre system making a gee wow review. Obviously you need a DAC, and one that has an optical input. The discussion on Audiocircle is far more complete than I can report here.

1. This is something that has been going on for a while with both legal and illegal adapters, both external and internal.

2. The typical device referred to is the Octava which, of course, will only output 2channels over optical.

3. Did the commentator compare it with the 83SE? (Of course, all such comparisons are DAC-dependent.)

Kal

The device reviewed on Audiocircle was the Atlona HD570, the Oppo tested was the 83SE, with signal sent through a Weiss DAC2. Anyone interested really needs to read the review and corresponding thread. I was interested because I own an Oppo 83, purchased recently when my Sony Bluray player quit working, that I use for Bluray only. Because of this, I decided not to spend the money on the se version. My DAC accepts optical, so I may now have a relatively cheap way to upgrade the Oppos sound. According to the reviewer, significant improvement when listening to Bluray was heard running the Oppo through the Atlona via optical vs. the Oppos analog outputs.

Yes, the Atlona functions similarly to most of these units like the Octava and, in fact, the Atlona looks identical to the old CLUX 11SA. For me, the lack of multichannel digital output (except for lossy Toslink) is a problem.

BTW, that the Weiss DAC2 or other high quality DAC makes an improvement is great but not surprising. (Similar results with my Meridian processor.)

Kal