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Good/bad idea? Oppo in 2 channel w/out preamp?

I'm considering moving on from an Upgrade Co Denon 3910 to a modded Oppo SE or Nuforce BDP-83, probably a Modwright with the tube upgrade. I've just went from an integrated amp to seperates and am using a cheap Parasound mini-preamp until I can either have a good passive built OR get a player with built in volume control. I've mostly had very good success going without a preamp when possible. I've had a Theta Miles and Consonance Droplet 5.0 which were much better without a preamp while a Consonance SACD 2.0 was a bit tubby and less precise direct (it sounded quite a bit better using the passive preamp section in an integrated I used to own vs running that integrated as an amp only).

So, can anyone comment on running the BDP-83 SE or Nuforce direct into an amp and do any of the aftermarket upgrades affect the quality of the volume control? Many thanks for your time and experiences. Lyle
lcherepkai
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,693 posts
 
AFAIK, none of the mods affect the VC and that VC is digital. Thus, it is lossy and how effective it will be will depend on how much lossy attenuation you need in your setup.

Kal
ahendler
416 posts
 
The 83SE is already upgrade from a stock 83 by Oppo. When a friend was going to upgrade from is 83 to the 83se or NuForce a tech at nuforce told him to just do the 83se upgrade. The Nuforce was not really that much of an improvement. The Modwright upgrade with tube out pute may well be worth it. Contact Modwright about the volumn control issue or I am sure someone has direct experience about this and will come forward
lcherepkai OP
280 posts
 
So Kal, have you actually heard the Oppo driving an amp directly? I recall HiFi+ doing a Wadia review awhile back and fearing that their volume control (also digital) would compromise sound at lowish levels but they didn't detect any sonic degradation.

I'm looking for opinions of those with the upgraded Oppo BDP-83 (modwright, upgrade company, others) who have used them to drive their amp(s) directly, please and thank you.
sandstone
358 posts
 
What amplifier do you own and what is its input impedance?
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,693 posts
 
Yes, I have used the Oppo volume control (whether driving an amp or a preamp is not relevant). The only issues are the the gain of the amp and the sensitivity of the speakers. The Oppo VC was just fine in the upper range from about 75 and up. Below 50, the sound was increasingly grainy. In between, it was tricky, generally OK and depended on the program content.

So, if all you need is a bit of attenuation, it is OK. How much do you need?
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