Experiences with Blu-ray players


I'm starting to build a home theater and am investigating BD players. I could use some stories of experiences others have had.

I'd like to keep good 2-channel capability, but I do have a few multi-channel SACDs so I'd like to be able to play them as well. My 2-channel gear consists of Theta source, Cary preamp, Threshold amplification and Avalon speakers. Given that, I'm thinking that a BD player with analog audio outs and a multi-channel preamp might be best for my particular priorities. My wife would kill me if I brought home the Ayre, so I'm in the sub-$2k realm. The reading I've been doing brings the following manufacturers to mind as having products I could afford and might like:

Oppo: Seems to be the default player for the past couple of years. I like the 7.1 analog audio output and the universality of the transport. The high, generally positive traffic on the various forums seems a good sign, too. I am concerned about it's 2-channel audio performance, though.

Cambridge: Ditto with the 7.1 analog output. A bit more talk about the sound, but less about the video.

Marantz: The 7007 has only two-channel analog out, but 7006 has 7.1 analog audio out.

Arcam: Reliability problems? I haven't experienced any with my Arcam DVD, but I don't own any other Arcam gear, so my experience is limited.
macdonj
Gammajo,
I'm also looking to add a BD player to my HT and I've been researching via the internet sites and forums and came to the conclusion that the Oppos seem like a good solution. They just came out with 2 new models: the 103 and 105. These replace the prior 93 and 95 models. The 95 and 105 supposedly offer better audio performance than the 93 and 103. I should tell you, though, that I have no firsthand experience with any BD players and have no affiliation with Oppo. No disrespect intended for the prior OP's suggestion of the Sony.

You're right, you'll need a prepro (preamp/processor) with multi-channel inputs to properly incorporate the BD player with your current 2-channel system. You'll also need HT passthru on your Cary preamp if you want to have the option of listening to 2-channel, multi-channel audio and HT surround all on the same system. You didn't mention it but I'm assuming your TV/Projector has atleast 1 HDMI input.

If you need to make this more financially acceptable to your wife, you could always buy a good used prepro either here or from another site. I could give you plenty of suggestions on what would work well for you. My prepro just conked out on me and I just researched and bought a very good unit for little dough on the internet. Let me know. Good luck.
cambridge audio 751bd great video along with stunning audio when you read the reviews you will find that the build quality is superior. Also currently on sale for appox $900.00 (I am a cambridge audio dealer)
Being new to SACD I am now confused. From a CD player that plays SACD, to hear two channel SACD how do you connect (Toslink, Coax, RCA Analogue out etc) to a preamp and does that preamp need to be a pre/processor or just a regular preamp? Also is 5 channel SACD automatically down mixed to two channel if that is all the speakers you have in your system? Is it better to connect to your DAC rather than preamp?
Am I asking the right questions in trying to find out how to play SACD?
For me:
two channel SACDs are played on an EMM Labs XDS1
two channel DVDAs are played on Oppo 95 feeding optical to XDS1

XDS1->ARC Reference 5SE->Electrocompaniet Nemos->Thiel CS3.7

multichannel DVDA/SACDs
Denon 4010 Universal player ->DenonLink/HDMI->Denon AVR-4810
AVR pre out to ARC Ref 5SE to front L/R
AVR pre out to
- Bel Canto REF500M to Thiel MCS1 centre
- Bel Canto REF1000M to Thiel PowerPoint 1.2 surround
- Wyred4Sound ICEBox MC 6xASP500 to surround back/wide/height Thiel PowerPoint/1.2

Only downsides are the Denon 4010 is having problems reading discs.