Electrocompanient EMP-2 vs. Oppo BDP-103

I'm not sure I understand what you are saying. Are both the transports and boards exactly the same?

"EMP-2 Univeral Blu Ray player that its using the exact same high quality power board and transport thats inside the $500.00 Oppo BDP-103"

"The processor signal board in the EMP-2 looks average"

To me, it looks like you are saying that the board in the EMP-2 is high quality, and then you go on to say it looks average. Also, did you compare the analog sections to see if they were the same as well? That also has a big effect on SQ.

Zd542...you missed what I wrote and need to read over again. I'm talking about two separate boards in the EMP-2. The high quality main power board that is in the front left of the unit and the signal processor board in the back. The power board in the front is an exact twin of the power board in the left front of the Oppo BDP-103. The Transport housing in the EMP-2 is identical to the one in the Oppo. Looking at both boards and the layout work in both units, it appears the Electrocompanient is a ripoff for the outrageous price of $ 3500.00. But of course you get a better machined face plate and those pretty gold buttons on the front.

The EMP-2 is basically a modified BDP-103, but that doesn't mean that it's overprice cr*p... There's quite a analog audio path is quite different, the power supply (although based on the BDP-103) is not exactly the same, as you have different components (much higher quality). The transport is good, so why change it? Same thing does with the video board.

I doubt Oppo has anything to do with the EMP-2, except supplying components of the innards. Electrocompaniet does have their own machine shop and can really make some beautiful (and function) casings, etc.

I would agree that doesn't necessarily make the EMP-2 a good value though... I think you need to compared it more towards the BDP-105 and I suspect that the different at that point won't be that much...

By now you have discovered that life is all about 'packaging' and 'marketing'. The parts you find in most electronic items are usually from a single source. As one example you will find the chips in Sony CD players to be almost identical, with power supplies and other components slightly different. Sony also sells their chips and transports to others. Small manufacturers like Electrocompanient, do not have the resources to do their own chips and transports, so they go to the 'big guys', as do most of the other hi end brands. I think most buyers understand that hi end business model. Think about it, some Kia parts are to be found in BMW's. Who knew.

Audiozen,

After reading your 2nd post, I see what you are talking about. I wasn't clear on the fact that you were talking about 2 different boards in the same machine.

Buconero117,

"By now you have discovered that life is all about 'packaging' and 'marketing'. The parts you find in most electronic items are usually from a single source. As one example you will find the chips in Sony CD players to be almost identical, with power supplies and other components slightly different. Sony also sells their chips and transports to others. Small manufacturers like Electrocompanient, do not have the resources to do their own chips and transports, so they go to the 'big guys', as do most of the other hi end brands. I think most buyers understand that hi end business model. Think about it, some Kia parts are to be found in BMW's. Who knew."

I think that statement applies to mass market brands more than it does to high end brands. While its true that most high end brands need to buy things like transports and dac chips, its what they do with them that's important. Transports can be modified. Chips can be paired with better components and designs. For some examples of what I am talking about, search for some pics of some common high end CD player brands. (Wadia, Ayre, BAT, Cary, ML, Krell, Arcam/DCS and whatever else you feel is in that league). You can almost always find pics with the top covers off the machines. To me, the inside of those components look like well made high end audio components. The inside of a Sony player dosen't; not even the good models. Teac, of course is an exception. I'm not talking about a fancy case, but the quality and implication of the actual components used to support the off the shelf parts made by the big companies. There will, no doubt, be some exceptions. Maybe the EMP-2 is one of them (I won't say, one way or the other, because I don't know the player that well). Armed with a little research and a lot of listening, I think your chances of getting stuck with an overpriced, average sounding CD player, is pretty low. As far as putting Kia parts in a BMW, that would be a very smart move for BMW. (Sorry, I just couldn't help myself.)