Should I upgrade my Blu-ray player now?

Bob seems to be hanging his hat of acoustic room correction, because if there is one component likely to become obsolete it's the processor as technology changes. So Bob, are you recommending something like a Marantz 8801, a Classe SSP 800, or a Bryston SP3? Risk is relative. Upgrading the DAC in an Oppo is much less risky.

OTOH, worrying about obsolesce can lead to inaction and missing the goodies available in the present.

db

db,
re - your last sentence - I almost added something to that effect in my OP. I am definitely not going to wait around for something else, the next big thing, whatever, because you are correct, the cost of waiting means missing out on doing something right now. I am reminded of those Emo fans who have been waiting for years for the XMC-1 to arrive.

That said, given somewhat limited funds and using a Blu-ray player that is two generations behind the current model, I am faced with three different options now:

- Purchase either an additional two or four speakers plus at least one sub to complete speaker set-up

- Continue to enjoy two-channel for now and upgrade the Oppo

- Other

Bob, I appreciate your comments regarding the pre-pro but wouldn't I need to finish the speaker set-up first? By this stage of the game, I really should have had my speakers and be in a position to look at a new pre-pro, but things got a bit derailed a few years ago, and I also made, in retrospect, an unwise speaker decision which while not locking me in, has made trying to sell them difficult before starting over. I am open to suggestions why still getting a pre-pro is a viable option.

I think Bob's point(s) is/are:

1) If the system is a HT rig employing a pre-pro and decoding is done therein, any potential benefits of the superior Oppo analog section are lost (bypassed). (tho, if that's not the case, then the analysis changes.)

and

2) If you're investing in an upgrade, upgrade the pre-pro, which is doing the heavy lifting. He mentions adding room correction, a feature generally found in the pre-pro, as the most audible improvement available to most HT rigs not yet so equipped, and I'd agree 100%.

As to worrying about technology going obsolete, I'm not sure I see the concern. The existing systems I've heard (especially Audyssey xt32) sound great. If something better comes along tomorrow, that's another upgrade - but you run the same risk (even greater) with a disc player that may prove next-gen format incompatible.

As between a disc player and a pre-pro, I'd certainly second Bob's recommendation to budget disproportionately for the latter.

I have two speakers now. The HK 990 is the only stereo (only) component I know that also has room correction. I am reluctant to invest in a pre-pro, room acoustics notwithstanding, until I add more speakers. Once I get myself to at least a 5.1 system, I will definitely add a pre-pro.