Oppo BDP-95 as a pure two channel audio source?

Good thread good knowledge. Rower30 I agree with the fact that SCAD is a superior format but my experience now is that 44.1 can sound damn close. SACD off the Oppo is excellent. And its limitation may be the Oppo. I haven't listened to an reference quality SACD player in a reference system so I can't comment beyond the fact that Sony, in its blind wisdom, has chosen to shut off a goodly portion of the audiophile world. More and more folks I see are going the music server route. That leaves out Sony and its SACD format.

Playing with DACs and servers of many types I come to realize that digital audio even at the 44.1 redbook format can sound equal or better than my pretty good vinyl rig. This at a reasonable cost! The downside is that it isn't easy. I've been using the BDP-95 as a benchmark as both a native CD, SACD player and as a transport to outboard DACs of many flavors. I think I mentioned this that generally speaking, the outboard DACs were better and better still when they could take advantage of the I2S bus such as the Oppo-NAD M51 combo. That was really good. But the Mac mini Cora PS was amazing. Warm and detailed, solid soundstage, I really was surprised as it was not subtle. But that's the cost of an outboard power supply and a Mac mini and some software. The PC version we built was equally amazing, more detail, less warmth and it utilized the Cora power supply. But the .02 cent wall wart cord fed the computer. It was ugly. So I soldered a VH-Audio power cable directly to the mother board fed from the PS. I know it's not topical but I felt compelled to add this little bit of information as the difference is sound quality was substantial, far exceeding anything from any source I've heard to date. I can't get out of my room.

I've been fortunate to have passionate audio friends with better ears than I and the means to rotate equipment like nobody's business. So I benefit with being able to listen, with them, a good number of sources. I'm hopeful today, we'll have a shootout between the mini, the PC and a purpose built Cora server.

My 2 cents is that I would stick with the Bryston, an excellent player, unless you decide to go an entirely different route such as computer audio, which is a bit painful.

Thanks again Desalvo55. I guess I can blame my original hi-fi orientation for my current "old school" audiophile approach, (and firm belief), that the best way to reproduce a realistic, life-like sound is via a dedicated two channel/listening room, sans subs or TV. It has only been recently that I've moved from tubes to SS, let alone dive into the computer audio arena. Which based on what I've seen and heard, has indeed looked painful and in the couple of systems I've experienced, sounded horrible. Maybe I'm missing something, but I'm getting truly great sound, from well recorded red book cds. However, that said, like must of us, I can't shake the faith I have in the notion that it can always sound better and just what may be the next step to get it one step closer to that myhtical (?) absolute sound? It was that very thought process that led me to originally ask the question regarding the Oppo 95s' red book capability, which after hearing from several quality mates such as yourself, has reinforced my decision to stick with my Bryston. Unless of course, I run across a good deal on the new Copland 825 cd player. Yep, a new two channel only, (not even SACD) 6,500 dollar cd player.

I have records and a PHONO unit that are 40 years old and still work! Chew on that for a second.

Now chew on this, are you going to capture that "elusive" (it sure is!) sound when the digital format keeps changing it's spots? It isn't even the same animal year to year. Punch cards to tape to 5.25 floppy, to 3.5" floppy, to optical dics (CD, SACD, super DVD and blure ray), ETC. This is but the physical media, the format media is even worse (serial, parallel, USB (several flavors), fire wire, ETC. Nothing is as fleeting as digital, or data as "lost" in the format cycle. Oh I know, YOU have it licked "this" time it's different! Did you put ALL your records on CD an throw them away (I didn't)? Well, when the optical format goes, so does your music.

I want to relax with my stereo. Plop in a (something) and LISTEN. I don't want to run an IT department to load music. And yes, I'm an engineer. I build my PC's as they go obsolete and wonder why my 40 year old records sound so good.

I would love to be able to use a blue-ray recorder and hi-res files for music. I've heard Blue-ray as a format is already on the way out since we all use MP3's!. A nice little disc with two hours of music won't tax my old body one bit getting up off the couch. And, it is easily moved about. Fidelity is as near what even the best systems to manage (better dynamic range than ANY system can manage!). Shoot the engineer and format an AUDIO digital standard.

A record is a great example of doing it right. It maxed out the media quickly, and stopped. Sure, there was wax drums, 78 and such but the fidelity was measurably poor. When LP's were developed, the fidelity was exception even to measuement. A record made today is no different than it was in 1970. Well, they can use digital DACs and screw it up! 24/196 can be that standard. Over 50 years and counting.

I'd say USB stick except that this "standard" can't be kept still long enough to make it "legacy" to anything except temporary data storage. My music media needs to be more than temporary, and so does the standard.

Jayh31,

The only way to truly know if it is for you is to buy a unit and try it, remember Oppo has a 30 day return policy you just pay shipping. You can read what we say all day but it is your ears and your system that it will be working in. I am a 2 channel lover and have converted to multi channel also. I just replaced my Ayre CX-7e with the Oppo BDP-105. I was set to buy the BDP-95 but had heard that the 105 was being released. I wanted and needed a universal player and did not want to spend 10K on the Ayre CX-5 unit. I am so glad I waited. Before I even get into the sonic differences I used a particular CD that has been scratched and cannot play correctly in my Ayre Cx-7e. I tried the same disc in the Oppo and it played it flawlessly!

I did allow the 105 to "burn in" before making a serious comparison. What made the comparison easy is I was able to use the same XLR (Synergistic Research) and power cable (BMI Whale elite) so the same sonic signature would be there. In a nut shell the Ayre was slightly warmer and lush in the mids. Low end about the same with both units. The Oppo BDP-105 has slightly better detail towards the top but not bright and a wide soundstage that puts the soundfield into perspective as it should be especially on classical pieces. I think you should try it and decide for yourself as I am referring to the BDP-105 and not the BDP-95, the analog section in the BDP-105 is really nice and as I said the Ayre is a good sounding unit as we all know. I personally believe Oppo took some of the ideas that Charles Hansen from Ayre had put into the older CX-5 universal player but in a more cost effective solution such as upgrading the power supply.

Thanks for the input Statman, appreciate it. I'm curious, would you prefer the 105 over your Ayre if you were not converting to multi=channel? Thanks, Jayh31