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

Jayh31,

I still have the Ayre CX-7e and have not sold it yet.To answer your question at this point yes I would chose the Oppo BDP-105 to the Ayre. I still love the sound of the CX-7e but as I stated using the same power and XLR cables helps eliminate the variables involved. I do not care how "good it sounds", if it cannot play a slightly scratched disc then that is a fundamental problem that needs to be addressed! When you have less costly players including 200 dollar units able to play the same disc that your "high end" player can't, it's time to face the truth. The Oppo holds it own against the older CX-7e. The Oppo has a quieter background and more detail than my CX-7e.

My advice as you stated just keep your Bryston as it seems you do not want to part with it? I will keep my Oppo and modify it where it needs to improving as that is what Charles Hansen did to start the idea of using the Oppo as a base unit for his DX-5. My choices for modding are either using Dan from Modwright or Ric from EVS.

+2 for Statman !!! I needed the universal player for home entertainment as well. But this unit is mostly 85% +++ for music only and serves as my stand alone source. It is nice as well to be able to play digital computer files as well, still don't compare to most of my SACD's and DVD Audio's as those are really revealing with this BDP 105. And another plus for Statman, I plan to not mod my player as I had already modded my Modwright SWL pre-amp with his rectified power supply and improved capacitors (Dan does some justice to this end). This combo sings nicely as well as feeding my Coda integrated.

Fellas, c'mon man. Is it just me, but why is it that so many Oppo owners feel the need to mod it? And Statman, you don't care "how good it sounds" as long as it does a good job of playing scratched disc? With all due respect, that doesn't exactly sound like a ringing endorsement. Actually I am looking to part with my beloved Bryston, in fact, it's listed on this very site at the time of this writing. I was hoping that maybe just this once, there was something to all the hype surrounding the Oppo. That it actually was a true giant killer and that just maybe, after twenty plus years of cd player technology, we had progressed to the point of allowing for a low cost, audiophile grade component to actually exist. For a minute there, my faith had me a bit excited about all the buzz, which in fact prompted the thread. Unfortunately however, my hopes have been dashed, because that's not what I'm hearing from Oppo owners. what I'm hearing instead, is that the Oppo is a great video piece with a whole slew of cool digital features and flexibility that happens to also play cds, almost as an afterthought, with the suggestion that while they really enjoy their Oppo, it does not compare to the best dedicated audiophile digital sources out there, e,g, Ayre, Esoteric. Cary, Copland, etc. Which for my needs and point of view, pretty much excludes the Oppo from consideration as a serious cd player. Thanks again, Jayh31 jayh31

I believe that the Ayre probably does not have as much error correction to try and give you as pure of a signal as possible. I would guess Mr. Hansen cares more about sound quality than playing uncared for disks.

I would assume that the Ayre does not have as much error correction in an attempt for a purist approach. I figure Mr Hansen cares more about the quality of the sound than his player working with uncared for media. That is also my priority, I would MUCH rather throw out the disks I purchased used than sacrifice any audio quality due to error correction.