Thread: Help choosing a SACD or DVD/SACD player

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Post by lowD February 26, 2011 (1 of 12)
Situation in brief: I now have plenty of SACDs that I've never heard in SA, so it's high time I bought a player. Do not want to spend more than $500 at this point.
Question 1: What's the opinion on differences between multichannel and 2-channel? Went to hi-end store to hear for myself, but was told they were not set up to feature either, let alone an A-B comparison. Vendor said multichannel is a gimmick, 2-channel is the real thing, but then tried to sell me a $4,000 player, so I can't really trust him. If there is one thing I've learned over the years, it's that while it would be nice to have more than my $500 to spend, $4,000 is not exactly an absolute necessity.
Question 2: there seem to be plenty of relatively cheap DVD players around that also play SACDs. I am not interested in the visuals, only audio, but there are several outstanding recordings that have come out on audio-DVD only.
So, finally: which route do I go - dvd/sacd or pure sacd; and, what's the best I can get for my money, and is it OK to sacrifice multichannel if need be.
Thanks all for helping out.
lowD

Post by flyingdutchman February 26, 2011 (2 of 12)
OPPO

www.oppo.com

Post by Kal Rubinson February 26, 2011 (3 of 12)
1. The sad truth is that most high-end audio stores are woefully ignorant of the value of multichannel for music even though the very same ones will gleefully sell you a multichannel home theater system. Some years back, Peter McGrath (of Wilson Audio) and I had a few drinks while we agonized over the impediment to multichannel audio that is represented by the typical high-end dealer. As you have found, most are simply unable (as a result of being unwilling) to demonstrate good multichannel audio and permit the buyer to chose for himself. Nothing has changed.

2. Get the Oppo BDP-93. It will play any disc format of musical relevance and that includes CDs, SACDs, DVD-Audio and BluRay. It will also play many other formats, as well, so there is no need to compromise one thing for another.

Kal

Post by rammiepie February 26, 2011 (4 of 12)
Kal Rubinson said:

1. The sad truth is that most high-end audio stores are woefully ignorant of the value of multichannel for music even though the very same ones will gleefully sell you a multichannel home theater system. Some years back, Peter McGrath (of Wilson Audio) and I had a few drinks while we agonized over the impediment to multichannel audio that is represented by the typical high-end dealer. As you have found, most are simply unable (as a result of being unwilling) to demonstrate good multichannel audio and permit the buyer to chose for himself. Nothing has changed.

2. Get the Oppo BDP-93. It will play any disc format of musical relevance and that includes CDs, SACDs, DVD-Audio and BluRay. It will also play many other formats, as well, so there is no need to compromise one thing for another.

Kal

Just purchased and set up the BDP~93. It is a wonderful performer, has two HDMI outputs and if you decide to go the 3D route, it's ready for that, as well. Will also decode HDCD and upsample your DVDs to 1080p and will also play Blu~ray audio........all for $499!

And if you're interested in DVD~Audio you better act fast and purchase the few remaining titles in that format (REM, Talking Heads, The Doors boxed sets) before they disappear, forever!

Also, make sure you replace the stock power cord with a better one and pay close attention to selection of an HDMI cable, if you're going to use it in that configuration....HDMI v 1.4 would be my personal choice (check out BetterCables.com for their Silver Serpent.......greatly improved BOTH sound and picture!

Post by lowD February 26, 2011 (5 of 12)
thanks all - so far we have consensus on the Oppo. Very helpful.
I realize that USCDs have not lit up the world (how could they - they started coming out in an era when kids burn from a burn from a burn from a burn of an mp3 download and have no patience for those annoying audiophiles) but some childishly naive part of me hopes that they will have a resurrection.

Post by Kal Rubinson February 26, 2011 (6 of 12)
lowD said:

thanks all - so far we have consensus on the Oppo. Very helpful.
I realize that USCDs have not lit up the world ...................

What's a USCD?

Post by flyingdutchman February 26, 2011 (7 of 12)
rammiepie said:

Just purchased and set up the BDP~93. It is a wonderful performer, has two HDMI outputs and if you decide to go the 3D route, it's ready for that, as well. Will also decode HDCD and upsample your DVDs to 1080p and will also play Blu~ray audio........all for $499!

And if you're interested in DVD~Audio you better act fast and purchase the few remaining titles in that format (REM, Talking Heads, The Doors boxed sets) before they disappear, forever!

Also, make sure you replace the stock power cord with a better one and pay close attention to selection of an HDMI cable, if you're going to use it in that configuration....HDMI v 1.4 would be my personal choice (check out BetterCables.com for their Silver Serpent.......greatly improved BOTH sound and picture!

Rammie,

Going to get the BDP-95?

Post by rammiepie February 26, 2011 (8 of 12)
flyingdutchman said:

Rammie,

Going to get the BDP-95?

Good choice, FD but I don't need it for my bedroom in which the 93 is being utilized. Strictly for 3D (and 2D of course) and HDMI into my lowly Onkyo receiver.........you cannot go wrong with an OPPO unless they figure a way to cut down on performance {by cutting corners} which so far, they haven't! At present, I have five OPPO units of varying pedigrees and so far, no hitch, once the beta firmware upgrades were instituted.

I am patiently waiting for the day in which OPPO comes out with a statement piece and blows the MUCH pricier competition out of the ballpark. And with the brisk business they are doing (and stellar customer service support, as well, a rarity in these troubling times) I have NO doubt they will oneday create this legacy piece: the OPPO 007.......unshaken but rather stirring!

Post by Merganser February 26, 2011 (9 of 12)
lowD said:

Vendor said multichannel is a gimmick, 2-channel is the real thing, but then tried to sell me a $4,000 player, so I can't really trust him.

Which $4,000 player? Why do you think you can't trust him?

Post by lowD February 26, 2011 (10 of 12)
sorry about USCD - typo; I meant SACD, of course. Merganser, I was cutting a long story short, but the conversation with the vendor was lengthy and revealing, mostly about him and his misperception of my budget. He had initially mentioned that the store had some inexpensive players that provided multichannel audio; but then, as for some reason he concluded I had money up to here, suddenly nothing would do but the $4,000 2-channel-only player, which was a McIntosh. That, and several other things, made me feel that he worried more about his commission than my satisfaction as a customer.
Incidentally, I think McIntosh is incredibly good at most of what the brand does; however, that does not always justify the price tag. My understanding is - and correct me if I'm wrong - that in part their prices are very high because they're one of the few companies whose work is largely, if not entirely, done here, in the States, where unionized labor is prohibitive.

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