Oppo DV-981HD vs. NAD C525BEE
Erwin Neuhof -- Mon, 08/25/2008 - 18:31
Last year I read with great interest the article about the NAD combo
amplifier and CD player (issue 169). So much so that I purchased the C325 BEE integrated amp. I absolutely love it for vinyl play back. I currently own the Oppo DV981HD player which sounds very good but would a dedicated CD player be superior? I visited a local high end audio retailer and he suggested that a quality dedicated CD player would be a significant improvement over my Oppo. He had some very nice equipment (Cambridge Audio, Ayre, Rega) but they were a
little too rich for my blood. However his recommendation had me thinking about that TAS article, specifically the NAD C525 BEE CD player. So my question is, would this NAD CD player provide an improvement in sound over my Oppo DVD player or would the sound be realitively the same?"
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Generally speaking I think most dedicated CD players will best a comparably priced DVD unit-but not always by a huge margin. The Oppo, as is well known, is a terrific and versatile value. And you'll have to consider how important the DVD function is for your lifestyle. ( I suggest holding on to it for this function alone) However I think the NAD would have the edge sonically particularly in it's well rounded mids and non-edgy treble. Also I can vouch for NAD's superb record for long term reliability. And frankly although this sounds totally superficial, a pair of NADs look good together and remote control features can be consolidated in one unit. Is it possible to audtion one over a weekend? That's always the best defense before embarking on a long term commitment.
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
Some thoughts on the question(s) you raised:
Question: Will a dedicated CD player sound better than the Oppo?
Answer: Potentially yes, though at the expense of losing DVD, SACD, and DVD-Audio playback. If you like the NAD house sound, which tends to impart a touch of warmth and emphasizes smooth highs, you might well prefer the sound of the NAD CD player to the DV-981HD.
Question: How does the Oppo house sound differ from the NAD house sound?
Answer: I think the Oppo players generally place greater emphasis on perceived clarity, better definition on transients, and better resolution on small textural details, while the more affordable NAD players emphasize organic warmth, richness, and--in the treble range--smoothness (albeit sometimes at the expense of a bit of resolution).
Context: When choosing affordable components many listeners tend to gravitate toward a sound that is at least somewhat forgiving--especially of excess brightness in the playback chain. For those listeners, NAD's more affordable players can be a great choice. The Oppo players, on the other hand, have a touch of that "pushing the envelope" quality that many higher-end components also possess, which can make them sound like real overachievers in some systems, but perhaps a little bright or edgy in others.
Important Suggestion: If you've not already done so, I'd would encourage you to hear the Oppo DV-983H. To my ears, it's the best Oppo yet (a significant improvement over the DV-981HD), and therefore a more worthy competitor vs. some of the better mid-priced CD players on the market.
Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision
The 983 is definitely the Oppo you want to look at.
But if you can wait a couple of months Oppo will have a Blu-Ray player that also does SACD, DVD, CD, etc.
We saw a prototype at CEDIA and it was several steps above any current Oppo model in terms of fit, finish and price-point - $600-$700...
Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications
Well, Ive been quite dissappointed in the 970:980 for audio.
I suspected the other Oppo uni's will still lack for audio.
I use a 980 for movies a 59avi for(dvda/sacd) and mod' PT gear with a dds-pro for redbook.
Keeps me happy since a uni's just don't seem to cut it!
"A Bug! Naa...that's a feature."