Oppo BDP-95 Blu-ray/Universal Player (TPV 103)
Oppo’s Best Player Ever
May 18th, 2011 -- by Chris MartensSource: The Perfect Vision
But if Batman Begins shows the Oppo’s three dimensionality and power, then Clint Eastwood’s Letters From Iwo Jima shows how expressive and evocative the player’s smooth, richly detailed sound can be—even in relatively quiet scenes where we hear only dialog and natural sound effects. Part of the power and poignancy of Letters From Iwo Jima is seeing how the Japanese officers find ways to mount a vigorous defense of the island, even as they come to see that their cause is lost. For a great example of this, note the scene where General Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe) leads five of his key officers on a walking tour of the island and explains to his men the seemingly unorthodox strategy of abandoning traditional beach defenses and instead defending the island from a series of underground caves and tunnels that the troops will have to dig.
To express both the desperation and solemnity of the occasion, the sound designer lets us hear the soft sound of waves crashing on the beach and the dry, mournful sound of wind swirling over the tops of dunes as Kuribayashi presents his new strategy, flatly stating, “We will build these underground fortifications, and fight to the end.” At first the men find Kuribayashi’s proposed defenisve strategy appalling and argue against it, imagining that they might yet win if, as naval officer Ohsugi puts its, the Japanese can “force the Americans near the island and launch a pincer drive from the sea and air.”
With a terrible mixture of patience and pain in his voice, Kuribayashi explains (almost as if to a stubborn child), “Ohsugi, doesn’t the Navy yet know? The Combined Fleet has been completely destroyed off the Marianas.” And a moment later, Kuribayashi further dashes the mens’ hopes for outright victory by adding, “What’s more, I received a new order from the Imperial headquarters this morning. The remaining fighter planes are to be sent back to Tokyo to defend the mainland.” There will be no “pincer drive from the sea and air” because there will be no viable Navy support or air power of any kind.”
The men are stunned and outraged by this news, and as if to mirror their complex emotions the sound of the wind picks up and a distant peal of thunder is heard. It is a profoundly gripping moment, as each of the men wrestles with a sincere desire to do his duty, but in a context where neither victory nor survival will be possible. The scene concludes with Kuribayashi sadly turning away and somberly concluding, “There is no time for discussion. We should head back.” Though the Oppo sounds terrific in large scale scenes (as in Batman Begins), it is often at its best in small scale scenes where its effortless naturalism make quiet but deeply emotional moments both sound and feel real.
MUSICAL EXAMPLE
For a fine example of many of the Oppo’s musical strengths at play, try listening to the third (“The Alcotts”) movement of Charles Ives A Concord Symphony—a piece originally written as a piano sonata and later orchestrated by Henry Brant (Michael Tilson Thomas/ San Francisco Symphony, SFS Media, Multichannel SACD). Though only a bit more than six minutes long, this movement spans quite a range of orchestral moods, introducing everything from gentle, contemplative woodwind themes, to vigorous and at times quite angular string passages, on through to powerful and sometimes deliberately dissonant brass and percussion outbursts.
Through the movement, the BDP-95 impressed me favorably in several ways. First, the Oppo caught the distinctive timbres of each orchestral section in a rich and vibrant, yet never overstated way. Instead, you hear what Brant describes as the “athletic surefootedness” of the orchestration conveying Ives’ musical ideas in “clear, vivid, and intense sonorities.” This player is all about getting the tonal colors and textures of instruments right.
Next, the sheer smoothness of the BDP-95 allowed it to navigate the more angular and dissonant aspects of Ives’ themes in a way that revealed their intentional (and sometimes startling) idiosyncrasies, while at the same time allowing their richness and underlying beauty to shine through. If you know Ives’ music, then you probably know that many disc players tend to turn it into a strident, jagged-sounded mess, but not so the Oppo. String tones, for example, are buttery smooth, while the brass section sounds appropriately golden and burnished. While the Oppo certainly does not hide the at times quirky aspects of Ives’ themes, its inherent smoothness invites you to listen to and to embrace the broader sweep and flow of the composition.
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Comments
The BDP-95 is heading in the right direction. It's a bit of a mystery to me why they don't add Async USB (and/or S/PDIF) IO so that the unit can be used as an external DAC. I want one (not many) really good DAC, and I'm willing to pay a lot for it (even more than the BDP-95, especially if the sound was even better, although it seems it's already nice). I'd much rather have that then multiple pretty-good DACs. If Oppo allowed for this unit to be a 192K/24bit DAC, then this box could be the centerpiece for a very nice system. Now to really hit it out of the ballpark, they'd add A/D capabilities - to allow for ripping vinyl, but I digress...
The Ayre DX-5 is a modified BDP-83 unit that does allow functioning as an external USB DAC. Since it's based on the Oppo BDP-83, it doesn't have many of the newer features of the Oppo BDP-95 (i.e. 3D Blu-ray most notably), but the DX-5 is $10K! Seems there's a lot of room for Oppo (or someone else) to offer a similar product that's less than $10K, but more than $1K that provides all the same features as the DX-5, and be based on the BDP-95.
-Bob
Hi happybob,
I'm with you on the desire to see this player become usable as an outboard DAC (even if it means charging a higher price). Hence, my "caveat" comment in the conclusion of the review. It seems to me that this is a functionality element that's just begging to be implemented. The trick, of course, would be providing a truly first-rate USB interface.
Re: Async USB, it seems to me there are two schools of thought. One school holds that "Async USB is essential for optimal sound." The other school holds that "Async USB isn't really necessary; just give us a big enough audio data buffer and a good enough onboard clock (for re-clocking purposes to help get rid of jitter) and we can make most any competent USB interface work beautifully." I see merits in both trains of thought. What doesn't work, I think, is the combination of a garden-variety USB interface, inadequate audio data buffering, and a mediocre clock; that combination almost invariably gives shabby-sounding results. But I don't think that would be a problem with the Oppo, thanks in part to the core architecture of the ESS DAC chips.
One very important point to note about the ESS DACs (as used in the BDP-95) is that they place jitter reduction circuitry on the same silicon die as the DAC itself (in other words, jitter reduction circuitry is actually a built-in part of the DAC--not a separate, outboard circuit). Several different designers who've used ESS DACs in their products have told me this specific feature was one of the elements that led them to specify ESS DACs over other potentially worthy competitors. Food for thought.
Best, Chris Martens
Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision
Hi Chris - I agree with your comments. Whatever Oppo does, they should do it well. This isn't an attempt to be a budget component, rather an affordable high end component (in my case, I'd pay quite a bit to get this truly universal box with ext DAC, especially so if it had an A/D converter).
Re USB interface methods: one limitation to having a big buffer that of realtime DAC usage. In this case, anything more than a few milliseconds of delay would be a deal killer (video, live music, etc.). It's good to know that the ESS DAC has built in jitter reduction so as to minimize the need for a big buffer!
Cheers,
-Bob
I'm not sure what you mean by this Chris. You can plug in a USB (including flash) or eSATA drive and play any file that is in the formats you listed in your TAS 219 review. Just use the home menu on your monitor to select the file.This includes192/24 WAV and FLAC files. Also, you can stream these files using wired or Wi-Fi Ethernet using DLNA. Is it a USB B input jack that you desire? There are any number of asynchronous USB to SPDIF convertors available for that purpose. You can pick up a 32-GB flash drive for less than the cost of an audiophile SACD and skip the jittery computer.
Hi bconde:
You're right that the BDP-95 can play recorded files stored on USB storage devices. What it can't do (or at least couldn't do at the time I wrote the review) is to stream digital audio content directly from a computer via a USB cable. For example, you couldn't play material stored, say, in iTunes directly to the Oppo via USB.
While absence of this functionality doesn't particularly bother me personally, it is a feature a lot of readers are seeking in disk players.
As you say, the Oppo can play digital audio files that can be accessed directly from storage devices. But what I think many readers seek is a scenario where they could open up their media player software packages of choice from their PCs, and then play their selected music files through the Oppo (taking advantage of the user interface the media player software provides). Note that, if supported, this functionality would get around the potential problem of having to have the BDP-95 connected to a monitor. (Home theater folks will, of course, typically have monitors/TVs connected, but audiophiles might not...).
Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision
You can do what you are describing via Ethernet using DLNA enabled software or via S/PDIF using an inexpensive asynchronous converter, as I mentioned in my post. Or, you can purchase inexpensive software, such as Orb, that allows you to use iOS and Android devices as wireless controllers to play files from these devices, a PC or Mac, or from the cloud. Orb eliminates the need for a monitor.
With the myriad of options available, should an audiophile device such as the BDP-95 be the Swiss army knife of players, or concentrate on doing what it does with the highest quality available at this price point?
Did you evaluate the BDP-95 sound quality using the Anthem D2v with ARC on or was it turned off?
Hello David.Musoke:
The Anthem's ARC circuitry was turned off. This enabled me to directly compare the Oppo's DACs and analog circuitry vs. the Anthem's DACs and analog circuitry, without DSP "interventions" other than the usual bass management functions (i.e., the Oppo handled its own bass management functions, as did the Anthem).
Note: In an upcoming TAS review of the BDP-95, I also compare the player's stereo (balanced XLR) outputs vs. the stereo (again, balanced XLR) outputs of my reference Rega Isis CD player and the stereo (vacuum tube-powered, single-ended RCA) outputs of my reference Musical Fidelity kW SACD player, in a high-end stereo system context. While I preferred my two reference players, the Oppo was amazingly competitive with them and in no way outclassed. Very impressive. Stay tuned for the TAS review.
Best, Chris Martens
Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision
Chris:
Thanks for responding to my blog. Have or did you sonically compare the XLR outputs to the stereo outs of the 95? Which sounds better or are they identical?
Hi David.Musoke:
The short answer is that, at least in my stereo reference system, the XLR balanced outputs sounded best of all (though the single-ended output is also very good).
Best, Chris Martens
Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision
Chris:
I submitted your answer (on your no-ARC evaluation) to Bob Pariseau from the Anthem forum on AVS and his response is listed below:
"The problem is, you can't just turn ARC off and expect correct results. ARC uses a combination of Setup menu settings it Uploads -- volume trims and crossovers being the biggies -- and application of Room Correction parameters it also Uploads. It also disables certain legacy EQ settings that predate ARC. When you turn ARC off for a Source device the Room Correction parameters stop being used and the legacy settings -- whatever might be hanging around in them -- start being used.
This leads to two problems. First the legacy settings may not be set correctly for your room since they are bypassed when using ARC and so there was no point to checking them. But second, and perhaps more important, the output of a speaker with ARC ON is a COMBINATION of the volume trim and crossover settings and the impact of the Room Correction parameters for that speaker. ARC uses this fact. So for example it may Upload a higher volume trim for a speaker so that it can implement more of its Room Correction processing as cuts instead of boosts.
But when you turn ARC OFF, those volume trims and crossovers it Uploaded REMAIN in effect! And so now they are not correct. They are NOT what you would have chosen doing a manual, non-ARC setup.
To use the D2v with ARC off, you need to do a full, MANUAL setup of the audio, including the legacy settings.
This is what I suspect did not get done. The reviewer just turned ARC off without realizing this left the D2v set in a non-optimal fashion for non-ARC audio.
--Bob
"
When you evaluated the 95, was it done by simply turning ARC off in the setup menu or by creating a new input as Bob P suggested above?
Great and definitve review btw!
Regards,
David
Hi David.Musoke:
Mr. Pariseau makes the assumption that I had turned ARC on in the first place, which I had not.
Thus, I did not, as Mr. Pariseau speculates, simply turn "ARC off without realizing this left the D2v set in a non-optimal fashion for non-ARC audio." As it happens, I am **very** familiar with the fact that once ARC has been run it leaves its chosen volume trims in place, even if ARC EQ is subsequently disabled in the set-up menu.
For this very reason, I started out by doing a full manual setup for the system (one that completely got rid of any "legacy settings" that might have been left in place from previous ARC setups), and then used those manual settings when listening to digital inputs through the D2v's DACs and analog audio circuits.
In short, this ain't my first rodeo vis-a-vis Anthem's ARC products (which I admire, BTW).
Best, Chris Martens
Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision
Chris:
I appreciate your comments on this issue as many on AVS were wondering the same thing. Thanks for definitively putting this issue to rest. Many from AVS and myself, specifically, thank you for the best review the BDP-95 has ever received! Please keep these review coming :-).
Chris:
When is the promised review comparing the stereo and XLR outputs of the BDP95 when compared to the Rega coming out?
Regards,
David
I have just become member today .I am naive in hi fi but this is the only way I unwind and drives me to work hard to be part of your elite group.
My question is how did you compare oppo 95 Analogue circuitry with Anthem D2v analogue circuitory.
Could you please explain the connection you made and switches turned on and off.That will be big help.Infact I plan to buy both oppo95 and Anthem D2v as well.
Can't wait to hear from you .Hope you reply.
There are many things I like about this player, including things not mentioned in the review, such as that it's two standard EIA rack units tall and optionally can be supplied with a very nice pair of rack mounting ears; and the balanced outputs. One thing I find annoying is the user interface. When used to play CD's, unlike any other player I have ever owned, the starting display is simply "CD" with no information about tracks. Further, entering a number on the keypad does nothing, while any reasonable player starts playing the track selected. It turns out there is a way to select a track other than starting play first and then selecting it: enter the track with the remote *before* closing the drawer, then press "play", which closes the drawer. This is not particularly convenient, and you get no feedback that a track has actually been entered (of course if it's going to be clunky to select individual tracks anyway I could just play records) . The "resume' feature is neat but, again, you get no feedback as to whether you're in resume or full stop. Conceivably you could pull out a disk that would unexpectedly start playing in the middle, because you thought you had full-stopped it the last time you played it. I complained about this to Oppo and they somewhat condescendingly told me they weren't concerned with "audiophile" features. These aren't deal-breakers for me, I really do like the player, but things like this should definitely be mentioned in a review.
As for the features everyone else wants: I'm not concerned with the ability to use this as an external DAC because most of my "serious" listening and viewing is still on disks. I expect some day to get a Benchmark or Cambridge DAC for non-disk sources and, depending on which I prefer, the player as well. The DLNA feature "just works" for me, using a Ready Nas Duo as a server with an application that comes with its firmware. I think officially supporting a thing like this would be a major endeavor, requiring a whole IT department, and I can understand them having other priorities.
It would be nice to play networked audio files on the BDP-95 with its high-end DAC's instead of the Squeezebox (not the unfortunately discontinued Transporter) but cuing them up is nearly impossible without an active video display which, in my case, means firing up a projector. The DLNA will serve them up, but not as well as the Squeezebox Server, which also runs on the Ready NAS. All the more reason for me to stick with CD's and SACD's for serious listening.
Ironically, ripping a DVD into a directory on the USB or network does not result in a "virtual DVD" with the proper menu structure. They say it is due to "copyright issues", but if you rip it into one MPEG file it plays just fine (and the .vob files play, they just don't segue properly).
Chris, excellent review. Just a little clarification: in the section on "Sonic Character", was it basically for "stereo" performance? In last part of section you do say that the 3-D qualities were observed for both, stereo and multitrack, but it is not clear with regard to first part. Also, same question with regard to the "Movie/Soundtrack" section, do your comments apply to stereo and/or multitrack?
Thanks in advance.......Dr.larkos
Hi Dr. Larkos,
For this TPV review the Sonic Character comments were based primarily on listening to the player with multichannel movie and music materials through a5.1-channel speaker system. Thus, the examples provided ("Batman Begins" soundtrack, "Letters From Iwo Jima" soundtrack, and Ives/Brant "A Concord Symphony" performed by San Francisco/Tilson Thomas) were all multichannel sources.
In my upcoming TAS review of the player, which takes a much more stereo-centric look at the BDP-95, I installed the player in my high-end stereo system at home and added more stereo much material to my listening mix (including a careful listen to the 2-channel mix of the Ives/Brant "A Concord Symphony" SACD recording). The same "Sonic Character" notes would still apply in a stereo context, although I found the stereo (balanced XLR) outputs of the BDP-95 added an even higher level of performance. Stay tuned for the TAS review.
Best, Chris Martens
Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision
Hi Chris,
I cannot find the second, stereo-centric review of the Oppo 95...?!
I would be interested in this too. The un-ergonomic CD features should definitely be mentioned in such a review. (Unless they've been improved in firmware. I haven't checked lately).
Am thinking of changing my 83 for a 93 or 95.As I use HDMI both for BD and SACD, what advantage would there be in going for the 95? Does it just come down to the Ess Sabre decoder versus the Cirrus in the 93? Would I hear much of a difference over HDMI. Thanks.
Hello johnahunter:
If you are using HDMI for BD and SACD, I don't see that there is any real point in upgrading--at least not from a sonic standpoint.
Best, Chris Martens
Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision
Has anyone played Hi-Res FLAC or other lossless type files from a hard disk through the USB or eSATA interface and how do they sound compared to the optical discs?
Chris Martens' review is very well done and played a big part in my decision to purchase a 95 to replace my Oppo 83. Having said that, I have noticed a lot of discussion about the player in internet blogs. Here is my experience with the BDP-95.
The 95 arrived in perfect condition on the day Oppo indicated I would receive it. I connected the 95 into my system (description at the end) using HDMI for video and analog RCA outputs for audio. It took about 20 hours of burn-in for the audio to start to open up.
The video playback through the 95 is quite a bit better than through the 83, and the 83 is pretty terrific. All aspects of the video reproduction are better on the 95, expect improvements in picture clarity, depth, and definition over an excellent machine like the 83. I noticed this improvement on every disc played, Blu-ray and DVD. The audio playback is simply spectacular. The 95 is the biggest overachiever at its price-point that I have encountered in my 50+ years of high-end hobbying and equipment/music performance reviewing. I don't know of any other player at anywhere near its price that will do as good a job as the 95 on the audio section of discs.
I had to adjust both the video and audio settings in order to get the system back into the balance I prefer, even though I was using the same cables and system components as I had with the 83. You should expect to have to do this after you place the 95 in your set-up.
As much as I enjoy the improved picture, it is the sound through the stereo circuits that have given me the biggest "wow." Well recorded discs sound very close to being in the venue where the recording was made. Presentation of the recording environment is stable and realistic. Inner voices and ancillary sounds are clear and distinct, and the differences among individual instruments and singers in ensembles are easy to distinguish.
I have not noticed any negatives in the video playback. There is one down-side I have noticed in the audio playback. The Oppo 95 is a true high fidelity component. As such, it is not very forgiving of badly engineered and mixed recordings. Well mastered recordings sound realistic in the best sense of placing you in the venue. Poorly mastered discs, by comparison, sound harsh, restricted, and mechanical. Recordings that are tolerable on lesser equipment, become less so on the 95 due to its ability to reveal everything that is on the disc.
Will your experience with the Oppo BDP-95 equal mine? I can't say. I am using KEF Reference speakers, with some pairs wired out-of-phase to pick up this information from the recording mix. The highest harmonics are reproduced by Sequerra T1 ribbon tweeters. Audio interconnects are MIT Shotguns, and speaker cables are Fulton Silver. My primary live music reference is Chicago's Orchestra Hall during the late 1950s and the orchestras in which I played. My system is optimized for acoustic instruments. The HDMI cables I use are proprietary; made here in Florida.
My goal has always been to be able to forget that any equipment is involved in the playback, to just be able to sit back and enjoy the audio and the video, to get caught up in the playback. The Oppo BDP-95 is the kind of equipment piece that allows this to happen. I don't think you will be disappointed if you purchase one. As Chris stated in his review, even if you are thinking about spending more money . . . "strongly consider buying the Oppo anyway. It's that good." I couldn't agree more.
PMH
I am looking to upgrade from my Rega Planet 2000 CD player and am looking at primarily the BDP-95, the Sony 5400ES and possibly the Cambridge Audio 840C. I currently do not have any SACD discs so that is not a crucial feature. My primary focus is improving the sound of my CD collection. That the Oppo can play Blue-ray/DVD's as well is a plus but not crucial. My Preamp is an Audible Illusions 3A, my amp is an Odyssey Audio Khartago Extreme and the speakers are Totem Model 1 Sig's. Any feedback would be appreciated.
$1000 for a Blue-ray player that only streams Netflix and Blockbuster and doesn't even have Wi-Fi capabiltiy?! You gotta be kidding.
First, in the next 5 years, DVDs will probably be obsolete or, at the very least, significantly displaced by streaming.
Second, Blockbuster is bankrupt and one of the least important, least reliable and least popular streaming sources.
Third, what about other, more important streaming sources, notably Amazon, YouTube, Hulu, Pandora, etc.? Why doesn't this machine receive these?
Fourth, why doesn't this machine have Wi-Fi capability?
In sum, why pay $1000 when you can pick up a Panasonic 3D Blue-ray player that is capable of receiving more and better streaming sources, has Wi-Fi capability, handles all audio output formats, has as many or more features (SD card/USB inputs) and costs less than $300? Frankly, 99.99% of us couldn't tell the difference between the perfectably acceptable Panasonic player and the Oppo model, especially considering that the inherent audio and video qualtiy of the vast majority of DVDs doesn't warrent this overkill and expense.
First, if you have a collection of DVD's, let alone BRD's, CD's and SACD's, they will still play on this in 5 years. I don't plan on throwing mine away just because they're obsolete.
Second and third, streaming services are mutable and have very little to do with hardware. Deals can always be worked out with any of those companies and appropriate firmware modifications provided.
Fourth, it does come with a Wi Fi USB dongle. Personally, I would not rely on this for high definition video, and prefer wired.
Fifth, if you're not interested in the enhanced audio and video quality this unit provides then, yes, you'd be wasting your money.
Hi bluesdoctor,
Let me respond with a few key points.
1. The BDP-95 does come with a Wi-Fi dongle.
2. Historically, manufacturers negotiate new relationships with streaming content providers over time. Thus, it's reasonable to expect more options will become available over the life of the player.
3. Why pay more? Two reasons, pure and simple: A) better video/image processing/playback capabilities, and B) substantially better analog audio quality. If neither of these things matters to you, then it make no sense to buy this player. If only video quality matters to you, but you don't require a high-end audio player, then consider the much less expensive Oppo BDP-93, which offers essentially identical video performance. Bear in mind that the BDP-95 was created with the needs and tastes of serious music enthusiasts/audiophiles in mind. You don't have to be a "Golden Ear" to appreciate how good the player's sound quality is, though. It's really the sort of thing that anyone who is paying close attention to sound quality can enjoy.
4. Re: "...99.99% of us couldn't tell the difference..." Don't sell yourself short. If you performed your comparisons using a reasonably high quality home theater system, I think you could indeed see and hear the differences for yourself. But, of course, only you could say whether those differences were--for your--worth the asking price. It's your call.
Given the flow of your comments, I'm inclined to ask if you really want a disk player in the first place. It almost sounds as if you would be happier with a full-featured "media streamer" product--one that did not necessarily have disk playback capabilities at all.
Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision
Hi Chris. I'd really appreciate your opinion for my issue:
I am an audio & home theater nut. My system is about $35K. I just purchased the BDP-93, but thought about upgrading to the 95. I described my situation w/manufacturer. 3 times Oppo said I will not get any benefit from upgrading! I am very surprised by this. I wanted BDP95 XLR analog stereo output for music listening which will feed into my Marantz AV8003 Preamp/processor. I thought the 95 has a great DAC section. I thought this will bring out better stereo sound than 93 HDMI into my preamp. Any thoughts?
The DAC in the Marantz is very much in the same league as the one in the Oppo.
But, have you tried listening to the Oppo 93's A/Ds via a pure analog pass-through in the Marantz? The first thing I would do is see if I hear differences in that A/B before anything else. If no difs, I suspect that the Oppo 95 upgrade path would be sideways.
Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications
Hi skimm,
Here's the situation:
1. If you listened to the BDP-93 and BDP-95's analog outputs in a purist context--that is, in a pure analog signal path with no digital processing applied (i.e., no room correction, etc.), the BDP-95 is without a doubt the better-sounding of the two players.
2. But note, if you digitize the analog signals from either player, and then apply digital processing of any kind, the differences between the players may tend to be obscured or rendered moot. (At that point, you are not so much listening to the Oppo, but rather to the sound of your A/V controller.).
3. I suspect the reason why Oppo advised that you will not get any benefit from the BDP-93 to BDP-95 upgrade is that they may have assumed you would be using the Marantz AV8003 to apply digital bass management and/or room correction. However, if you are using the Marantz in a straight, analog pass-through mode, the sonic differences between the BDP-93 and BDP-95 should be readily apparent.
4. Just bear in mind that when/if you digitize the analog audio signals coming from the BDP-95, you have essentially defeated the purpose of the player--which is to provide purist-grade analog audio outputs.
'Hope this provides some clarifications.
Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision
Hi Chris,
Thank you very much for your feedback. I was thinking this method for my HT/stereo system if I get the BDP95:
Use Analog XLR L&R channel into the Marantz for pure stereo CD/SACD listening.
Use HDMI for home theater surround sound. Isn't this logical? I think this will bring out the best of BDP95 and upgrading would be beneficial.
Chris,
My comment concerns you statements regarding the inability to use the BLP-95 as an "outboard DAC."
Quite a healthy thread going on here!
I seem to recall an article in TAS wherein the BDP-95 was compared with the Nuforce edition BDP-93 for multichannel audio, and the Nuforce 93 edged out the 95 when used for multichannel audio from analog outputs on both players. Is that correct? Is that article online?
You will find that article here - http://www.avguide.com/review/oppos-enhanced-nuforce-bdp-93-ne-nxe-blu-r...
Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications
Thank you, Steve! I had hunted for it but I did not find it. I have lots of CDs, and I have an Audio Research CD-7 for audio, and I will be using the Oppo only for video and surround sound. So the Nuforce 93 might be better than the 95 for my installation. Would you agree?