OPPO 83 and Benchmark DAC 1

I have a few comments on the Oppo BDP-83 which have been on my mind as I've been on the lookout for a play-all disc player that won't break the bank.

Given: The Oppo BP-83 is a bargain considering its disc playing capabilities. Capacity for firmware updates is a plus.

However: At first glance this player with its ability to play CD/SACD/HDCD/Blu-Ray discs seemed great, and the chip sets employed in the BDP-83 appear quite good at this price point, but delving a little deeper I found some issues that may make the BDP-83 a deal breaker for me:

1. As audiophiles, obviously sound is of utmost importance, and the Oppo is reported to have lackluster regular CD performance. Many report CD playback well below redbook quality. BDP-83 is a $500 unit, so not knocking Oppo for their stellar efforts.

2. Most audiophiles acknowledge that a disc player (and transports too) are often prone to "wearing-out" far sooner than their other audio components. Not a problem so much with an affordable $500 disc player, but what about BDP-83 buyers who send it out for mods to improve the audio quality/CD playback? Who is comfortable paying as much, to several times the cost of the unit to upgrade when the disc transport is that of a $500 unit (that's retail - think of the wholesale cost of that disc transport). Makes you wonder about the wisdom of upgrading - no?

3. SACD cannot be sent through the coaxial or optical digital output with the BDP-83 due to copyright laws which Oppo must obey (Oppo BDF-83 owners manual page 15). Why a problem? Because it prevents the better connection(s) through an outboard DAC to improve the audio quality (for those who see more wisdom in using an external DAC than paying for modifications on a unit that retails for $500 with a transport that must be in the ballpark of a unit retailing for $500).

Note: I understand some audiophiles see no place for a Blu-ray disc player in a dedicated audio system (although I hold no such prejudices).

Thoughts? Corrections?

Byegolly
I don't believe SACD can go thru most machines COAX or Optical... Its not a PCM or whatever format, meaning it would have to be converted out of its proprietary format DSD anyway. Not many stand alone DACS do SACD, nor does it matter, because from my understanding the only way to get true SACD output from a transport is thru an HDMI cable which of course limits you to having a Video capable DVD player anyway not a CD or SACD transport but simply for the convienence of the Multi channel Concert crowds with standardized HDMI capable surround sound receivers mainly running Multi channel SACD's not even the standard Stereo versions.

I could be wrong but I doubt you will find many if any SACD machines with a digital output that actually puts out SACD as it stays in the machine and has to be hooked up via the machines Analog outputs, and then Redbook can go out to a DAC of your choice for Redbook playback which in turn could beat your SACD's sound now being processed in the machine...

I am interested to see any standalone DACS besides multi channel processors capable of SACD anyway.

So if thats the deal breaker, possibly for you it may not be a deal in the first place. Which by the way is a possibility I believe why so many put a lot of stock into these machines as "upgraded" for large sums of money to keep the full fledge SACD capabilitys in a solid SACD platformed machine, as its not so simple to just pick up and go using it as a universal transport into any dac of your choice, especially if your trying to hold onto the SACD.

Thanks undertow for clearing a few things up. For the price the Oppo seems great to play my CD's, HDCD's, SACD's, DVD's, and BR DVD's from one box. I know I can use my Dac1 Pre through the Oppo to improve the standard CD play. I may be able to use the Dac1 Pre with the Oppo for HDCD coded CD's (or not), but for my SACD discs I'll just listen to them sans the Dac1. I've read the Oppo's playback with SACD discs is very good by itself. My only concern is that the transport mechanism may not be up to the build of even a Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, but for $499 I have to lower my expectations a little and appreciate how much bang you get for a budget player.

My only concern is that the transport mechanism may not be up to the build of even a Rotel RCD-1072 CDP...

I tend to think you are more concerned about this than need be.

Brian

Byegolly
First off a 10 dollar transport today could be as good as one that was 300 10 years ago.. they all are mechanical mechanisms and could fail. Lasers in older units are far worse than todays as well in most cases. But back to your SACD dilema truth is what you do is take your DAC 1 hooked via Coax, run your DAC's analog outputs to an input on your Preamp, this input will now be designated as your Hi end Redbook input.. Now you take another pair of interconnects directly from the Oppos ANalog 2 channel outputs and pick another Open input on your preamp as long as you have an extra auxilary input open you can use…

Then you can still get the full benefits using the machine in its SACD format, and get the benefit of your DAC for standard CD and even standard DVD's if you choose that the sound is better.. Interestingly as long as you can acutally hook up this way being you have the extra input on your preamp to use for dual duty on digital source, you can put in a Hybrid SACD and start listening on SACD thru your designated preamp input, and then on the Fly switch over to your DAC's input in the Preamp via Remote control and see what you hear!!! Could be shocked, maybe the oppo sounds better, maybe redbook thru your DAC sounds better… For the money we are talking about here its not a big risk to go this route for you, accept the cost of one extra pair of interconnects and you would probably want at least equal quality from SACD and Redbook so not sure what you have invested into this with cables, but you would just need one more set along with the player itself.

Good Luck