Oppo BDP-83 optical out for 2ch stereo from blu-r?


OK, this may be a dumb question, but for the best sound from blu-ray (or dvd) discs should I go with the Oppo 83's analog stereo outs to my preamp, or use it's optical digital output into my outboard dac? Note that I do not have muti-channel capability, my stereo rig is 2 channel only. I am using the Oppo 83 for blu-ray, not as a cd player. For example, a concert on blu-ray disc. Would a HMDI audio de-embedder (hmdi-to-optical digital spdif) converter be something I should look into? Any advice on how to get the best 2 channel sound out of the blu-ray player would be appreciated.
Thanks!
heymikey
Here's what Oppo says in the manual:
"Due to bandwidth limitations, high resolution audio formats such as Dolby Digital plus, Dolbt TrueHD, DTS-HD High Resolution and DTS-HD Master Audio cannot be sent through the coaxial or optical digital output. A reduced resolution version of the same audio track will be output instead."
Also:
"The stereo audio out terminals (analog) will always provide a down-mixed stereo signal from multi channel sources. The "Down Mix" and other speaker settings in the Audio Processing Setup Menu do not affect the (analog) Stereo Audio Out."
And there is this from Oppo's customer service:
"For the best audio in a two channel configuration you will want to use the dedicated stereo output of the BDP-83. Digital coaxial or optical will use the lossy, Core Dolby Digital and DTS from Blu-rays, which is inferior to the DTS-HD Master and Dolby Digital TrueHD you can get from the analog outputs."
I take all this to mean that there is reduced resolution audio from the digital optical output. Now, that digital output would surely benefit from being processed in an outboard dac. However, they are also saying that lossless formats such as Dolby Digital True HD and DTS-HD Master can be output through the analog stereo outputs, but through a downmix if the original format was multi-channel. Obviously the only way to put this to rest is to do an A/B comparison, AND one has to make sure that the settings in the Oppo's audio menu are correct for each format.
BTW, SACD will play through either HMDI or the analog stereo output connections only.
Am doing the A/B listening now, connected the analog outputs with a 3m pair of Kimber Hero's. So far, the toslink into the Weiss Dac2 (it does have a toslink input after all, duh) sounds better than the analog output direct to the preamp, which does not utilize the outboard Weiss dac. When you switch back & forth, the toslink connection is quite a bit louder and I have to adjust the volume as I do so. The toslink connection sounds more dynamic, I would imagine due to it's connection to the dac. The analog connection seems a little more laid back, possibly with a bit darker sound. I'll have to do some more listening, and be sure my audio setting are correct.
Thanks to all!
Thanks for opinions. Can you all suggest me which is the best matching external DAC for Oppo bdp-83 to use hi-rez audio.