Need suggestions for cd/sacd player

muncybob

Getting ready to plop my Parasound amp into the game room for the SDA 2B's to enjoy. Currently they are hooked up to an AVR in a different room and it's time to do them justice. I had thought I still had an old Pioneer SACD player but I think I may have given it to my daughter and I'm not going to ask for it back. For now, I plan to run without a preamp(so variable output is needed), need a remote and only have a budget of about $250 or so. Looking for suggestions on what used player you can give me. Audio is the only important factor as I don't see me ever playing video in the game room. I see I missed out on what appears to me to be a good deal/unit in the FS recently.

StantonZ

If you really want SACD capability, your best bet at this point is probably Oppo; that will (obviously) cover you on the video side as well.

muncybob

Find me an Oppo for under $250 and I'm a buyer. I wish my BDP93 had the dedicated 2 channel outputs.

muncybob

I'll take a look at these when I get home, blocked here at work...sheez!

txcoastal1

http://www.audiomart.com/details/410/oppo-bdp-83.html

http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649108936-oppo_bdp_83_bluray_player/

http://www.audioasylumtrader.com/ca/listing/DVD-Players/Oppo/83-Blu-Ray-DVD-SACD-PLayer/manufacturer-refurbished/105170

zane77

Take your time and save more money and get the Oppo.

muncybob

So now I have to ask, since the 83 can be had for around $250 are there audio only units that could equal(or exceed) the 83's audio for possibly same/less money? I agree the Oppo units are a good bang for the buck(esp bluray).

drummer86

I have an Oppo 980 which does fine for my purposes. I output the DSD over HDMI though. Got it for $50 on ebay. A friend uses the analogue outs on his and it does well also. Not the best player out there but for the money I don't think you can beat it.

txcoastal1

Muncy, do you have a DAC

cconklin1

oppo. pick one. i personally love the oppo 95..

roserose

Thanks for your sharing!

muncybob

No I don't, but if a DAC and player combo was in my price range I would consider it. My Oppo sounds great playing 5.1(both movies and sacd) but for 2 channel I use the digital to avr route...sounds much better which has me concerned about 2 channel from Oppo direct to a 2 channel amp.

HHStuart

For less than $200, you can get a Sony Blu Ray player that will play SACD's. Not an OPPO but it will still work fine. I have needed a backup for my OPPO a few times and it came in handy.

hochpt21

The mistake I made with the Oppo 83 is that I have a nice dac and thought I could just use the cheapest Oppo with a nice dac. Unfortunately, SACD can't be sent digital out to a dac (I don't believe from any SACD player, but I may be wrong there).

The 83 still sounds nice for SACD and I do send regular cd's out to a dac, but if I had known SACD had to use the internal dac's I would probably have waited and got a better SACD player.

SCompRacer

hochpt21 wrote: »

Unfortunately, SACD can't be sent digital out to a dac (I don't believe from any SACD player, but I may be wrong there).

It's complicated but not impossible. You are working with DSD and gotta snag clock, left and right channel data between the transport and DAC chip along with a ground. Then you have to send it to DAC chip. Long wire runs of 1 meter will affect clock so best to use LVDS or low voltage differential signal modules to send and receive.

Some DAC chips share DSD inputs with I2S (which is CD) and you may end up with a L and R channel swap while playing DSD. If you are just after DSD you can wire it for proper channel but if you want to export I2S (CD) as well you can't. I implemented a digital switch that flips the R and L DSD channel when exporting DSD to my DAC. No worries about SQ if done properly exporting I2S or DSD from a player.

Pics of the signal snag in a Denon 3910.



The right module is a Twisted Pear OTTO II that flips the DSD channels. The left module is a Twisted Pear LVDS Teleporter set to transmit. One in the DAC is set to receive.



A manual switch on back of the Denon controls the OTTO II for flipping channels when set to DSD. The DSD channel flip can be done in software using foobar or JRiver, but we are not using a 'putie to send signal from the Denon 3910 player. Some USB to DSD modules also contain firmware that flips DSD channels.

muncybob

OK, finally got the 2 channel gear set up...and I found the old Pioneer sacd player too. No satisfied with the sound from it I brought my Oppo 93 into the mix...big improvement as I expected. Can anybody offer comparisons between the Oppo 83 and 93 for sound quality? Looking for a unit that will dig deep for bass and the 93 seems to do that but I don't have approval for that budget, although that may change.

The Mrs is totally deaf in one ear and after hooking up the 93 she said it's as close as she has come to really enjoying music since her accident. Maybe a few more listening sessions are in order but at $200 the 83 is tempting if it's audio is comparable to the 93.