Oppo DV970HD

madmax

I just ordered one of these given all the great reviews I read. Now I can listen to those SACD recordings in all their glory!
madmax

hearingimpared

I like mine for redbook coupled with the Timbre DAC. For SACD, it definitely makes for good listening. I think for the price it can't be beat. I've been lusting over your Theta Data Basic II for quite some time.

madmax

hearingimpared wrote: »

I've been lusting over your Theta Data Basic II for quite some time.

Actually, being an analog guy you would like my particular example. The gear that controls the drawer movement broke in half and the disc motor sometimes doesn't spin up on its own. No biggie, I have it set up with the top cover mounted towards the back leaving the front open so you can see the drive. To play a disc you pull the tray out, lay the CD in it and shove it closed manually. Hit play then Give the CD a little push and it starts spinning and then plays. Even my digital stuff is manual...

I could fix it if I wanted but it has a certain appeal the way it is now. Not many people could see the beauty in a manual start CD transport I guess...
madmax

polkatese

Congrats, Chuck...have fun with it. Remember, the graphics/PQ was mostly the reason people bought it..;)

jflail2

I bought one after having it recommended here (fit my price rang well), and I have been blown away by the picture quality. It has made my sony tube look even better!

Enjoy; I'm sure you will!

madmax

polkatese wrote: »

Congrats, Chuck...have fun with it. Remember, the graphics/PQ was mostly the reason people bought it..;)

Stereophile seems to think it is pretty good, soundwise.
madmax

shack

madmax wrote: »

Stereophile seems to think it is pretty good, soundwise.
madmax

Stereophile thinks EVERTHING is pretty good, soundwise. :rolleyes:

hearingimpared

madmax wrote: »

Stereophile seems to think it is pretty good, soundwise.
madmax

So does TAS.

hearingimpared

madmax wrote: »

Actually, being an analog guy you would like my particular example. The gear that controls the drawer movement broke in half and the disc motor sometimes doesn't spin up on its own. No biggie, I have it set up with the top cover mounted towards the back leaving the front open so you can see the drive. To play a disc you pull the tray out, lay the CD in it and shove it closed manually. Hit play then Give the CD a little push and it starts spinning and then plays. Even my digital stuff is manual...

I could fix it if I wanted but it has a certain appeal the way it is now. Not many people could see the beauty in a manual start CD transport I guess...
madmax

If I recall correctly when you first recommended the Theta way back about 8 or 9 months ago you told me that they were having problems with it and were charging an arm and a leg to repair it. That is the reason I passed on a couple of them on the gon and epay.

madmax

hearingimpared wrote: »

If I recall correctly when you first recommended the Theta way back about 8 or 9 months ago you told me that they were having problems with it and were charging an arm and a leg to repair it. That is the reason I passed on a couple of them on the gon and epay.

Absolutely correct. However, still the best unit I've ever owned. They take care of the customers who buy them from authorized dealers but otherwise you have to pay.

madmax

Got my Oppo. Very impressive packaging with the black shipping sock with the "oppo" logo, not to mention a nice box design! This is quality packaging you expect with much higher priced equipment. As I said, very impressive. I hope this hasn't lead to an artificially perceived level of performance.

Right now I have it hooked up to my PC system for some burn in. Stuck in a disc and it played fine.

Nice looking unit for the cost. The display is "tube orange".

More later.

madmax

hearingimpared

madmax wrote: »

Got my Oppo. Very impressive packaging with the black shipping sock with the "oppo" logo, not to mention a nice box design! This is quality packaging you expect with much higher priced equipment. As I said, very impressive. I hope this hasn't lead to an artificially perceived level of performance.

Right now I have it hooked up to my PC system for some burn in. Stuck in a disc and it played fine.

Nice looking unit for the cost. The display is "tube orange".

More later.

madmax

You need to hook it up to your monitor or TV to set it up.

polkatese

Chuck, if you are going to use it for Hi-Res audio, do upgrade its firmware, since the latest one resolved a couple enhancement/fix for the SACD issues.

http://www.oppodigital.com/dv970hd/dv970hd_support.html

unless if it's already at the latest version, of course.

hearingimpared

polkatese wrote: »

Chuck, if you are going to use it for Hi-Res audio, do upgrade its firmware, since the latest one resolved a couple enhancement/fix for the SACD issues.

http://www.oppodigital.com/dv970hd/dv970hd_support.html

unless if it's already at the latest version, of course.

I believe the firmware upgrade is already on the newer machines.

madmax

How do you tell what the current version in the machine is?

zombie boy 2000

This all makes sense now. I wondered why I couldn't skip tracks on SACD's.

louthewiz

The firmware is displayed in the setup menu...

hearingimpared

madmax wrote: »

How do you tell what the current version in the machine is?

You can put an SACD of DSOTM in and if the first 5 tracks do not blend into each other, rather they sound like they skip a second and go onto the next tract, you have the old version. If it blends like you are used to hearing then the newer version is resident.

madmax

I went ahead and loaded whatever the latest version was. Still seems to work.

madmax

polkatese

So, what do you think? pass muster?

madmax

polkatese wrote: »

So, what do you think? pass muster?

Too soon to tell... Initial thoughts vary.
madmax

Refefer

madmax wrote: »

Too soon to tell... Initial thoughts vary.
madmax

Did you make sure to change the default settings? If you're using it as a transport, which I assume you are, unless you change them, the sound is being processed then sent out the digital outs instead of it being sent raw.

Here's a nice guide in case you haven't: http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=31641.0

hearingimpared

Refefer wrote: »

Did you make sure to change the default settings? If you're using it as a transport, which I assume you are, unless you change them, the sound is being processed then sent out the digital outs instead of it being sent raw.

Here's a nice guide in case you haven't: http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=31641.0

Thanks for that link. I've been using my Oppo as a transport for redbook therefore the digital out is connected to my DAC. I am also using it for 2 channel SACD and have the Mix outputs (analog) going directly to my preamp. Using the SACD I can adjust the volume using the Oppo's remote control. I cannot adjust the volume when using just the transport therefore according to the link posted I have the player optimized for 2 ch audio use. Again thanks for the link in that it verifies my current settings.

madmax

Using the Oppo internal DAC, stereo only, audio DSP functions off, standard CD's, going through the rest of the system in my sig I made a few comparisons over the weekend.

I compared to a non-modified 3960, my dvd recorder and my Theta/AudioNote setup.

First of all, modified 3960's sound reasonably close to my Theta/AudioNote but have less bass extension and the detail is slightly less articulate. I didn't have one on hand for this match up.

Oppo vs non-modified 3960.
The Oppo had less attack on most sounds, sounded less dynamic and had less authority. In all frequency ranges the Oppo had far more definition. The Oppo was a clear winner here even with the shortcomings mentioned. The non-modded 3960 was just too rough sounding.

Oppo vs Theta/AudioNote.
Here it became obvious that the lack of attack on sounds hurt the performance of the Oppo a bit. This mellow attack had me feeling a little restless as I listened, a sure sign something is not quite right. The Oppo had more resolution in the higher frequencies and sounded more refined. The Theta/Audio note reproduced the bass with more authority and sounded much more real from the lower bass through the upper midrange. The Oppo made it obvious I was listening to recordings of bass, not the real thing. Overall the Oppo won here on the high frequency end but the Theta/AudioNote clearly won on the lower frequencies and overall attack. The champion would be decided by the type of listener.

My DVD recorder (forget the model) is fairly new and sounded reasonable. It was equal to the Oppo on bass and attack (not the best) but did not provide the detailed high end. The Oppo clearly won the battle here.

madmax

hearingimpared

Good stuff Chuck. My chief complaint with the Oppo's DAC is its thinness of bass response as well as its overstating of bass on any redbook CD. I also notice a "mellow attack" with the Oppo. When I use it simply as a transport those shortcomings diminish.

When playing the SACD of the Oppo, it does sound considerably better than most redbook CDs but I would not consider it to be used as a reference SACD player. I've heard one that I feel actually rivals vinyl and the Oppo's SACD DOES NOT give me this feel.

madmax

This review was done with standard CD's only, no SACD or DVD-A. Its my understanding that playing through a stand alone DAC is where this player really kills giants but I have to admit I'm pretty impressed at anything around $150 which can even come close to the Theta/AudioNote which retailed for around $5K. Of course it is several years old but up until a year ago I had not heard any new players even come close. I could actually live with this Oppo as a replacement if need be.

Compared to the vinyl setup, well, thats a different story entirely.

Oh, BTW, the video looks really good although I can't imagine what you would use that for.

madmax

hearingimpared

madmax wrote: »

Oh, BTW, the video looks really good although I can't imagine what you would use that for.

madmax

Star Trek reruns!!!:D

fatchowmein

hearingimpared wrote: »

I've heard one that I feel actually rivals vinyl and the Oppo's SACD DOES NOT give me this feel.

Do you recall the model?

Sorry for hijacking.

hearingimpared

fatchowmein wrote: »

Do you recall the model?

Sorry for hijacking.

Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista. . .they go for around $3200. They are having problems with the transport on these. IF it does go, it can't be repaired.

Early B.

Why are you guys wasting your time by analyzing redbook CD playback on $150 DVD player? Forget about it. The most you can say is the 970 is a great DVD player, and it happens to do a decent job on redbook.

madmax

Early B. wrote: »

Why are you guys wasting your time by analyzing redbook CD playback on $150 DVD player? Forget about it. The most you can say is the 970 is a great DVD player, and it happens to do a decent job on redbook.

Why not? Of the three I reviewed, only one could sit in for my reference CD if need be. Each has their own specific character and faults. Not everyone can (or wants to) afford some $1K to $5K CD player so it is certainly nice to know which ones stack up and which ones don't.

madmax