Oppo or Pioneer Universal Player?

skrol · October 2008

I am looking to replace my 19 year old Denon CD player (DCD-660) and am considering a universal player. Folks seem to like the Oppo DV-980H ($169). I am also looking at a Pioneer Elite DV48AV ($99).

I will be using these for 2-ch only, probably not video. I a interested in the sound quality but also media flexibility. I like the idea that the Oppo also has a HDCD decoder. I welcome any opinions of one over the other or any other players below $200.

Thanks in advance
Stan

mantis · October 2008

I have read a lot of good things about the Oppo Players. But I have no personal experience with them. Pioneer Elite on the other hand I do. If you can get a dv48av for 99 bucks, thats a no brainer. Just get it. It's a quality player for everything it does.

For a player under 200 bucks, I can't see this being beat.

TNRabbit · October 2008

I've got the Oppo 980HD and love it. Bought it on WOOT! for $99.

Ron Temple · October 2008

The Oppo 980 has a better analog section than the 981 and older 971 per the techs I've spoken to. It's a decent player.

WilliamM2 · October 2008

As far as video goes, both the 980 and the Pioneer use the same Mediatek chip for processing. Shouldn't be much difference there.

I have always heard that the 980 is the best Oppo for audio, because it does pure DSD, of course the Pioneer does this as well.

I haven't used a 980, but I have owned both the HD-983, and the DV-48AV. The 983 had a slightly better picture, but the Pioneer does everything else better, especially disc and file compatability.

For $129, and double the warranty, the Pioneer was an easy choice. Now that it's $99, an even easier choice.

skrol · October 2008

Thanks for the replies. Considering my Denon is 19 years old (uses 2x PCM61 Burr Brown DACs) but a stand alone CD player, do you think that either the Pioneer or Oppo would be a step up in sound quality for standard Red Book CDs?
Stan

VXR8 · October 2008

skrol wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. Considering my Denon is 19 years old (uses 2x PCM61 Burr Brown DACs) but a stand alone CD player, do you think that either the Pioneer or Oppo would be a step up in sound quality for standard Red Book CDs?
Stan

Hi Skrol,

IMO, no. I have the 980 and was utilising the analogue left and right outs for CD playback (I use HDMI for SACD and DVD-A though, for which it is excellent). I recently plugged in a Cambridge Audio Azur 740C CD player and the sound quality was a night and day difference. The Oppo required substantial additional EQ effects to bring it close to a flat setting (Pure Direct) on my Denon AV receiver.

If you are after CD playback only, maybe a dedicated player might be your best alternative.

skrol · October 2008

Thanks VXR8. That is very good to know.

TouchOfEvil · October 2008

guess i'm gonna have to eventually grab one of the pioneer units. mine which is about 7 years old is starting to act up on me.

nikolas812 · October 2008

VXR8 wrote: »

Hi Skrol,

IMO, no. I have the 980 and was utilising the analogue left and right outs for CD playback (I use HDMI for SACD and DVD-A though, for which it is excellent). I recently plugged in a Cambridge Audio Azur 740C CD player and the sound quality was a night and day difference. The Oppo required substantial additional EQ effects to bring it close to a flat setting (Pure Direct) on my Denon AV receiver.

If you are after CD playback only, maybe a dedicated player might be your best alternative.

+1

I would look at dedicated CDP's if your not interested in the video playback these players offer.

I have owned just about every Oppo ever made and they all sound the same to me. Decent is the best word I think to describe it. Not good but not bad. Just decent.

All though. For the price it might be kind of hard to find a dedicated CDP that would be better. You might have to pay a little bit more going this route. But I think it would be worth it IMO....

Cheers

Nick

skrol · October 2008

Any thoughts on the Denon DCM-390?

guptonr · October 2008

I can't say anything about the Oppo as I have never heard one. I have a Pioneer Elite DV-48 and absolutely love it. It's very flexible as far as set up goes. The audio and vidoe are great and the upscaled picture is good too. It will send unconverted SACD DSD via HDMI if you have a receiver that can convert it. I don't think the Oppo does this. One of the features I like is the analog outputs are always "hot." I have the HDMI connected to an Onkyo SR705 for movies and 2-ch analog connected to a Yamaha CR-2020 for music. I just had to set the analog outputs to "2 ch."

mantis · October 2008

skrol wrote: »

Any thoughts on the Denon DCM-390?

Yes stay clear of it. They break down all the time. Our service department was always filled with them. I always uninstalled them and replaced them with a Sony or Yamaha player. Forget it.

skrol · November 2008

Thanks for all of the advice. I finally got my disc player today. It is a Denon DVD 2910 that plays SACD, DVD-A, HDCD and of course DVD-video. I'll just be using it for audio. It seems like quite a nice unit for the price. It was a store demo and is in excellent condition for ~ $160 on ebay.
Stan

Ron Temple · November 2008

The Oppo has rudimentary bass management. If the speakers are selected as small the crossover is automatically cut at 80hz. If you are playing a stereo source via analog your sub will play if small, no sub if large. MCH sources with a dedicated LFE channel will feature the sub, if selected, with either a large or small speaker selection. If small you will also get the redirected bass from the mains to the sub.

mantis · November 2008

Kex wrote: »

Oh boy! Well, I turned off the surge protector that I have the Oppo 980 connected to a few days ago, (wondering about overnight storms). Well, I turned it on the next morning, but I just discovered it has no memory for any settings: they are all lost! How stupid is that in this day and age? My receivers, even a ten year old Denon, remember all the settings when they are deprived of current for whatever reason. The Oppo, if power goes out, will have to be completely reset from scratch, including all the distances, speaker sizes, and other options. What a total PITA. I wonder if the Pioneer is any different ... If so, it would have been my preferred purchase :mad:.

My Pioneer Elite retains all of it's setting after being unplugged.

jhw59 · November 2008

Ron Temple wrote: »

The Oppo has rudimentary bass management. If the speakers are selected as small the crossover is automatically cut at 80hz. If you are playing a stereo source via analog your sub will play if small, no sub if large. MCH sources with a dedicated LFE channel will feature the sub, if selected, with either a large or small speaker selection. If small you will also get the redirected bass from the mains to the sub.

I have a 971 oppo and use the HDMI connection and I just got my HT system up and running. What adjustments to the oppo should I make for best sound? Right now I put all the Yamaha 663 ht receiver speakers settings flat and used the included mic to equalize for my room. My sub is a Carver true signature

Oppo or Pioneer Universal Player?

Comments