#11
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1- On a system with less resolution than yours, would the difference between the two units be audible? 2- Purely for audio performance, is the better sonic resolution of the MCD-500 worth the difference in price? PS- I don't have a horse in this race, just genuinely curious. Thanks! |
#12
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Very nice review Dan. I am not surprised that the MCD500 has more finese and refinement. IMO, once you get to the level we are at with our gear we are at Super-Fi. Gears like Oppo, Adcom, and even Marantz (mostly) are at Hi-Fi level, not Super-Fi. We pay a higher price for extra air, tighter bass, & a more balanced sound stage.
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Mike ~Your pet is your best investment~ Preamps/tuners:McIntosh C50, C46, MR88, MR73, C2200, C22ce, Cary SPL-98L Integrate amps:McIntosh MA6100, Denon PMA2000ivr Amps: McIntosh Mc602, Mc2000, Mc275 MK-V, Cary 805ae mono blocks. Speakers: JMLab Mezzo Utopia, Focal Twin6 BE, Tannoy Mini Autograph Headphones: Sennheiser HD800, Beyer T1, Denon D7000, Grado RS1i, Sony MDR-SA5000, MDR-Z1000, AKG K701, and many many more Digital Sources:Sony SCD-1 & SCD777es, CDP-XA7es, 2010 Mac Mini Music Server, Amarra Mini player, Musical Fidelity V-Link & M1 DAC, Apogee Mini-DAC & Duet 2 Last edited by Dj_AmTraX; 12-22-2009 at 01:32 AM. |
#13
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I have a feeling the Oppo SE will improve a tad more with more burn-in time.
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US Blues.......Question #1 is a difficult to answer because less resolution than my system leaves a lot of room for variation. What I was most impressed with was the Oppo BDP-83SE's overall performance on my system. The Oppo is not a player that was stampeded by the MCD500. It is well know and accepted that the MCD500 is a premium SACD/CD player with top shelf performance, so for the Oppo BDP-83SE to even begin to approach this performance level, let alone get as close as it does, speaks volumes about what a great SACD/CD player it is. I think the Oppo BDP-83SE can make an excellent addition to anyone's system, and not disappoint. If you want a very good sounding disc player that can play practically every disc format known, and do it at a performace level that usally requires spending $2K or more, the BDP-83SE is definately the way to go. The sound is that good, and the Blu-ray video is spectacular, too.
Question #2 can only be answered with my opinion. My opinion is, yes the MCD500 is worth every penny of its price. McIntosh has managed to take the ESS dual quad DAC's to a performance level that rivals thier very own MDA1000 DAC and MCD1000 transport. I have not heard anyone claim the MCD500 beats Mac's top tier pieces, but many MDA1000 owners have said they hear little or no difference in playback performance. This is further supported by the number of MDA1000 owners who have sold them, and purchased MCD500 players as their primary source component. Don't forget, the MCD500 is also a full blown stand alone DAC with two additional digital inputs that allow access to the incredible McIntosh designed ESS DAC circuitry, and beefy isolated power supplies. The MCD500 is worth its price for all of those reasons, but most of all because it plays music like you have not heard before from a digital source, music that actually sounds like real music. Music that you can listen to for 12 straight hours and never tire of the sound. Music that makes you look forward to coming home, and settling in your sweet spot, just to have the wonderful sound flow over your head. Yes indeed, the MCD500 is worth every penny.
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A Last edited by jdandy; 12-23-2009 at 10:06 PM. |
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None the less, Oppo has managed to engineer and deliver an incredible peforming multi channel Blu-ray player at a price that is practically unbelievable. I bought my first Oppo BDP-83 about 30 days prior to them announcing the Special Edition. When I heard of the Special Edition, I knew I had to give those ESS DAC's a try. Now I am so happy I purchased the Special Edition player. It is a big step up in audio performance. That is why I will also be upgrading my standard BDP-83SE to Special Edition level. The small upgrade price is worth the considerably higher level of audio performance.
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A |
#16
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Tomorrow I will put the Oppo back into the home theater surround sound system. I am anxious to hear some more surround sound music through those ESS Sabre32 Ultra DAC's, and watch a few surround sound DVD concerts. Maybe I'll play the Legends DVD tomorrow. I have no reservations in recommending this player. The Oppo BDP-83SE is fantastic.
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A Last edited by jdandy; 12-23-2009 at 10:09 PM. |
#17
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Dan.....This year is winding down in a few days and you just put in another terrific review
At only $900 smacker-roos...this a bargain for such a fine piece of equipment. I probably said this before somewhere ..If my little Oppo should bite the dust one day...this little baby will replace it
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McIntosh - PMC - Sonos/W4S Remedy - Kimber - WW - Core Audio Designs |
#18
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Dan,
You know I am just having fun teasing you about the Sony and the Panamax . The picture of your C1000 tube and MCD500 is gorgeous Now if the Oppo did netflix on demand that would be something. |
#19
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Dan - terrific review as always and I am not at all surprised by your findings. I agree 100% that the Oppo is a true bargain for a universal player and that the improvements to the SE version, not only via the ESS DAC but also the better power supplies and analog stage make it even more resolving and a much better player for those of us that do not have HDMI 1.3 audio decoding in their pre-pro or receiver.
One thing I noticed in your review/comparison is that you lowered the volume of the Oppo to 95% in order to level match with the MCD500. This means that the Oppo was set to convert SACD to PCM instead of DSD (or if you have it set to DSD and still have it hooked up to an HDMI switch or display that is not DSD compatible it will automatically convert back to PCM). This would not have made a huge difference in your comparison as only one of your review selections looks like it was a SACD, but I will say that listening to SACDs via DSD on the Oppo does sound better than PCM. Of course for multi-channel SACDs leaving it set to play back as DSD isn't as much of an option unless you do not need time alignment or bass management for your 5.1 speakers - if you do you need to switch back to PCM in order to have those setting be active. In any case, I would be interested to have you listen to SACDs on the Oppo with playback set to DSD for 2 channel and see what you think... Another interesting comparison that I am sure will happen soon will be the various versions of the Oppo vs the MVP-881! The end result of that comparision should be as expected given the cost differences but it will be fun to see how the new Mc Blu-Ray performs
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McIntosh MC501s, XRT29s, XR27, WS350s ModWright LS 300 Preamplifier Denon AVR-A100 HT Receiver JL Audio F113 subs with CR-1 Crossover Schiit Audio Yggdrasil DAC (Analog 2 + Unison USB) Sonore Ultrarendu with Uptone Audio LPS-1.2 Uptone Audio EtherREGEN network switch with LPS-1.2 Oppo UDP-205 with ModWright Signature Truth Tube Modifications Clearaudio Performance SE TT with Hana ML MC cartridge ModWright PH 9.0x Phono Stage ASC & RealTraps Panels; APS PurePower 2000; Daedalus Audio DiDs LAT International, Shunyata, Wireworld, WyWires Cables |
#20
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John Houston Upstairs - C1000C/T, MX170, MC1.2KW x 4, MC501 x 2, MC252, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, MEN220, MPC1500, XRT1K's, XCS1K, XLS320's, Gotham, Sony VPL-VW675ES, Sony XBR-55X930E, Panasonic DP-UB9000, Apple TV 4K, Kaleidescape Strato C, Roon Core on Nucleus & MS600 Houston Downstairs - Den (Zone A): MX122, MR88, MCD500, MVP871, MC207, DD18, Sony XBR-75Z9D, OPPO BDP-203, Sonos Port, Apple TV 4K, Sooloos MS200, B&W 805 Diamond x 2, B&W HTM4 Diamond, B&W CWM8 x 2; Living Room (Zone B): Sony XBR-65Z9D, MC402 & XR200's Austin Theater - MX180, MC8207, MI254; Lumagen Radiance Pro; Kaleidescape Strato; OPPO UDP-203; Sooloos MS200; Apple TV 4K; Sonos Connect; Paradigm Signature S8 (2), C5, SIG-1.5R-v.3 (4) SIG-1.5R-30 v.3 (4), SUB2; JVC RS3100; Sony XR-85X95K; Screen Innovations Black Diamond 2.35:1 Austin Den - Marantz AV7701, MM7055; Paradigm Studio 10 v5 (2), Studio CC-590 v5, RVC-12SQ, SA-10R (2); Sony XBR-65Z9D; Apple TV 4K |
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