2. home-theater
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Current model DVD with 5.1 / 7.1 analog out - "Oppo Like" features

Hi,
My Oppo 103 has developed a problem during audio playback and I think it's time for retirement.

My challenge is that I use the Oppo as a surround Preamp to create a crude 5.1 system.

HDMI signal feeds Oppo HDMI IN,  Oppo HDMI OUT goes to TV, Front channels got to my 2 channel rig and rear channels get fed to an older amp.  Then I use the Oppo settings to try to match the rear levels to the front and get a quasi surround sound.

So, I use the Oppo not only as a player, but also as a preamp along with it's various settings to create the 5.1 surround.

A cursory review of the Forum suggests that this particular group of features is not easy to come by and that if I want this setup I might have to find a used Oppo.

Do I have other reasonably priced options (less than $1,500)?  I don't need the streaming features of the Oppo as I have a Lumin D2 for that, but I would like to find a way to retain my crude surround setup if I can.

Thanks,
Phil

phil0618
mahler123
3,322 posts
 

Just out of curiosity, what do you have against using a processor or an AVR?

phil0618 OP
49 posts
 

HI,
Super late reply, I don't have anything against AVRs per se except maybe footprint (they tend to be huge and I like lower profile gear), and I'm also more of a two channel / audio guy at heart. and never saw myself getting much past 5.1  And AVR's have a whole lot of features I'm not likely to use.  The one  feature that many do have that is great is DSP, but I already have a minidsp that I use for sub integration so I've got some of the room correction handled.

So, meantime, in the intervening time between posts, I did buy the used Oppo, 103 have added a center channel speaker and also added a Parasound P7 preamp in place of the Schiit Freya - the Parasound preamp was a near necessity for integration as I wanted to run three Schiit Aegirs in balanced/bridged mode across the front three channels with my KEF LS50 Metas and the Parasound has balanced Ins/Outs for up to 7 channels.  I confess that adding the center channel was kind of a revelation - much more realistic audio now.

I have also purchase a Essence Evolve II-4K HDMI v2.0 Multi-Channel (5.1) DAC that Kal Rubinson had recommended.  Haven't tried that yet, it's sort of an insurance policy in case the Oppo has issues, but I imagine curiosity will get the best of me and I'll stick it in the system at some stage.

garynospamm
22 posts
 

this is the closetest thing to Oppo and brand new

 

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