Experiences with Blu-ray players


I'm starting to build a home theater and am investigating BD players. I could use some stories of experiences others have had.

I'd like to keep good 2-channel capability, but I do have a few multi-channel SACDs so I'd like to be able to play them as well. My 2-channel gear consists of Theta source, Cary preamp, Threshold amplification and Avalon speakers. Given that, I'm thinking that a BD player with analog audio outs and a multi-channel preamp might be best for my particular priorities. My wife would kill me if I brought home the Ayre, so I'm in the sub-$2k realm. The reading I've been doing brings the following manufacturers to mind as having products I could afford and might like:

Oppo: Seems to be the default player for the past couple of years. I like the 7.1 analog audio output and the universality of the transport. The high, generally positive traffic on the various forums seems a good sign, too. I am concerned about it's 2-channel audio performance, though.

Cambridge: Ditto with the 7.1 analog output. A bit more talk about the sound, but less about the video.

Marantz: The 7007 has only two-channel analog out, but 7006 has 7.1 analog audio out.

Arcam: Reliability problems? I haven't experienced any with my Arcam DVD, but I don't own any other Arcam gear, so my experience is limited.
128x128macdonj

Showing 5 responses by gammajo

Kr4 My Sony player is reading the SACD layer and states this is so on screen while playing, not the Redbook. What comes through the coax to the DAC is Downmixing the PCM signal according the manual
A wife pleasing cheap ($200) alternative would be Sony BDP-S580. I use it to play SACD via digital coax to my dac/preamp Ayon CD5s combo and in that config it does well used as transport. It has been very reliable. Can try from Best Buy if you don't like - take it back.
Yes, but it reads and plays them, which works for me having as the poster does only a few of them anyway.
Being new to SACD I am now confused. From a CD player that plays SACD, to hear two channel SACD how do you connect (Toslink, Coax, RCA Analogue out etc) to a preamp and does that preamp need to be a pre/processor or just a regular preamp? Also is 5 channel SACD automatically down mixed to two channel if that is all the speakers you have in your system? Is it better to connect to your DAC rather than preamp?
Am I asking the right questions in trying to find out how to play SACD?
Kr4 I confess I am lost. Manual for BDP-S580 Sony page 22-23 talks about this. I am concluding that the only way to hear SACD, even two channel SACD is with a Player that plays SACD, connect via HDMI to a precessor that accepts HDMI, not a preamp - correct or can one connect a player via RCA to a preamp and hear two channel SACD?