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Need a SACD DVD player on a low budget.

I am looking for a SACD player with:
A. High-end analog stereo RCA output.
B. No fan.
C. Ideally, it would also play DVD with 1080p upscaling via a HDMI output.

Target budget is $300 total, maximum up to $333, including shipping. Obviously at this price point, used is fine.

Analog stereo output is a requirement because my receiver is analog stereo only.

My original idea was to find a BluRay/Universal player that has great analog audio out, but my research points to the following, which are all outside my budget:
Oppo BDP-83SE, Oppo BDP-95, Oppo BDP-105, Marantz UD7007.
Even with these players, reviewers say they are not as good via analog RCA out as older non-bluray players. Therefore I scaled back and eliminated BluRay from the requirement to get within budget, since sound quality is paramount.

An alternative would be to get a preamp/processor to provide high quality analog stereo outputs downmixed from HDMI inputs, and get a cheap universal player as a transport. If I had multiple HDMI inputs, I could also connect my Roku Streaming Stick +. Roku is currently connected to the TV, whose stereo analog out is probably not very hifi.  Maybe I am better off getting a preamp/processor so I can play BluRay from a cheap universal transport, even if that means I have to bump up the budget by $50-100. I just don’t know the preamp market at all yet. Thoughts?

For DVD players, I have read people praising the following:
Oppo DV-980H
Denon DVD-2910, DVD-3910, DVD-2930ci, DVD-3930ci

What would you recommend?

FYI, my system is described in my profile.
sccaracerx

Showing 1 response by 2channel8

2channel8
760 posts
 
My first SACD player was an Oppo DV 980H. I paid $86 and it hooked me on SACD/DVD/HDCD players. I also discovered that quite a few of my "CDs" were also HDCD encoded, if that's the right word.

I upgraded to a BDP-95 for $450 and it was a nice step forward. I think this is probably the sweet spot for Oppos in terms of bang for the buck. You could take a flyer and offer this guy as much as you are comfortable with.
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9hh3h-oppo-bdp-95-blu-ray-dvd-universal-players?refsource=hifishark

I think there is some advantage to getting a player without Blu-ray if you don't need it, as there are no compromises in audio playback. I was lucky to find a DV-983H for $117 and I have that in my "little" system. It's very good; but they don't come up for sale often.

I've not heard the Sony or Yamaha; but in my main system I currently have an EVS modded BDP-105, $1,350 used,  and an Ayre C5xeMP, $2,100 used.  Honestly, I can't say that the Ayre is that much better sounding to my ears. 

The other advantage the Oppos have is that they have USB inputs. I download music from Soundike.com for about $1.75/ album in MP3, 320 onto thumb drives. It's cheap and sounds very good for the money when I can't find SACDs or LPs of music I want, or don't want to spend the money for even a CD. However, you really do need a video display to navigate.

So bottom line, I think you will be very happy with the best Oppo you can afford. Except for the BDP-83SE, the models ending in a 3 are optimized for video and those ending in a 0 or 5 for audio. 

Happy hunting.
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