Other options:
I need to order a usb-c to coax for spdif to test the sound of the S6 Lite Tablet my wife just got for her birthday, even with audio out to the Martin Logan it sounds pretty darn good and easy to navigate Qobuz. I might consider getting another Tab to use with a DAC. This does not solve the issue of playing our limited Blu Ray, DVD and CD collection, just a few hundred disks.
I can get a refurbed Dell or HP sff computer which will hold an inboard low profile video and audio card with a decent DAC(I hope) for pretty cheap. Then maybe a little monitor to sit on top or just use the TV but I like to keep it closed up to the ceiling and out of the way, we seldom watch TV. The Dell is quite a bit smaller than the HP which is bigger than I prefer but both will house a Blu Ray player.
The Martin Logan is a very good sounding sound bar, picked it up for just $200 to get by with when I took out the system we used the past few years which included KEF line array speakers. The DAC is pretty decent but not up to par with the OPPO DAC( I only use stereo and sub, never been into surround systems, the SE Oppo is quite nice)
Sub setup will be one of the below subs, most likely sealed enclosures, all are car audio and work very well and all sound very good.
2) Arc Audio 10's in sealed enclosures built in back wall.
1) Arc Audio 12 Black Line, been in use here for years, great sub!
2) Image Dynamics ID 15, sealed, used to run 4 of these in the house with over 3kw class H, did a nice job with the Edgarhorns.
1) Dayton 15 sealed with 1kw class H plate amp.
1) Dayton 1kw class H component amp with single band EQ used here for years. I like it the best of the two amp choices due to the EQ which has Q adjustment as well but the plate amp in the unit above this is an easier fit space wise.
I will build a remote volume control and hid the sub amp.
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Though my system will not be very expensive it will sound very very good with the right DAC. The Slimlines I bought directly from Bruce Edgar, oil filled caps, foil inductors, upgraded resistors and wiring as well as Fostex tweeters. Baby sophia has every upgrade I could find to do and good tubes with several sets of spares. I have made all my own cables for decades and heard them up against many very expensive cables, I will stick to DIY:) I will also run a dedicated power circuit for the sub amp and one for the rest of the system, hospital grade sockets and line filtering of some sort.
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I just need the right DAC to match the system for the lowest possible price though will spend more as needed. We love listening to music, not the system, this will be more than good enough for our needs and for being in an RV, outstanding. We know horns might not be the best to position but will work on it as require and use room treatment as we can. This is a very solid RV, 5k more weight than any other 5th wheel ever sold.
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I do not need or want anything wireless, all wired connections as not having wifi in the RV since fully shielding it against outside RF. On occasion will turn on the Wifi but not for long so that makes using the Tab a bit complicated unless using the audio out but want to use the USB-C
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Adioquest dragonfly dac is the size of a thumb drive and gets very good reviews.
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Thanks, I was taking a good look at that exact DAC then I looked at the need for something with more inputs and outputs but best I found was one with more inputs and just one set of outputs but I can work around that. I just bought a used Topping E30 after reading many reviews on many DACs. Once I get it I can compare it to the OPPO player and the DAC in the Vision X sound bar. Hopefully I will just use the Vision X internal DAC and the E30 on the mini computer(or sff computer).
I got the BD drive on my high end laptop to finally work late last night, then looking for external case and cable to use it with the HTPC in a mini computer but so far it does not look good if I want to record and disks as backup storage for any media we have and may buy in the future. I might have to buy a new drive but they are only $100 for a decent one. It has to be a newer mini computer to have 4k 60hz as well. I can get a bit older and bigger than I want at 11x11x3 sff computer, upgrade the video card, put the BD into the DVD slot, use the E30, done:)
I found a site last night with the proper edit needed to get Windows 10 to see the BD drive in the laptop and it worked, CD, DVD and BD. The laptop has a good video card option I ordered when it was custom built but they did not tie it to the upgraded GPU, it uses the CPU graphics instead. Not a problem as I want to keep the HTPC separate from the laptop anyway.
I have been looking into all angles I can think of, long before posting here, found answers or at least a road to travel last night but certainly still open to suggestions and advice!
Thanks again,
Rick
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raam
Rick - are you looking to sell the Oppo 83SE ?
Happy Listening!
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Yes, sadly though, I love it but have no place to use it, I need to post a picture of our design plans. The only place I was able to fit it in was high above a window, higher that I had it before, would need a step stool to change disks.
I received a used Topping e30 yesterday and did some comparisons, the Topping is quite nice for the price, I wanted to hear the AK4493 DAC chip as I have read it is very smooth yet clear and I agree but the 83SE still sounds smoother to me which I like. I am looking into upgrading the op amps and caps in the e30 to see what happens then decide it want to try something else.
Again, yes, going to sell it, I guess I should list it here soon, just wanted one final listen yesterday once I received the e30.
Rick
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raam
Thank You for the follow up to my query. What year did you purchase the 83SE?
Or, when was the Player built (look on back panel).
Happy Listening!
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I bought it new in later 2006 or early in 2007 most likely, had a new house built, moved in Aug 2006, started buying things right away. The only date on the back is under a patent listing showing 1996-2007 if that helps.
I spent 20 years in the Navy as a tech working on very serious gear many of those years. I have completely gone through the unit, cleaned everything inside and out though it needed little and tested all funtions. It has been in use, not more than 5-10 hours a week since new up until two weeks ago or so.
Not sure how to proceed on the forum, been so busy and tired from all the gear and plans I am involved in have to admit not read all the forum rules but I see you have been here a long time so help me out on this, please:)
Rick
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I opened up the E30 DAC, very nice build quality, DAC as listed above OPA 1612 opamp which seems to be well liked by some and not so much by others, so far I like it just fine but will know more when I hook up the tube amp. Funny how I like to setup low cost but great audio and just not into the very high end gear when I used to have multiple race cars I built up to $100k into some of them.
I spent a ton more on car audio than I ever did on home audio because I seldom had time to listen to it, usually out doing sports or building race cars. I did have a sound quality competition Tacoma, first big system Mac amps, Dynaudio drivers, Zapco processors, DAC, etc...beat a prior world champ in front of his NFL starting linemen customers:) Then rebuilt again, $25k in gear(retail, I paid about half) $7k component speakers with 100 watts per tweeter and 200 per midrange, custom built Arc Audio amps, custom built dual midbasses with 300 watts per driver. Custom built subs with 1kw each. Custom modded Image Dynamic crossovers,
dual 20 bit ladder DAC, 20V balanced out of DAC and through processors, had some serious dynamic range.
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Installation is the key to great sound in a vehicle, I learned from some of the very best, Matt Bogart and Eric Stevens at Image Dynamics where I met Doc Edgar and fell in love with horns which I have used in car audio quite successfully as well.
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Raam
Good Evening Rick. I am interested in the 83SE.
PM (email)sent. Thank you.
Happy Listening!
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Raam
Thank You for your Service.
Happy Listening!
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Just got to your message and answered it, sorry took so long.
Thanks for your service as well!
Rick
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Frustrated search for a decent way to upscale DVD video. Audio is working just fine with the E30 DAC, just cannot find a solid answer on upscaling unless I rip the disks, etc and I just want a simple player...I just got the latest version of Power DVD and it plays BD no better than the 83SE plays DVD disks:( I am searching all over and nothing really stands out as a good solution so if you know of anything let me know, please. In the mean time I might just buy one of the several cheap BD players that are known to do a decent job upsampling DVD disks.
Have the best days you can make happen:)
Rick
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raam
Start with a Sony DVD player that upscales. These machines do not take up much space. Prices are low as well.
Happy Listening!
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Thanks, Sony is top of my list, it seems even the low cost ones upsample quite well, just have to decide on which one and buy it used unless find a great sale.
I rarely buy anything new unless hugely marked down, a return, wrong order, etc. So far have picked up around $120k in new windows, doors, furniture, appliances,
window blinds, misc materials, etc...for the all out full time RV remodel and spent less than $20k on it and nearly all brand new stuff, it has been a great way to spend retirement time:)
We seldom watch movies and never watch TV except one channel where we learn a great deal and do not have a big music library so the BD player does not need to be top notch, just decent. When we do play our CD which some of are very high quality, I will use the e30 DAC. The rest of the time will be streaming and we have a very solid connection, very fast and reliable, I will be looking more into DACs as time goes on but for now quite pleased with the e30 Topping.
Any suggestions on what to get for a Sony BD player would be greatly appreciated, it does need to be small as possible or I may as well keep the great 83SE.
Thanks!
Rick
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After much research and listening I need to make a few changes to the plans one being looking into a bit higher end(sonically, reasonable cost) DAC. The e30 is great for a budget DAC but there seem to be others in the price range that are better, my budget will be around $300-500 for a good used DAC which should be more than enough. I might try an upgraded power supply for the e30, I tested several different phone chargers and USB ports on laptops and the HTPC, there were some differences.
I am going to get a Panasonic BD player as they seem to have the best upscaling of all and optical as well as digital audio on a HDMI port. The one I am getting is pretty cheap but has the same video processing as their most expensive one.
Looks like I will end up having no need for the HTPC, glad I did not spend much on it.
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I know some spend more on a set of interconnects than I will have in my whole system, whatever makes you happy or at least I hope it does. If audio was my primary hobby I would spend whatever it takes but I will be more than happy once the whole system is setup and in balance with each area doing the best it can to match the rest.
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raam
Nice score! on the Panasonic. The current production models do have the best upscaling capabilities.
Happy Listening!
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Thanks, I actually missed the auction but more available so no worries. It is very compact and will do all I need of it, fit in a drawer when not in use, etc....Being in an RV has been a challenge in some ways, all ways actually but a fun one making it all work out the way it is coming together.
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HUGE e30 DAC improvement running off a Li battery:) I am going to look at more DAC's and also into running the whole system off the fairly large RV battery setup which will be getting several times larger as I build the solar power system. I have a very good 1kw D class car audio amp I can use directly and the rest of the system, TV, PC, Modem/Router, tube amp, etc.....will need an inverter so looking into one just for those as all located at the end of the RV. I already have a long length of power cable I can run and the chassis on this is massive so it will make a perfect ground but I might just drive a ground rod in as well to tie the chassis to.
I will look into the car audio realm again for the 12v system, big capacitors. I have some so will use them and likely will have all the clean power I need for no additional cost over what I already have on hand.
I am learning as I go as realized years ago, "I know nothing", I have beliefs which are subject to change as I learn new information which I plan to continue until the end whenever that may come, I turned 70 today and feel more alive than ever:)
Rick
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Thanks!
When my predecessors lived until 48, 50, I figured I might just make 52 but just hit 70 and going strong. Sure helps to have a wonderful wife and doggy to be with to have a great reason to take care of myself:)
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Just installed my E30 and it’s usb hooked up to a MacBook Pro..
I’ve been using Amazon Music and I’m getting superb results into an audiophile type stereo + subs setup..
I got the silver and it looks spiffy next to my silver Loki Preamp and PS M700 monoblocks ..
I’m hearing something I’ve never heard before on many cuts..
Impressive and I got it for Xmas..
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Glad you like the e30, I think it quite nice for the price, especially on battery power, highly recommend trying it.
Making some changes to the plans, just might sell my beloved Edgarhorns and build some Caintuck F15 OB speakers and W15 OB sub under my desk as can vent there and on the sides and back of the desk so might work well.
Probably go to an R2R Dac using Qobuz via laptop for now, streamer later.
Baby Sophia, fully upgraded, for the F15s
Looking at a DSP sub amp so I can see how well I can tune the sub under the desk if not able to with the Dayton amp with single band EQ, way over powered for an OB sub but if not working out then I can build a sealed sub, have plenty to choose from here.
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