OPPO 83SE vs Anthem D1 DACS

I appreciate the responses. I may just spring for the SE and see what happens. Might be an interesting comparison to see if 2-channel out of the SE to my current pre sounds any different than if it were processed through an Anthem. Either way I can work the room acoustics a bit since it is a dedicated listening area. The real question will be which Processor at that point.

Bob, I mostly listen to music and not movie soundtracks. Nor do I listen to multi-channel SACD. I appreciate where you're coming from, but I've found many HT preamps are too much of a compromise for me.

In general, IMO, a $3K stereo preamp will typically have better sonics than the stereo preamp section of a $3K HT unit (for 2 CH). I also prefer tubed preamps and there are not many available in HT units.

My speakers are dipolar, including the active crossed subwoofers, and I have little room interaction The performance on 2CH movie soundtracks I get with my system is good enough to suit me.

That’s just my view and opinion. I respect that many people enjoy their HT systems, and I am happy that they do so.

The Oppo looks very nice, but I believe it uses op amps in the output stage. I’d rather go with a DAC unit that has a discrete analog stage. I’m waiting to see how the new Wyred 4 Sound DAC featuring the Sabre32 turns out. Hi-rez 2 CH music via USB looks promising to me.

I just wanted to add an update to this thread if anyone is interested. I received my Oppo 83SE on New Years Eve so I've had a few weeks to do some listening with my Anthem D1. I set them both up so that one input on the Anthem was straight analog 2-channel from the Oppo (no anthem processing) and the other was the digital coax into the Anthem using just standard stereo. I level matched the inputs and have been going back and fourth for some time with lots of different music. I even had the girlfriend do a blind switch back and forth for me and I have to say, I cannot hear any difference which in some ways shows how amazing the Oppo really is for the money. I keep coming back to try and hear a difference and it just doesn't seem to exist. My mains are Alon Lotus Elites hooked up to a Rogue Stereo 90 which I would say are fairly main stream mid-fi to semi hi-end. I switched out the Alon's for some home-grown speakers the other day and again, could not pick out any difference between the two. So there it is... at least my experience.

Amplus
If I understand you correctly - you r taking 2-ch stereo ANALOG OUTS from Oppo BD83SE via a set of Analog interconnects to an (Unprocessed) 2-ch stereo input on the Anthem D1 - which (I assume) in turn feeds (internally) to a 2-ch stereo ANALOG OUT from the Anthem D1 - using an additional set of Analog interconnects from the Anthem D1 to your pre-amp (or Receiver) in order to feed your main stereo speakers - is that correct? If so, I am curious what interconnects you r using for each run (& how long they are?)

If I have described this correctly - in this setup, you are listening with the SE upgrades to the ANALOG outputs, which SHOULD vastly improve the sound, as compared with the digital outputs, which are unchanged from the original BD83.

As to the 2nd part of your "test" - you say "and the other was the digital coax into the Anthem using just standard stereo" -

I'm unsure what that means? Do you mean the digital coax is running out from the Oppo to a digital input on the Anthem?
If so, what does "using just standard stereo" mean?
The digital out carries (up to) 7.1 channels - so do you mean you are listening only to the Front Left & Right channels ("Stereo")?
If so, I find it hard to believe that the sound is identical? I hope you understand that the SE mods on the Oppo have ZERO affect of the sound quality through the DIGITAL outputs (Only the Analog is improved)! So how could they be the same sound??

Wolfiem, sorry but let me try to make it clearer. I am using the Oppo's Analog out so that I can listen to it's on-board DACs, and the Oppo's digital out so I can hear the DACs on the D1. The D1 is doing all the switching and is feeding my amp directly. I can assign an analog direct (yes unprocessed in that the D1 is passing it without using it's own DACs) for listening to the Oppo's DACs and then switch between the two. I am comparing using 16-bit stereo CD's since that is the majority of what I have and listen to. I have not done a comparison with movie content. Also, I have not compared with any DTS-HD material, in that case I would believe the Oppo has the advantage. And yes, I do understand the SE has no advantaged in the digital out. To clarify again, this is a 2-channel comparison with CD's, not DVD-A/SACD/Blu-Ray sources.

Interconnects are Audio Quest for the Analog, Straightwire for the digital coax.