Since my BDP-83 arrived back in May, I have been buying SACDs like mad. I can't get enough of them!
I have been listening to SACD since the format began in 1999 and this players sounds just as good as the original generation of SACD players (in my opinion subsequent generations of players lost some of the magic of the format as newer DACS converted DSD to the inferior PCM).
Moreover, my system has evolved from two channel to multi channel in the three months since I have owned the Oppo.
SACDs are becoming scarcer and scarcer. They are disappearing from shops. Many titles are discontinued and not available anywhere. This player makes me want to hurry and buy them all before they can no longer be sourced!
The Oppo does not have the same magic with CD as it does with SACD. In my opinion, this is partly the player and partly the format. CD audio can only sound so good, even through players requiring a mortgage to purchase. The format is limited.
I have a Musical Fidelity V-DAC as well. It's smoother than the Oppo for sure, but also sounds more manipulated and lacks the musical insight into my CDs that the Oppo reveals. I prefer using the Oppo as is. I think it's telling the truth about the CD format rather than attempting to make CD sound better than it actually does sound.
Bottom-line: I think the Oppo BDP-83 has been optimized for SACD playback and sounds best with SACD discs...the stock player sounds superb with SACDs and has greatly enhanced my listening enjoyment.
I have been listening to SACD since the format began in 1999 and this players sounds just as good as the original generation of SACD players (in my opinion subsequent generations of players lost some of the magic of the format as newer DACS converted DSD to the inferior PCM).
Moreover, my system has evolved from two channel to multi channel in the three months since I have owned the Oppo.
SACDs are becoming scarcer and scarcer. They are disappearing from shops. Many titles are discontinued and not available anywhere. This player makes me want to hurry and buy them all before they can no longer be sourced!
The Oppo does not have the same magic with CD as it does with SACD. In my opinion, this is partly the player and partly the format. CD audio can only sound so good, even through players requiring a mortgage to purchase. The format is limited.
I have a Musical Fidelity V-DAC as well. It's smoother than the Oppo for sure, but also sounds more manipulated and lacks the musical insight into my CDs that the Oppo reveals. I prefer using the Oppo as is. I think it's telling the truth about the CD format rather than attempting to make CD sound better than it actually does sound.
Bottom-line: I think the Oppo BDP-83 has been optimized for SACD playback and sounds best with SACD discs...the stock player sounds superb with SACDs and has greatly enhanced my listening enjoyment.