I'm no pro, but I don't think it's possible/ideal to hook up a DVD player straight to an amplifier. (e.g. Where would you get the volume control?, etc)" (longhornguy)
I've had at least a couple of old standard DVD players over the years that had built in volume controls. I could simply bypass a preamp or processor all together, and go straight out analog into an amplifier. And - with music cd's and DVDA's, While this was nice and clean, clear, with plenty of detail, it was SEVERELY lacking in dynamics and snap! It basically acted as if you were using an analog passive preamp, or none at all, as was this case.
Still, connecting this way also was weak for movie sound. And, yes, I'm sure the DAC's are much improved over the 24/96 dac's in my old DVD players.
"I still would use the analog outs from the Oppo hooked up to a Processor/Pre-amp to use their " ...."My question was really directed towards using the Oppo's DAC (analog outputs) with the A/V receivers pre-amplifier stage"
First, I'm not so sure that most here could actually quantify or qualify what the applicable differences are between using the analog multi-channel inputs on an AV pre or receiver vs the analog 2 channel in's (direct or processed) vs, say, maybe running things to a dedicated 2 channel analog preamp's in's! Nor, I presume, can most likely be able to quantify the difference - playing the DAC's in the Oppo, in this case - between analog into an av pre/pro vs. dirrect to an amp, if it were possible (as I explained was possible earlier, depending). I also know that most people are rather confused as to what's the most effective and best sounding way to connect all this stuff up, either digial in hdmi, coax, or analog out of your player, processing - and possibly preamplifying - in an outboard pre/pro. I guess that's why were all kicking this still around, because I can't remember ever reading anywhere, at the very least, where some industry pro's have come out and claimed supperiority of one connection and processing method over another! Have any of you?!
I think you're dealing with a whole lot of unknown variables, differing equipment setup options, opionions, connection methods, etc, plus source considerations, such as CD vs hdcd ,vs sacd, vs dolby pcm, dolby/dts hd master, etc.
I'm not so certain it's been established, performance wise, what does what depending on what connection and what is processing where, and which source is bing played. But I do know this. There's a whole lot of uncertainty as to what's the ideal way - or "ways" - to connect it all, using certain gear, and run it all. If it weren't, we'd all be either processing in the source, or all be processing in the outboard processor for any given source consideration.
I do think it's been made clear that connecting digitally, and processing outboard, allows one to utilize critical bass mgmt functions, DSP processing, EQ, phase, and other functions. But in regards to ultimate sonic purity and your considerations there. I think the verdict is not clear cut.
Heck, I'm still confused. Maybe someone can step up here and persuade me on all of this. Because I'm cerainly not claiming to know all the answere here. There's too much of this that continues to change and maybe evolve over the years in tech. Interesting though...
