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1 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by BadAssJazz
I have a Sony 400 Disc SACD jukebox. Does that count? :-)
I have one of those.
Its the rodney Dangerfield of CD players.
But it actually sounds quite good and is great for storing CD's.
RICH, if its CD you want you need something like a Cambridge CD or other dedicated
CD player, no DVD player will EVER sound as good as a dedicated CD player,
for a LOT of reasons.
Any CD changer will sound better.:1:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich-n-Texas
Your asking a lot of me at midnight on a Friday LDB. Suffice it to say, my PS3 does everything I need it to do from a video reproduction standpoint, but I want a better solution for CD playback. $169 is reasonable, $229, not so much. The 983 isn't being offer anymore as far as I can tell...
Pix, shut the fvck up. It's late. :incazzato:
Later than you think...
YAMAHA makes a nice CD changer (for a changer) sounds really nice, 150$.:1:
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Why am I even readig posts from you at 6 o'clock at night?
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I had a Pioneer disk changer some time back. Sounded like crap, but once I put an Aragon DAC between it & the preamp, it improved a whole lot. The other problem with many less expensive chnagers is that they didn't have internal memory, so finding that one disk was a pain in the you know what. I'm pretty sure the new multi-disk changers don't have this issue anymore, but back then there were just too many compromises.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich-n-Texas
Why am I even readig posts from you at 6 o'clock at night?
I'm JUST SAYING...old buddy... old pal, is, have you even considered a
DISC player that doesnt do video?
HAVE you ever had a dedicated CD player?
VIDEODISC players are BAD CD players for a host of reasons, kinda like takin a
skateboard on a fifty mile commute every day.
I speak from experience, after using a Sony laserdisc for a cd player for awhile,
after hooking up a cheap teac five disc CD player it beat the PANTs offa my 600 dollar laser player at least as far as CD playback goes.
About to buy one myself, if I CAN FIND ONE cheap enough to play CD and sacd.:1:
http://www.wildwestelectronics.net/cdplayers.html
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There is something nice about a dedicated CD player, with the format dying a slow death,
there is still no other media that has everything on it.
AND SITTING AROUND with a drink, listening to jazz, rock, whatever, its an experience like no other.
And you can buy one for about what you paid for the OPPO.
If you have a BLU you dont need the oppos video section.
Why use a multitool when you can use a precision instrument?:1:
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Precision instruments are VERY expensive. I shouldn't even be spending money right now, but I've read soooo many good reviews, opinions...etc that I just couldn't hold back any longer.
Still, I do have options with the Oppo that I didn't have with my DVD changer, and I'm sure the transport is of much higher quality than what's in the Panny. As was already suggested, I can add a DAC down the road.
(Besides, I have all those holes in the back of my receiver that I need to plug up. :biggrin5:)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich-n-Texas
(Besides, I have all those holes in the back of my receiver that I need to plug up. :biggrin5:)
This is very important and is often overlooked. You don't want any sound to leak out of those holes. :crazy:
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Thanks for the words of encouragement LDB. :yesnod:
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Anyway, it arrived last night. Well packaged and the player itself was in a neat black pouch with "OPPO" printed on it. This player MUST be made with pride in the US, so that's one less rant from pixie...old buddy... old pal. :rolleyes:
It came packaged with a remote, RCA audio and video cables, and a very high quality looking (with noise filters at each end) HDMI cable. Fits nicely in my audio cabinet and because the IR remote sensor is more centered on the faceplate, I won't have to stretch my arm like I had to do with the Panny changer when using my 880 remote. It's lightweight with a nice slim design and not as deep as the changer. This is good because now I won't have to worry about cables becoming disconnected due to the sharp angle at the exit of the cabinet.
This weekend is dedicated to a cleanup and dusting of the A/V cabinets and some mods to the audio cabinet, which includes replacing the flimsy backer board that screams Hey, I live in a trailer park!, with masonite (or whatever that brown 1/8" stuff is) board I got at Home Depot sometime back.
I'm going to connect it to my receiver with the HDMI cable for now, but, and if I've got my facts straight, I may just use the 5.1 analog out connections from player to receiver for better sound from the player's DAC. I don't have a set of cables to do a comparison right now though.
So, if the result of this is a happy medium between too bright, from the PS3, and too warm, from the changer when I'm playing CD's, I'll feel like it was worth the effort. My SACD collection = 4 but could grow if I see more of the type of music I like.
We shall see.
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Rich, you're probably tech savvy enough to go 100% digital by now aren't you? Get a good sound card or use the PS3 and stream music with TVersity.
FWIW, I have a few decent CD players, an old Yamaha that's ok and a nicer sounding, newer Arcam that I paid decent bucks for. You'll be hard pressed to hear the differences vs using lossless audio from your computer or streamed. If seeking the biggest system-wide sound quality improvement for your hard-earned dollars, I can think of a few better formulated decisions you could make to maximize return on your investment than a higher end CD player at this time.
And remember, there's always something better, but if you reach the point where it satisfaction is 100%, good enough is good enough.
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Truthfully kex, I'm not real happy with Tversity right now. And I'm still in a fog with FLAC and the other lossless formats for a PC. I looked into some of the lossless audio players that Mr. P talked about, but none of them are free anymore, as far as I could tell. As far as a sound card, I'm willing to bet a card that's higher quality than my current Soundblaster will cost more than the Oppo, don't you think?
Now, lets talk about "better formulated decisions" (wise guy). Remember, I'm neurotic and paranoid. I tend to do stupid things when talk of massive lay-offs are tossed around at work. Fact is, the BFD is pretty cheap and really won't be much of a setback. I'm dedicating this weekend to my A/V stuff and I'm going try to get more panels together. In the meantime my A/V mentor, if you have pictures of your panels (you descibed how you put them together, but pictures would help even more), can you post them up? L.J said he was going to update his library but that hasn't happened. I'm not liking the way my panels look so I want to try a new construction method.
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Rich, you will really appreciate the SACD sound from this player. From what I have read, SACD playback is where this player shines. STD CD playback is supposed to be average, but SACD is very good and compares well with more expensive players. I'm trying to decide whether to buy the 980 or wait for the Oppo BR to use as an SACD and BRP. My Sony BR takes forever to power up and load.
The 980 is a great deal at its price point. If your not happy with CD sound, you can always use it as a transport and get a nice DAC.
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I wholeheartedly agree blackraven. The other thing is, when I want the convenience of just hitting a key on my remot, pop in a disk (Gawd thi keyboard sucks!) and walk away, I have that.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich-n-Texas
Truthfully kex, I'm not real happy with Tversity right now. And I'm still in a fog with FLAC and the other lossless formats for a PC. I looked into some of the lossless audio players that Mr. P talked about, but none of them are free anymore, as far as I could tell. As far as a sound card, I'm willing to bet a card that's higher quality than my current Soundblaster will cost more than the Oppo, don't you think?
Windows Media Player can do lossless for free? Not sure what you mean? The soundcard probably does cost more than the Oppo, and I can't guarantee you'd hear enough sound improvement to think it was money well spent.
Quote:
Now, lets talk about "better formulated decisions" (wise guy). Remember, I'm neurotic and paranoid. I tend to do stupid things when talk of massive lay-offs are tossed around at work.
First, I really hope you escape any of that mess unscathed. Those things are more important than audio. Good luck to you.
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Fact is, the BFD is pretty cheap and really won't be much of a setback. I'm dedicating this weekend to my A/V stuff and I'm going try to get more panels together. In the meantime my A/V mentor, if you have pictures of your panels (you descibed how you put them together, but pictures would help even more), can you post them up? L.J said he was going to update his library but that hasn't happened. I'm not liking the way my panels look so I want to try a new construction method.
I don't have any pictures right now. Remember, the only digital camera I own is attached to my cell phone and sucks PQ wise, but I'll see what I can do - I did take some with my cousins camera when we made some so maybe he has them, lemme check.
In the meantime...here's the website I followed most closely"
http://www.bobgolds.com/TrapMartin/home.htm
Any questions, fire away and I'll be as thorough as I can to help you out.
I used my staple gun instead of the fabric-glue. And I used the natural colour burlap in my old room (that pale beige) instead of his white fabric. I also wrapped my panels with polyfill batting just for precaution to make sure the yellow insulation didn't escape through the front of the fabric. But I think that might be overkill now. Also, the backs of mine are left exposed to save fabric.
Somewhere down the line I'd like to buy new fabric to better jive with espresso brown walls I picked for my HT room...the color match isn't terrible, but not great.
As for the BFD - that's a cheap, easy way to vastly improve the bass performance for music and HT listening. When things settle down, there'll be one out there waiting for you.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kexodusc
Windows Media Player can do lossless for free? Not sure what you mean? The soundcard probably does cost more than the Oppo, and I can't guarantee you'd hear enough sound improvement to think it was money well spent.
I had a lot of problems setting up WMP network sharing, but when I finally did get it to work, I'd experience dropouts while songs were streaming. And it was a crapshoot as to whether or not my receiver would even play a WMA, even though it was supposed to.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kex
First, I really hope you escape any of that mess unscathed. Those things are more important than audio. Good luck to you.
Thanks, I appreciate the thoughts.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kex
I don't have any pictures right now. Remember, the only digital camera I own is attached to my cell phone and sucks PQ wise, but I'll see what I can do - I did take some with my cousins camera when we made some so maybe he has them, lemme check.
Yes, I remember when your digital camera went uhh... overboard. :lol:
Thanks and stay tuned.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kex
I used my staple gun instead of the fabric-glue. And I used the natural colour burlap in my old room (that pale beige) instead of his white fabric. I also wrapped my panels with polyfill batting just for precaution to make sure the yellow insulation didn't escape through the front of the fabric. But I think that might be overkill now. Also, the backs of mine are left exposed to save fabric.
Which means you had to stretch the fabric over the panel before you stapled it right? That's a problem for me. I only have two hands, and with these 2 x 4 panels I can't keep the burlap taught while fastening it to the MDF panel. :confused5:
Quote:
Originally Posted by kex
Somewhere down the line I'd like to buy new fabric to better jive with espresso brown walls I picked for my HT room...the color match isn't terrible, but not great.
Espresso brown eh? I painted the walls Parchment; very light color, and I also used "natural" colored burlap. I went back to Jo-Ann Fabics, bought more of that as well as a slightly darker colored burlap. Both colors should coordinate well with my room, but I'm no interior decorator so what do I know? :idea:
Quote:
Originally Posted by kex
As for the BFD - that's a cheap, easy way to vastly improve the bass performance for music and HT listening. When things settle down, there'll be one out there waiting for you.
I know. The plug-it-in-and-go aspect of the Oppo provides me instant gratification, just like when some people get stressed, they eat chocolate. The BFD's going to take a lot of work to setup then a lot of tweaking; I'm looking forward to doing that, but I've got this one hurdle to get over first.
Thanks for sticking with me dude.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich-n-Texas
Which means you had to stretch the fabric over the panel before you stapled it right? That's a problem for me. I only have two hands, and with these 2 x 4 panels I can't keep the burlap taught while fastening it to the MDF panel. :confused5:
Yeah, I just stapled the fabric on the back side (narrow side of the 1x3's all the way up, then pulled it tight working from top down (or from middle to the edges, either way). Then did the same for the other 2 parallel sides. When you get near the corners, leave'em...Folding is tricky and I don't do it cleanly. If you can wrap presents you'll be fine but I can't. I got them looking good from the visible side but the back is a mess..close enough for me.
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Espresso brown eh? I painted the walls Parchment; very light color, and I also used "natural" colored burlap. I went back to Jo-Ann Fabics, bought more of that as well as a slightly darker colored burlap. Both colors should coordinate well with my room, but I'm no interior decorator so what do I know?
I found a few pics...how do I link to my gallery?
http://gallery.audioreview.com/showp...&ppuser=230587
http://gallery.audioreview.com/showp...&ppuser=230587
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I know. The plug-it-in-and-go aspect of the Oppo provides me instant gratification, just like when some people get stressed, they eat chocolate. The BFD's going to take a lot of work to setup then a lot of tweaking; I'm looking forward to doing that, but I've got this one hurdle to get over first.
The BFD isn't hard to setup really..the online manuals are idiot proof. It's very easy to setup, get a few big improvements and have quick gratification. Getting optimal results takes a lot of trial and error and can be tricky. Of course you can download the auto room EQ wizard program if you have a mic, but make sure it reads LFE well (many don't).
Seriously though, it's not as bad as it seems. Cutting a few peaks at first is easy enough and that alone will be a big improvement. You'll be surprised.
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where can i even get an SACD these days?
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Online stores like CDuniverse, elusivedisks, eastwind imports all carry SACD and XRCD's.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by f0rge
where can i even get an SACD these days?
I live in a College town and was quite surprized that my local music store had quite a collection of SACD.
I am out of SACD now, my Blu player takes up my 5.1, but I miss it.
Meanwhile BLU concert discs will blow its doors off, really.:1:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich-n-Texas
Truthfully kex, I'm not real happy with Tversity right now. And I'm still in a fog with FLAC and the other lossless formats for a PC. I looked into some of the lossless audio players that Mr. P talked about, but none of them are free anymore, as far as I could tell. As far as a sound card, I'm willing to bet a card that's higher quality than my current Soundblaster will cost more than the Oppo, don't you think?
Now, lets talk about "better formulated decisions" (wise guy). Remember, I'm neurotic and paranoid. I tend to do stupid things when talk of massive lay-offs are tossed around at work. Fact is, the BFD is pretty cheap and really won't be much of a setback. I'm dedicating this weekend to my A/V stuff and I'm going try to get more panels together. In the meantime my A/V mentor, if you have pictures of your panels (you descibed how you put them together, but pictures would help even more), can you post them up? L.J said he was going to update his library but that hasn't happened. I'm not liking the way my panels look so I want to try a new construction method.
Dont worry about layoffs, TI does a lot of military work and their audio procs are popular.
Anyway enjoy the oppo, sure it sounds great.
AND when you're ready ...check out THIS.:1:
http://www.audio-magus.com/Super_Pro.../dac707usb.htm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blackraven
Online stores like CDuniverse, elusivedisks, eastwind imports all carry SACD and XRCD's.
I purchased a couple of my SACD's from CD Universe. Amazon carries them as well. They're not that hard to come by, but if you're like me and not so much into Classical and the like, selection is thin.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pixelthis
I live in a College town and was quite surprized that my local music store had quite a collection of SACD.
I am out of SACD now, my Blu player takes up my 5.1, but I miss it.
Meanwhile BLU concert discs will blow its doors off, really.:1:
oh yeah bluray concert discs...that might be a better idea anyway.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich-n-Texas
I purchased a couple of my SACD's from CD Universe. Amazon carries them as well. They're not that hard to come by, but if you're like me and not so much into Classical and the like, selection is thin.
i took a quick look and for the most part you're right, there's some decent stuff like dire straights, toto, journey, boston, michael jackson and CCR
but $54 for a journey greatest hits SACD???
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Nooooo. I didn't pay anywhere near that for Queensryche: Empire, and Elton John: "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". I'll look at my receipts when I get home.
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some were much more reasonable yes, just not the ones i want lol
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