SACD and Blu-ray player with analogue audio out recommendations

[cmr_for3]

I fancy adding the above to my hifi system (love a gadget) and thought the good folk here may have models to recommended. Happy to go 2nd hand.

Stay safe all

[Dave2002]

What do you want this/these for? Video? Audio?

You mention analogue out audio, so does that mean you don’t want digital outputs, or maybe having to buy (as well) an outboard DAC? A few weeks ago I was tempted by an offer of an Oppo Blu-Ray model - second hand - in very good condition. They sell for quite high prices. However my friend who has a ludicrously expensive audio and cinema system said that things have moved on, and some of the models available today are cheaper and as good.

Have you had a Blu-Ray before. Do you have a 4K TV?

I’m not so sure that it makes a big difference about analogue outputs - though I have an earlier Oppo model SACD player with 7.1 audio channels (7 channel surround, plus bass unit) - the 980H. It’s good as a video player, but very, very slow to operate compared with more modern equipment. I don’t use it much at the moment, though for audio it should be excellent. I just re-read a review which suggested that for audio it beat the 981H model produced about the same time. It will play a range of discs, including CDs, SACDs and DVDs and DVD-As (I have some of those) but not Blu-Ray. For Blu-Ray video we have a cheap Sony surround player. It has very good video (IMO), but video enthusiasts would probably say that others are better. It came with a set of speakers, which are OK for surround TV watching - if you can be bothered, but the connections and speakers are low-ish quality. We actually just use it directly into the TV using HDMI and don’t bother with the speakers or surround. The Oppo mentioned will also drive external DACS which can take a DSD input from SACDs, though that’s getting a bit esoteric. Really depends what you want a disc unit for.

I think some of the Panasonic models are very good for Blu-Ray nowadays, and affordable. They should do Blu-Ray audio - not sure if they do SACD as well. That was a feature of the later Oppo Blu-Ray units - they would do most formats - except for DVD-HD (obsolete).

If you do get hooked into this, if you go for surround sound note that you’ll need more cabling, more external amplifiers, and more speakers, with something like the Oppo unit, whereas a cheap Blu-Ray surround system with speakers will probably have amplifiers built in - but the audio quality won’t be great, and substituting better speakers probably wouldn’t help too much, as those cheaper surround systems are built down to a price, and don’t have “proper” speaker connections - just push clips! It might also be necessary to get an AV amp - often fed by HDMI - but some might use analogue outputs - with RCA style connectors.

If you just want stereo, then the Oppo 980H is very good for CDs and SACDs, but it doesn’t do Blu-Ray, and you would need a TV as an interface to see what you’re loading up.

If you want video, then Blu-Ray players are a better bet. You can spend a lot if you go for full surround systems in good quality.

I think some of the later Oppo players will do audio to a similar standard as the 980H, but will also do Blu-Ray and Blu-Ray audio. Now you’re making me wonder if I should have bought that s/h player a few weeks ago after all - but in all honesty we don’t exploit the kit we’ve got to the full potential. Practical matters such as cost and room layout also come to the fore if you start to think harder about this.

Note also that much newer kit may have Ethernet connections which will actually support streaming. I know virtually nothing about this. My kit has Ethernet connectivity, but I think only supports firmware downloads/software updates, whereas newer models may allow access to services such as the Berlin PO streaming video currently on offer. I would be interested to know if that is the case.

Does that help?

[richardfinegold]

Pioneer Elite UDP LX500. I have had one for a few months now in my basement system. My wife has banished me to the basement this past week due to some high risk Covid exposures so it’s gotten a lot of use lately. The analog outs exit the AVR a few db lower volume than the digital outs so you have to boost the volume to compare the two outputs. At its price point it is a very capable machine

[cmr_for3]

Thanks Dave very useful

I'm only really wanting it for audio and then only 2 channel.

[Dave2002]

Thanks Dave very useful

I'm only really wanting it for audio and then only 2 channel.

OK - though you could still use the Oppo 980H if you can get one. Besides analogue out, it also has an optical output which can be fed into a DAC for 2 channel use, though the review I read suggested that maybe the DAC in the Oppo unit is better than many external DACs. It gives you options though. Also the HDMI output could be fed to an AV amplifier, though as mentioned you might (probably would) need a small TV to manage the interface. It is just about possible to work without a screen - but only if you really know what you're doing, and have it all set up. You'd need a screen anyway to get the initial set-up.

I checked back at the review - here - https://www.whathifi.com/oppo/dv-980h/review and still looks quite a good buy.
In the UK they might sell for around £100 on eBay - and there might be the possibility of imports from the US - but would work out more with shipping and import charges.

If you want Blu-Ray (audio) then you'll need something else.

This site on eBay sells Oppo - when available - but not right now, and also has some other DVD and Blu-Ray players - https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/62327338?iid=173941673924 Might be worth looking to see if there's anything good and cheap.

There are good Blu Ray players available new now from firms like John Lewis for around £300 - but if you want good audio quality you'll need to check reviews and evaluate. Most people seem only interested in video.

Also note Richard's suggestion - might work for you.

Hi Richard - really good to note you're coping - so far. I hope you continue to manage. I hope you either don't get the dreaded virus thing, or else get through it with minimal problems. Best wishes from the UK.

[HighlandDougie]

With two houses in different countries, I have two "Universal Disc Players" - a Primare (which is a tweaked Oppo) in Scotland and the big brother of Richard's Pioneer UDP model, i.e. the UDP LX800 in France. The one in Scotland is the player in a surround system (5 speakers plus sub-woofer), which also has an HDTV as part of it. The one in France is used in 2-channel mode, solely for audio. There is no TV (or monitor) linked to it. Blu-ray Audio discs - 2-channel only - are nonetheless most easily navigated using some kind of screen as, for example, the Haitink Mahler symphonies - on a single disc - run to 102 tracks. Navigation via a remote and the Pioneer's front display is straightforward if you have the track listings in front of you but definitely less convenient than if you have them displayed in front of you on a TV Screen. In my case, a TV screen simply wouldn't fit in the space available. But, a minor inconvenience outweighed by the fact that it plays both formats and sounds pretty good in either, as also with standard CDs. I bought it on e-Bay from a German hi-fi dealer so it ended up at about the same price as Richard's machine but which I'm sure will sound just as good as the 800. With Oppo ceasing production of its machines - and the Cambridge Audio CXUHD seemingly unavailable - I'm not sure that there is a lot of choice for new machines but a trawl through e-Bay might produce something like the Oppo Dave might have bought. And best wishes and good luck to Richard, too.

[Dave2002]

This thread, plus the "enforced" idleness, has made me consider getting my Oppo unit working again. I'm afraid that domestic arrangements often "get in the way". I could run it in 2 channel mode fairly easily, but it might be better in a surround mode. The problem with surround mode is that with a minimum of 4 speakers - yes I do have 6 (at least) speakers I could deploy - the wires required might raise very serious objections from ANother. So would quality be compromised significantly if I tried to use active speakers (which I don't have currently) and some form of wireless connections? I could reduce wiring concerns by using digital signals distributed via the mains - which might work for the rear/surround speakers - assuming they don't matter as much, or finally I could do serious "damage" to my walls by putting (speaker - or signal) wires up to the loft area above, then back down behind the plaster board - which would probably give cable runs of about 20-25 metres. Going under the floor is not, I think, an option - as it has underfloor heating and is presumably concrete above the heating pipes.

These are the kinds of considerations which have largely prevented me from deploying full surround sound in the past.

[cmr_for3]

Thanks to all for their input. I have much to think about. I think perhaps I may just stick to ripping any DVD or Blu Ray Audio I fancy for now. SACD is something I need to look into. I've mainly come across it due to watching "Technomoan" on Youtube during this period of isolation. Need to find viewing with cheaper consequences!

[cmr_for3]

This thread, plus the "enforced" idleness, has made me consider getting my Oppo unit working again. I'm afraid that domestic arrangements often "get in the way". I could run it in 2 channel mode fairly easily, but it might be better in a surround mode. The problem with surround mode is that with a minimum of 4 speakers - yes I do have 6 (at least) speakers I could deploy - the wires required might raise very serious objections from ANother. So would quality be compromised significantly if I tried to use active speakers (which I don't have currently) and some form of wireless connections? I could reduce wiring concerns by using digital signals distributed via the mains - which might work for the rear/surround speakers - assuming they don't matter as much, or finally I could do serious "damage" to my walls by putting (speaker - or signal) wires up to the loft area above, then back down behind the plaster board - which would probably give cable runs of about 20-25 metres. Going under the floor is not, I think, an option - as it has underfloor heating and is presumably concrete above the heating pipes.

These are the kinds of considerations which have largely prevented me from deploying full surround sound in the past.

That sounds like a whole rabbit warren I would stay away from! Apologies for inducing such questions into your mind! :)

[richardfinegold]

This thread, plus the "enforced" idleness, has made me consider getting my Oppo unit working again. I'm afraid that domestic arrangements often "get in the way". I could run it in 2 channel mode fairly easily, but it might be better in a surround mode. The problem with surround mode is that with a minimum of 4 speakers - yes I do have 6 (at least) speakers I could deploy - the wires required might raise very serious objections from ANother. So would quality be compromised significantly if I tried to use active speakers (which I don't have currently) and some form of wireless connections? I could reduce wiring concerns by using digital signals distributed via the mains - which might work for the rear/surround speakers - assuming they don't matter as much, or finally I could do serious "damage" to my walls by putting (speaker - or signal) wires up to the loft area above, then back down behind the plaster board - which would probably give cable runs of about 20-25 metres. Going under the floor is not, I think, an option - as it has underfloor heating and is presumably concrete above the heating pipes.

These are the kinds of considerations which have largely prevented me from deploying full surround sound in the past.

One problem that I’ve seen in reviews of active speakers is a gap or time delay with video sources of up to a couple of seconds. Barry Fox has written about this in Hi Fi News a few times. I have drop ceiling in my basement perfect for burying speaker and Ethernet wires for both the basement and the living room above, thus I have a surround system in each. The tricy part is hiding the wires as the exit the drop ceiling. In the basement a baseboard heating system helped enormously. In the living room I use in wall speakers for the surrounds as nothing else cosmetically worked for WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor),

[Dave2002]

One problem that I’ve seen in reviews of active speakers is a gap or time delay with video sources of up to a couple of seconds. Barry Fox has written about this in Hi Fi News a few times. I have drop ceiling in my basement perfect for burying speaker and Ethernet wires for both the basement and the living room above, thus I have a surround system in each. The tricy part is hiding the wires as the exit the drop ceiling. In the basement a baseboard heating system helped enormously. In the living room I use in wall speakers for the surrounds as nothing else cosmetically worked for WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor),

Thanks for pointing out the delay issues. That does suggest a significant problem with active speakers.

Ah - the WAF! Our house would be very different if I were truly in control. Some aspects would be better, others worse.

Trying to plan wiring to solve some of the issues of surround sound is none trivial, then there’s the business of getting it done. Not only getting it done, but getting it done well. Professionals are often not actually really that good at getting work in houses done, maybe it’s different in the USA - though I suspect not. “You can take the rubbish to the dump, can’t you? We’re not allowed to”, “we haven’t filled in the gaps. You can get a plasterer to do that”, “Sorry we had to leave that hole. You can easily fill it with Polyfilla”, “We had to bring the wires down the wall. We did the best we could. You could box them in, or paint them white”, “It’s easy to cover up the screw heads. We have to go now.”, etc.

Also, re the WAF “I thought we were going to have the wires coming down this wall. You did tell them, didn’t you?” And more of the same.

The alternative to employing people who will perhaps only do half of a job is to do it all oneself. Although this may be cheaper, it can be very time consuming. Also regulations may still require some work to be done by professionals.

I think often the “solution” is to weigh up all the options for getting something done, then decide not to bother. Sad, isn’t it?

So, did you do your own wiring in your residence?

[Bryn]

Thanks for pointing out the delay issues. That does suggest a significant problem with active speakers.

Ah - the WAF! Our house would be very different if I were truly in control. Some aspects would be better, others worse.

Trying to plan wiring to solve some of the issues of surround sound is none trivial, then there’s the business of getting it done. Not only getting it done, but getting it done well. Professionals are often not actually really that good at getting work in houses done, maybe it’s different in the USA - though I suspect not. “You can take the rubbish to the dump, can’t you? We’re not allowed to”, “we haven’t filled in the gaps. You can get a plasterer to do that”, “Sorry we had to leave that hole. You can easily fill it with Polyfilla”, “We had to bring the wires down the wall. We did the best we could. You could box them in, or paint them white”, “It’s easy to cover up the screw heads. We have to go now.”, etc.

Also, re the WAF “I thought we were going to have the wires coming down this wall. You did tell them, didn’t you?” And more of the same.

The alternative to employing people who will perhaps only do half of a job is to do it all oneself. Although this may be cheaper, it can be very time consuming. Also regulations may still require some work to be done by professionals.

I think often the “solution” is to weigh up all the options for getting something done, then decide not to bother. Sad, isn’t it?

So, did you do your own wiring in your residence?

No WAF in operation here. Perhaps this current period of self-isolation will offer the opportunity for me to make use of the large reel of heavy-duty speaker cable I got from the local Maplin store just before its final day (around 80% discount). Three rooms to wire for 5.1 (though probably only 5 cables will actually terminate in a sub-bass woofer in two instances). In the case of the largest room (around 7x4 metres of floor space), I would/will be laying under-felt and wood floor-panelling, so permitting rather more discreet concealment of the speaker cables. Problem is, I need to get one of the B&W floor-standers serviced/repaired and that is not going to happen until some time after this current Coronavirus pandemic pans[sic] out.

[richardfinegold]

Thanks for pointing out the delay issues. That does suggest a significant problem with active speakers.

Ah - the WAF! Our house would be very different if I were truly in control. Some aspects would be better, others worse.

Trying to plan wiring to solve some of the issues of surround sound is none trivial, then there’s the business of getting it done. Not only getting it done, but getting it done well. Professionals are often not actually really that good at getting work in houses done, maybe it’s different in the USA - though I suspect not. “You can take the rubbish to the dump, can’t you? We’re not allowed to”, “we haven’t filled in the gaps. You can get a plasterer to do that”, “Sorry we had to leave that hole. You can easily fill it with Polyfilla”, “We had to bring the wires down the wall. We did the best we could. You could box them in, or paint them white”, “It’s easy to cover up the screw heads. We have to go now.”, etc.

Also, re the WAF “I thought we were going to have the wires coming down this wall. You did tell them, didn’t you?” And more of the same.

The alternative to employing people who will perhaps only do half of a job is to do it all oneself. Although this may be cheaper, it can be very time consuming. Also regulations may still require some work to be done by professionals.

I think often the “solution” is to weigh up all the options for getting something done, then decide not to bother. Sad, isn’t it?

So, did you do your own wiring in your residence?

I did my own wiring in my previous residence, my first stab at Surround Sound. I was single at the time and when I remarried I had to redo it as it didn’t pass WAF. So in my current house I hired someone. When digital got going I attempted to ethernet my house myself, and I think that I related some of the travails here before. Eventually I hired someone to do it and I would have saved a lot by just doing that initially

[richardfinegold]

Pioneer Elite UDP LX500. I have had one for a few months now in my basement system. My wife has banished me to the basement this past week due to some high risk Covid exposures so it’s gotten a lot of use lately. The analog outs exit the AVR a few db lower volume than the digital outs so you have to boost the volume to compare the two outputs. At its price point it is a very capable machine

I have to put a plug in for the Pioneer. Normally this my “third system “ and using this as a source not feeling a bit deprived. Listening to Blomstedt/SFSO Sibelius again, this time the First Symphony, on plain vanilla Redbook CD, and it’s wonderful. Usually non Oppo Universal Players stumble on Redbook, but this has exceptional soundstaging, low level detail, ambience...all that audiophile stuff...it beats the pants off its predecessor, a 15 year old Pioneer Elite ‘Universal’ player that was Pre BluRay. I haven’t heard Highland Doug’s unit so no comparisons to be made.

[Dave2002]

I’m still wondering about some of the very latest Blu Ray machines. Do some of them now do internet streaming as well as Blu Ray, so can connect to TV sources, such as iPlayer, Netflix etc.?