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RE: So how does the bdp-83 sound?

Posted by 213Cobra (A) on August 18, 2009 at 20:24:49

In Reply to: So how does the bdp-83 sound? posted by bcguitar on August 7, 2009 at 20:15:19:

I have a Pioneer Elite BDP-09, the Oppo BDP-83, and an NAD M55 Universal with excellent audio and SD video. I also just had a chance to listen to the NAD M5 CD/SACD for audio comparison. Systems are both Zu speakers and Audion SET electronics. PQ comments pertain to what I see on Elite Kuro panels. You can look up my systems in my profile.

So, how does the Oppo Blu-Ray sound?

Listened to alone, the Oppo deck exceeds any expectation I had for audio quality in a player that supports all relevant formats at $499. It's convincing and capable. It also improves with burn-in.

On SACD, it fares worst compared to the NADs. Not that SACD is bad; that format is just clearly bettered on the $1800 NAD M55 Universal and elevated a bit still further on the audio-specific M5. These NADs are outstanding on SACD. The Oppo is simply very good.

On DVD-Audio I'll still place it behind the NAD M55, but the difference is quite small. The DVD-A implementation on the Oppo is loaded with tone and dimension, in a realistic way. Certainly the NAD M55 is ahead by much less margin than is commensurate to the price gap. All but a dead heat.

On Redbook CD, the NAD M5 and the Pioneer BDP-09 are equally good but somewhat different. The Elite's ganged Wolfson DACs are clear, dynamic and "objective." The NAD's overall DAC and audio sections are in league with players twice its price, but it's a 2006 implementation of Redbook playback. It sounds a bit more toneful and liquid than the Elite on Redbook, but a bit less objective for digital. The Oppo's Redbook can't quite compete with the other two in spatial soundstaging, but is quite competitive with the NAD M55 Universal. It's only a trifle more prim than the more organic, generous and forgiving NAD.

On Blu-Ray, the Oppo is outstanding in both visual and audio quality, in part owing to the format strengths themselves, and of course Oppo's prudent implementation. The $2295 Elite is more dynamic and expansive -- really explosive -- on Blu-Ray movies, but in the absence of direct comparison, the Oppo will not disappoint. The PQ differences between the Oppo and the Elite are quite nuanced and so small as to be not meaningful except in an extremely well-calibrated set-up with windowless man-cave/dedicated home theater lighting. The Blu-Ray audio advantage goes to the Elite on movies but most people won't miss the difference given the price delta and all the added functionality of having Blu-Ray Universal in the Oppo.

All listening was via 2ch analog outs from the players. I have two systems. Am I going to sell my Elite BDP-09 in favor of having two Oppo 83s? Absolutely not. But I couldn't blame someone else for concluding that for their purposes the Oppo BDP-83 is more than just fine, if they are about to choose.

Phil

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