Oppo BDP-83 Special Edition - First Impressions

[thughes]

Dan,

Great review. I love my SE. I don't have it in an environment where I can make this kind of comparison, but what I do know is that with the Oppo SE, I am returning to my theater to listen to music, something I didn't expect to be doing. I'm also stocking up on more music Blu-rays.

The new Blu-ray Nutcracker from Decca makes a good choice for the holiday season.

[jdandy]

I'm back down in the studio listening to the Oppo BDP-83 Special Edition. It has been playing continuously since I installed it yesterday. It now has 25 hours on it, and is taking on an extremely open and detailed sound, with almost unbelievable dynamics. Right now I am listening to the 5.1 surround sound DVD of Big Phat Band - XXL, and I am even more impressed today than yesterday. When you are listening to a tight big band, playing anything from a few horns or a piano and drums, to full blown orchestra crescendo, with all instuments in their place and space, clearly discernible, with the full impact and dynamics of a live performance, you know you have something going on. This is exactly what is happening in the studio at this minute. I am peaking the amps at 250 watts, and it sounds as smooth and real as though the band was in the room. I'm not sure the MVP871 can outperform this sourround sound player.

I am not one to spread accolades on anything that hasn't earned the credit, but I must acknowledge being totally floored by the high-end sonic performance of this Oppo BDP-83 Special Edition. Don't walk, run to get this player in your system before someone at Oppo wakes up to what they are practically giving away. The outstanding audio performance FAR exceeds the price tag. In my opinion, the Oppo BDP-83 Special Edition is the biggest sleeper bargain in the audio market today.

[jdandy]

I could not resist. I just placed the order to upgrade my first Oppo BDP-83 to the Special Edition model. It's just too good a performance jump not to take advantage of the offer. Oppo will send me an RMA number, and I pay shipping to them. They install the new ESS Sabre32 Ultra DAC's circuit board, the new analog power supply board, and a RS232 port on the back panel, then return it to me, plus reset my warranty clock back to day one. The Oppo BDP-83 Special Edition is continuing to blow me away. I can't stop listening to it. I need to start shopping for more Hybrid Multi-channel SCAD's.

[two dot]

Dan,

Somehow... I knew this was coming.

Glad that you found such a great value...

Enjoy... still awaiting the direct comparison between this and the MCD500...

[thughes]

... maybe Dan will send his back for the upgrade once he hears the SE.

12/13

Dan, is this where I get to say I told you so?

Terry

[1KW]

Originally Posted by jdandy

I could not resist. I just placed the order to upgrade my first Oppo BDP-83 to the Special Edition model. It's just too good a performance jump not to take advantage of the offer. Oppo will send me an RMA number, and I pay shipping to them. They install the new ESS Sabre32 Ultra DAC's circuit board, the new analog power supply board, and a RS232 port on the back panel, then return it to me, plus reset my warranty clock back to day one. The Oppo BDP-83 Special Edition is continuing to blow me away. I can't stop listening to it. I need to start shopping for more Hybrid Multi-channel SCAD's.

Get the Beatles: Love DVDa and you will have a giant smile as you hear the Beatles in a new way that will let you appreciate how truly great a band they were.

[JSCC]

Originally Posted by jdandy

I could not resist. I just placed the order to upgrade my first Oppo BDP-83 to the Special Edition model. It's just too good a performance jump not to take advantage of the offer. Oppo will send me an RMA number, and I pay shipping to them. They install the new ESS Sabre32 Ultra DAC's circuit board, the new analog power supply board, and a RS232 port on the back panel, then return it to me, plus reset my warranty clock back to day one. The Oppo BDP-83 Special Edition is continuing to blow me away. I can't stop listening to it. I need to start shopping for more Hybrid Multi-channel SCAD's.

Will the ModWright & Ayre's mod on this player bring it to another level?

After all, its in the open they are doing "more things" to this already wonderful player.

Hmmmmm

[cmalak]

Originally Posted by JSCC

Will the ModWright & Ayre's mod on this player bring it to another level?

After all, its in the open they are doing "more things" to this already wonderful player.

Hmmmmm

Jerry...i don't believe Ayre is modding this unit. They are using it's video chipset and transport in their new as yet to be released universal player but with all the audio portions of the player to be redesigned by Ayre (including the DAC). I am assuming they will be using similar audio design as in their QB-9 DAC and their C-5xe MP player.

As for the modders of the Oppo BDP-83 SE, there is a Nuforce version (NuForce.com - High End Products - OPPO BDP-83SE Nuforce Edition) which essentially tweaks the power supply and analog out portions of the player. Modwright will have the same mods on the SE player as they did with the base BDP-83 player as well eventhough it is not yet up on his site in attached link, he has posted that his mods will also be available to the SE version in various forums (ModWright). I do not know about RAM and other modders, if their mods to the BDP-83 also apply to the SE version.

[cmalak]

Originally Posted by jdandy

I'm back down in the studio listening to the Oppo BDP-83 Special Edition. It has been playing continuously since I installed it yesterday. It now has 25 hours on it, and is taking on an extremely open and detailed sound, with almost unbelievable dynamics. Right now I am listening to the 5.1 surround sound DVD of Big Phat Band - XXL, and I am even more impressed today than yesterday. When you are listening to a tight big band, playing anything from a few horns or a piano and drums, to full blown orchestra crescendo, with all instuments in their place and space, clearly discernible, with the full impact and dynamics of a live performance, you know you have something going on. This is exactly what is happening in the studio at this minute. I am peaking the amps at 250 watts, and it sounds as smooth and real as though the band was in the room. I'm not sure the MVP871 can outperform this sourround sound player.

I am not one to spread accolades on anything that hasn't earned the credit, but I must acknowledge being totally floored by the high-end sonic performance of this Oppo BDP-83 Special Edition. Don't walk, run to get this player in your system before someone at Oppo wakes up to what they are practically giving away. The outstanding audio performance FAR exceeds the price tag. In my opinion, the Oppo BDP-83 Special Edition is the biggest sleeper bargain in the audio market today.

Dan...it seems to me you are being a bit too equivocal about the SE version . I don't get it, do you like it or no?

Alright, alright, you strong armed me, I am putting in my upgrade order tonight. I am not even going to wait for your MCD500 shootout on 2-channel material.

Thanks for the enthusiasm. Between the Oppo upgrade and maybe a new Olive 4 HD music server, I am going to take it ez for the next few months before shelling out some more casheesh to satiate my audiophilia nervosa.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by JSCC

Will the ModWright & Ayre's mod on this player bring it to another level? Hmmmmm

Jerry.......ModWright, as well as Ayre have well earned reputations for ultra high performance products, so I have no doubt that a degree of additional high-end performance can be obtained from modifying the Oppo player, or as is the case with Ayre, using the Oppo platform as a base for a completely design built player that meets Ayre's engineering criteria and company philosophy. I say good for them, and for their customers willing to pay the added premium for the additon performance level.

What has me so excited is the out of the box performance level of the factory Oppo BDP-83 Special Edition. It is startlingly excellent performance at an almost unbelievable price point. In my humble opinion, no mods are necessary.