Oppo BDP-83 Special Edition - First Impressions

[TommyC]

Great review. Can't wait for the comparison between Oppo SE and MCD500

[jdandy]

DJ.......The build quality far exceeds its price tag. The Oppo BDP-83SE is very well built, and has a clean looking black aluminum face plate, not plastic. The fit and finish of the player is excellent. Yes, the CD tray is plastic, but works smoothly without issues. The remote control is laid out intuitively, is solid, and is back lit. Yes, there is a fan, and it does run, but very quietly, in fact quieter than the stock fan in the MS750 that I replaced with a Silent-Xtream fan. At four feet from the Oppo BDP-83SE I cannot hear any fan noise. This Oppo player represents an amazing value in cost to performace ratio. This player would be an incredible value at $1499.00. At $899.00 it is an absolute steal.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by TommyC

Can't wait for the comparison between Oppo SE and MCD500

Tommy........It will take a few days continuously playing the Oppo BDP-83SE before I am satisfied that the burn-in period has achieved maximum blossoming of the circuits. I have to tell you, the Special Edition player is sounding very good tonight, right out of the box.

The Oppo BDP-83SE vs: MCD500 will be a fun shoot-out. The associated gear will be the C1000T, the mono pair of MC275 amplifiers, the Sonus Faber Guarneri Memento speakers, and the McIntosh XLS112 subwoofer. Power will be provided by the PS Audio Power Plant Premier. As you well know, this system is extremely musical, and quite revealing, so audible differences in the two players will be exposed. With one player valued at over seven times the price of the other, it will be exciting to hear how these two digital players strut their stuff against each other.

[Jimmy]

Originally Posted by TommyC

Great review. Can't wait for the comparison between Oppo SE and MCD500

+1

[JemHadar]

Great review Dan...too bad Oppo is not available in Europe...although I read somewhere that the new Cambridge Audio Azur 650BD universal player shares the same tech.

looking forward to the MCD500 shootout

[1KW]

Thanks Dan,

Thanks for your review, as always very well written and thought out. I will have to spend my PPP money on the Oppo, the panamax lives a little longer . I predict that you will have a tough time telling the MCD500 from the Oppo playing CD/SACD's making this a audiophile bargain . The MCD500 still has a few things that make it worth the money to me; the built in pre amp., balanced outputs, 2 digital inputs all of which the Oppo does not, oh and of course the glass front panel. On the other hand the Oppo plays blu ray, DVD, DVDa, HDCD, Divvx ...hmm , I say the MVP blu ray player from Mcintosh has stiff competition here. I am using a cheap sony blue ray player as a transport ie toslink output to the MX120 for music. Did you by any chance compare music using the MX120 to the analog 2 channel out from the oppo ?

[AudioNut]

Reading Audio Aficionado is costing me way too much money. Dan, your excellent reviews, coupled with your obvious deep pockets are truly an inspiration to us "normal" folks. Why don't you review a record brush or cleaning solution, or something the less well endowed of us can afford? . . . . Granted $899 is a bargain for a first class, truly universal disc player . . . and . . . I've already started skipping lunch and putting the money in a jar to buy one for myself. Thanks a bunch . . . .

But, really thank you so much for your well written, thoughtful reviews! Can't wait for the next installment.

[1KW]

This video Journey At The Center Of The Earth - Funny Videos | Cracked.com is a metaphor for trying to keep up with Dan and his new toys

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by 1KW

Thanks Dan,
Did you by any chance compare music using the MX120 to the analog 2 channel out from the oppo ?

David.......I have not listened to the two channel output yet on the Oppo BDP-83SE. I will be using the two channel stereo output when I do the head to head comparison with the MCD500. The Oppo BDP-83 Special Edition uses the new ESS Saber32 Ultra DAC's in a dual quad configuration when using two channel stereo output, similar to the ESS dual quad DAC arrangement in the MCD500, so I have high expectations for the two channel audio performance of the Oppo Special Edition player.

[cmalak]

Dan...this will be a very interesting comparison because if the Oppo BDP83-SE fares well against the MCD500, then it puts into question one of the long held truths in audiophilia that larger, heavier (essentially overengineered) chassis' are worth their extra cost because of the sonic benefits of a better shielded/isolated/damped chassis. If the Oppo fares well, then in this case, the Oppo's 11lbs (while not insignificant compared to midfi electronics) vs. the MCD500's 28lbs, will suggest that the electronic components and design inside are much more important than the chassis. Just a thought.