3D Blu-ray Player Reviews

"The Sabre32 is an eight-channel DAC, and some of those channels are now allocated to the headphone amp as opposed to using all of them for the two-channel output."

I thought that you could only set the Sabre 9018 only as 8 channel, stereo, or mono. The stereo out is Quad Differential so that means 4 DACs per channel. So you are saying that the stereo output does not have 4 DACs stacked per channel? Is it like 6 channels set for the stereo out including the XLR and the other 2 for the headphone?

That doesn't sound right.

Hi Kris
Great review -- thanks.
If I were to get the 105 to use w/my Integra 50.2 receiver, how would I connect it, such that the video processing was done by the Oppo and not by the Integra? As far as I can tell, there's no video passthrough on this version of the Integra (and i have the latest firmware update installed).
Many thanks for your advice on this.
Steven S.

For what i have the oppo-103 is good enough for me,i dont have seperates,plus im not paying twelve hundred dollars for a bluray player.

Kris,
Thanks for your great review of the Oppo 105. You said you would not hesitate to recommend the Oppo 105 as a preamp connected directly to an amp. I currently have the Emotiva UMC-200 prepro but I see that I could replace it by using the Oppo 105 instead. I am not concerned about losing the room correction capability of the Emo but what else would I need to look out for as far as losing something I may need by having the Emo prepro?

I don't currently have a separate cablebox but if I added one later I guess I could connect it to the hdmi input of the Oppo 105. I currently have the Oppo 93 and I really like the dacs of the analog outs but the 105 would really be a step up. My current amp is the Emotiva XPA-5 along with Paradigm Ref. 20's version 2 speakers. Thanks.

Recently I purchased an OPPO BDP-103 unit, and with an initial run through of its features and performance, I can unquestionably say that this OPPO player is up to the Professional audio requirements and value for its money paid. It’s practical to have the added connection option of two HDMI inputs, one for my Projector and the other for my Plasma TV. The HDMI inputs are provided for connecting my Blu-ray and other HDMI equipped source components that can take advantage of the BDP-103's video processing and up-scaling abilities.
OPPO is the very few that definitely does not scrimp on connections, such as the inclusion of a set of 5.1/7.1 channel analog audio outputs for use with compatible older Home Theater receivers that may not have latest decoders. This 5.1/7.1 channel analog audio outputs connection option actually has been removed from almost all other Blu-Ray disc players in the market. This high quality audio playback features 2D/3D Blu-Ray disc, DVD, SACD, DVD Audio and CD playback. It also, has a built-in network connectivity which can access media content from both the internet and DLNA connected PCs and other devices.
Alphonso Soosay
www.alphonsosoosay.com

Chris,

I am disappointed that your review contains nothing on the streaming capabilities of the BDP-105. Surely the Roku stick you mentioned is not the only option!

Lack of streaming capability is the biggest issue that I have with my BDP-83SE. I tried using the Oppo recommended Orb service, but found it to be lacking. According to the oppodigital.com, the BDP-105 supports Netflix, VUDU, CinemaNow, Pandora, Rhapsody, Film Fresh, YouTube Leanback and Picasa. Conspicuously absent is Amazon, which David Vaughn mentioned using the Roku Streaming Stick to access, and Hulu Plus.

Also, there was no mention of the performance using the included wireless-N adapter. Only the video performance being similar to the BDP-103 is mentioned in your review.

You have to pay around $95 if you want the Roku 2 XS 1080p capable streaming device. It includes wired Ethernet, which is the only reliable method for streaming 1080p. Otherwise, you are at the mercy of your home wireless network.

Kris,
Great article -- Thanks! The day that I read your review of the BDP105, the BDP103 that I'd ordered from Oppo arrived by FedEx. After reading your article, I am wondering if I made the correct choice in purchasing the 103 as opposed to the 105. I have similar equipment to what you used in your test: an Anthem D2 processor with Room Correction, a Bryston amp that I use for my two front channels and a Rotel amp that I use for my center and rears. I have Paradigm Signature S6's for the front, a C3 for the center, ADP3's for the rears and a SUB25 subwoofer. I also have a Squeezebox, which I use for digital music.

I chose the BDP103 because I understood that the DACs in my Anthem D2 are equal to or superior to the DACs in the Oppo105. Therefore, since the video in the 103 & 105 are virtually equal, I didn't see an advantage to purchasing the 105. I also understood that I could not use the Room Correction on the Anthem D2 if I was playing CDs on the Oppo.

Am I missing something here? If there would be a true advantage in my setup with a BDP105 over the 103 that I purchased, please explain so I can return the unopened 103 to exchange for a 105.

Thanks,
David

Greetings,

Great review and great publication. My current HT configuration utilizes the 95 which is indeed amazing. I have Def tech 7002's, couple def tech subs. So great overall sound.

I tried Airplay (I have the Marantz AV 7005), and the sound was not so hot (I still listen to vinyl on a Basis TT and Clearaudio cartride).

I was going to purchase a Mac Mini (I have a lot of stuff in AAC), and stream via a DAC. I was looking at Peachtree, and a couple of other manufacturers.

But it seems that the 105 has the DAC goods, so does it make sense to just upgrade to the 105 and use that as my DAC, since it can utilize USB and be on my merry way? Since it is asynchronous, I would imagine the Oppo plays as well as many stand alone sub $1000 DACs? Does this make sense as a go forward? Any insight is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark

Kris, I thought your review was spot-on. A couple of comments:

I've had no lip sync problems but have read comments elsewhere about this.

I also had a problem with hum, which really surprised me. It was a lower volume version of turntable hum caused by improper grounding. I've read comments elsewhere about this too. Most of the commenters eventually traced the source to bad or no cable ground - amazing and potentially dangerous, generally caused by cable installers who either don't know or don't care.

I have traced the hum back to my 5 year old Onkyo HT amp, it's especially noticeable when set up for 7.1 audio, the hum almost disappears when set up for direct stereo. Anyway, hum is generally caused by having two separate grounds in a home, a defective Oppo causing hum would I believe be very unusual though it can't be ruled out.

Anyway, my Oppo is a vast improvement on my PS3 in terms of the time it needs to begin playing a BD as well as in terms of audio output quality. Incredibly flexible too, especially like the asynchronous USB and the content streaming.

Great review,
Please help with advice. Not sure which is a better route. I need to upgrade my old Pioneer Elite DVD player to a new 3D Blu-ray player. I'm trying to decide between the 103 or the 105. Part of my decision is the DAC in the 105. I currently listen to 80% of my music streaming from a Squeezebox touch hooked into my Marantz SR7005 (analog). I view 80% of my movies on a Apple TV hooked into my AVR via HDMI. if i were to go with the 105, how can i utilize the DAC for both the Apple TV and the Squeezbox touch ? Do I hook the touch and apple TV into the 105? if so how? Another option would be to go with the 103.Is the DAC in the 105 considerably better than the DAC in the Marantz Sr7005?
Thanks in advance.

I want to see 4k plasma before i make a decision if they make one.This is a update do not buy Contact iMacLand one the cable and satelite company dont have the bandwith support 4k and 720p and 1080i sources do not look good on 4k tv's i seen it for myself unless you find a audio receiver that will upscale it.