New Sound Processor, Please?

Too true, but a forlorn hope methinks.

Been pointed at the Oppo 105 as a replacement for my AV2 by a knowledgeable friend.

M

+ 1 here

This does seem to be the way many are going to be honest and for good reason.

Does it have preamp capabilities and a volume control then for direct connection to a multi-channel power amplifier ?

The 2D to 3D conversion feature is an odd thing. I don't know what it tries to do, but I imagine it is pretty much unwatchable. Why would you include such a dumb idea?

The 95 looks the business to me 7.1 analogue outputs so one can just add power amps and speakers as required,

With only 2 minor flaws:

1) The 95 doesn't actually have any inputs

2) The 95 doesn't actually have any inputs

Now I know that technically that's only ONE flaw, but it was such a big one that I thought I'd mention it twice. 

*Kryten mode off*

Also the 95 is discontinued now, and would probably be difficult to find. 

2D to 3D conversion is a feature of most 3D TV's, certainly in the UK, so it's by no means an unusual thing. I suppose you could then argue that there's little point having it on a player too. It can also work quite well on some material. I don't think it's any more dumb than 3D itself really.

Isn't there a third flaw to the Oppo 95 then...

It doesn't have a volume control either.

It does though. So does the 83 before it... but that volume control only applies to whatever the player is outputting, as neither of them have inputs.

That's all I'm saying - out of respect for Curio's request.

Ah, not the same thing then. But I am not really interested in inputs (what signal would I want to put into it?). I just want to play Blurays with surround sound but not buy a receiver or extra preamps. But OK.

No volume control is a bit of a worry. Surprising when it has(had?) 7.1 Analogue out.

Discontinued? The 95 was on their website, but OK on that too.

How is discussing options for Surround Sound hijacking your thread? The more interest that is shown, the more interest Naim may take in this. Do you just want people to comment "Yes please Naim. Make a surround sound processor."? That would be pretty boring.

"How is discussing options for Surround Sound hijacking your thread? The more interest that is shown, the more interest Naim may take in this. Do you just want people to comment "Yes please Naim. Make a surround sound processor."? That would be pretty boring."

You can start your own Oppo discussion thread, why start discussing Oppo here? Your discussing Oppo stuff aren't you? Surround or not?

My personal opinion is Naim is too busy entertaining the far east customers in terms of their requirements of streaming sound etc. That's where the money is? Forgotten about us folk with cinema surround sound systems who also love 2 channel sound. It also looks like Naim was bitten with issues in their last surround sound equpment release. In terms of software and hardware issues and this has frightened then to evolve and progress in this area, they have shut up shop and moved to new pastures. This is not the way forward, should have learnt from their mistakes and listen to customers feedback and developed a product that is even better than before instead of 'doing a runner'!  

I still don't know what you want people to say. But I'll stop now.

I don't think they will Curio. 

Cheers,

Rack

For very sound commercial and practical reasons Naim have chosen to withdraw from the AV market.  The situation may change in the future but at the present state of play there's really no point in trying to change their minds on this.

Curio,

You're flogging a dead horse. Naim ain't going to produce AV gear anytime soon. As you have noted, Naim have abandoned AV. They won't change their position just because six or seven people on the forum think it would be a nice idea.

Might as well close the thread or...........be happy with people discussing alternatives to this dead horse.

Cheers

Don

I can't see Naim going down the AV route again. The licensing costs must be prohibitive for low volume production and the market and technolgy changes quickly. Look at the Scalar card debacle back in the DVD5 / n-Vi days. Oppo seems to have the specialist market sussed, 

When I last spoke with Paul about a new AV processor he didn't rule it out, but as ever, it's a question of resource, technology stability and numbers.  Naim are more than capable of designing and building the finest and most musical processor (indeed, on the latter point, it could be argued that within the confines of its processing technology, the AV2 was just that) but if there aren't enough buyers it just becomes an exercise in hubris.  Dangerous stuff.

Richard

"hubris. Dangerous stuff"

It sure is, according to the entry in Wikipedia.

Cheers

Don

Out of interest - does anyone have any idea how many AV2 processors were sold?

And I'm still really enjoying mine!