New 4K Blu Ray player from Cambridge

nbpf posted:

tonym posted:

nbpf posted:

tonym posted:

If you look at the latest processors/home cinema receivers from the likes of Anthem, Arcam, Denon, Yamaha, these will generally decode SACD and DVD-A, as well as the latest multichannel surround sound formats ( the likes of Dolby Atmos, dts Master Audio, etc.). You can feed the HDMI output from the Cambridge into one of these, and obtain an analogue stereo or multichannel output, either lone-level or via internal amplification.

Good decision on the Oppo, they're great disc players.

Hmmm ... given that I do not want to add a home cinema receiver to my system, it seems that the only way to enjoy high resolution audio from blu-ray (and perhaps also video DVDs?) discs is to use the analog output of the Oppo or a HDMI de-embedder downstream its HDMI audio output. Is my conclusion correct? Thanks, nbpf 

More or less correct nbpf; the Oppo will not send  BluRay/SACD/DAD-A for output through its digital (optical & coaxial) connections; in the case of SACD it'll play the CD layer. However, IIRC if you use its streaming facility from a network source it will pass this through. Bear in mind though, the analogue outputs are not exactly shabby! If you want the best quality analogue outputs then you need to invest in the 205.

Hmm ... does that mean that optical and coaxial are muted on Blu-Ray video replay or that they get at most 24/48 streams?

I will of course also try the analogue outputs of the 203 but my plan was, at first, to have it connected via Toslink or coaxial to the Naim DAC.

I hope this works for DVD and Blu-Ray. I do not care so much about SACD and DAD-A as I do not have any of them and do not intend buying such discs.

I'm not quite sure about that. When I get time I'll have a look through the manual for you.

tonym posted:

nbpf posted:

tonym posted:

nbpf posted:

tonym posted:

If you look at the latest processors/home cinema receivers from the likes of Anthem, Arcam, Denon, Yamaha, these will generally decode SACD and DVD-A, as well as the latest multichannel surround sound formats ( the likes of Dolby Atmos, dts Master Audio, etc.). You can feed the HDMI output from the Cambridge into one of these, and obtain an analogue stereo or multichannel output, either lone-level or via internal amplification.

Good decision on the Oppo, they're great disc players.

Hmmm ... given that I do not want to add a home cinema receiver to my system, it seems that the only way to enjoy high resolution audio from blu-ray (and perhaps also video DVDs?) discs is to use the analog output of the Oppo or a HDMI de-embedder downstream its HDMI audio output. Is my conclusion correct? Thanks, nbpf 

More or less correct nbpf; the Oppo will not send  BluRay/SACD/DAD-A for output through its digital (optical & coaxial) connections; in the case of SACD it'll play the CD layer. However, IIRC if you use its streaming facility from a network source it will pass this through. Bear in mind though, the analogue outputs are not exactly shabby! If you want the best quality analogue outputs then you need to invest in the 205.

Hmm ... does that mean that optical and coaxial are muted on Blu-Ray video replay or that they get at most 24/48 streams?

I will of course also try the analogue outputs of the 203 but my plan was, at first, to have it connected via Toslink or coaxial to the Naim DAC.

I hope this works for DVD and Blu-Ray. I do not care so much about SACD and DAD-A as I do not have any of them and do not intend buying such discs.

I'm not quite sure about that. When I get time I'll have a look through the manual for you.

I have checked the manual, it says that:

Due to bandwidth limitations, high resolution audio formats such as Dolby Digital Plus,
Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD High Resolution and DTS-HD Master Audio cannot be sent through
the coaxial or optical digital audio output. A reduced resolution version of the same audio
track will be output instead. To listen to high resolution audio formats in their best quality,
please use the HDMI connection if you have a receiver that handles HDMI audio (see page
12) or use the multi-channel analog outputs if you do not (see page 15).

but does not specify if such "reduced resolution" is 24/48, 16/44.1 or something else. I came across contradicting posts on different forums. Anyway, great devices the Oppos and the manuals are better than those of Cambridge Audio!

nbpf posted:

Hmm ... does that mean that optical and coaxial are muted on Blu-Ray video replay or that they get at most 24/48 streams?

I will of course also try the analogue outputs of the 203 but my plan was, at first, to have it connected via Toslink or coaxial to the Naim DAC.

I hope this works for DVD and Blu-Ray. I do not care so much about SACD and DAD-A as I do not have any of them and do not intend buying such discs.

You can trick the output for BluRay/DVD (though DVD is only 24/48 anyway) at a higher rate by running the HDMI output through a HDMI Audio De-embedder / Extractor.  Something like a Lindy HDMI 4K Audio Extractor De-Embedder P/N 38167 (not a specific recommendation as I've not used one myself) is what you need and states it supports unto 24/192 audio.  It won't output DSD thought.

Or to avoid all hassle, look at the Oppo 205 which has better analogue audio capabilities.

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...mi-audio-de-embedder was a previous thread discussing similar.  In that thread I mentioned modifying a player with an Audiopraise Vanity board ... looks like they have similar available for the Oppo 203.

...and you get a proper, printed manual! The description's very confusing because the aforementioned formats are generally multichannel HD formats, only of interest if you're outputting to a processor. I guess it means that each of the 5.1/7.1 channels typical of these formats will be suitably reduced. You can downmix these to stereo, but it's not the best thing to do. Check in the manual how the Oppo handles HD LPCM stereo tracks. On BluRay Audio discs you can select HD stereo LPCM; this should be passed through without downsampling. 

Eloise posted:

nbpf posted:

Hmm ... does that mean that optical and coaxial are muted on Blu-Ray video replay or that they get at most 24/48 streams?

I will of course also try the analogue outputs of the 203 but my plan was, at first, to have it connected via Toslink or coaxial to the Naim DAC.

I hope this works for DVD and Blu-Ray. I do not care so much about SACD and DAD-A as I do not have any of them and do not intend buying such discs.

You can trick the output for BluRay/DVD (though DVD is only 24/48 anyway) at a higher rate by running the HDMI output through a HDMI Audio De-embedder / Extractor.

Or to avoid all hassle, look at the Oppo 205 which has better analogue audio capabilities.

Thanks Eloise! I am aware of the possibility of using an extractor downstream the HDMI output but I am afraid to open up another can of worms: one more box, which one to pick up, which PSU, etc. I would rather prefer just to connect via coax to the Naim DAC.

I was wandering whether the 203 downsamples BluRay discs to 24/48 or to something lower. The user guide just says that Blu-Ray high resolution formats are sent with "reduced resolution" to the optical/coaxial outputs. I guess 24/48 would be fine if the downsampling is done well.

I am sure the 205 has better analogue audio but it is much thicker and twice as expensive as the 203. I plan to use the player only occasionally and I do not like the idea of having to many redundancies in my system. Also, the 203 looks better to me. I would then rather go for the 203.

By the way, do you know whether the 203 is good as a CD player? Again, just for occasional listening. My basic system remains unchanged.

Eloise posted:

nbpf posted:

Hmm ... does that mean that optical and coaxial are muted on Blu-Ray video replay or that they get at most 24/48 streams?

I will of course also try the analogue outputs of the 203 but my plan was, at first, to have it connected via Toslink or coaxial to the Naim DAC.

I hope this works for DVD and Blu-Ray. I do not care so much about SACD and DAD-A as I do not have any of them and do not intend buying such discs.

...

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...mi-audio-de-embedder was a previous thread discussing similar.  In that thread I mentioned modifying a player with an Audiopraise Vanity board ... looks like they have similar available for the Oppo 203.

Thanks, there appear to be quite a number of offers of Oppo modifications, among others from oppomod.com. As I wrote, I do not want to put too much energy into this project, the device is only going to be used occasionally.

Still the downsampling of blu-ray audio on spdif outputs is very annoying. If I have to spend 850 EUR only to get mediocre audio quality because of silly copyright constraints I'll just rip my very few DVDs and stream them directly to the TV without any player in between.

I'm not sure you're correct in assuming HD audio from a BluRay is downsampled if it's in stereo. Later today I shall run one of my stereo BluRay audio discs through mine & feed the Oppo's optical output into my DAC. That'll tell me the sampling rate being output.

tonym posted:

I'm not sure you're correct in assuming HD audio from a BluRay is downsampled if it's in stereo. Later today I shall run one of my stereo BluRay audio discs through mine & feed the Oppo's optical output into my DAC. That'll tell me the sampling rate being output.

That would be great, thanks! Best, nbpf

Well, that was a bit inconclusive. The Oppo's on the opposite side of the room to the DAC, & connected up to the Denon cinema receiver by hdmi. I managed to run an optical cable over, & put on a BluRay Audio disc (Sara K). Not sure if having hdmi & SPDIF connected at the same time effects things. Anyway, the dac says 48K, the disk being 24/96. But I get no sound...

I'm curious now. Think I'll contact Oppo directly, they're usually great at answering queries. Maybe post on AV Forums too. Watch this space!

Thanks Tony, I have just unpacked the 203 and checked that I get a signal on the TV via a 10m HDMI cable. Now listening to an old CD. Later I'll do some setup. From what I have read on the forums, the SPDIF output gets downsampled to 24/48 when spinning blu-rays. Other say 16/48, though. Best, nbpf

I don't think I was engaging my brain yesterday! Of course it downsamples, it's to stop you copying the HD music stream. Sorry to mislead...

Anyway NBPF, I'm sure you'll find the analogue outputs will sound more than fine. I use a bit of a circuitous route for stereo output when playing SACDs or DVD-As (or CDs) - analogue outs into the Denon processor, which passes through to my 552's AV input set to unitary gain; volume's adjusted on the Denon.

tonym posted:

I don't think I was engaging my brain yesterday! Of course it downsamples, it's to stop you copying the HD music stream. Sorry to mislead...

Anyway NBPF, I'm sure you'll find the analogue outputs will sound more than fine. I use a bit of a circuitous route for stereo output when playing SACDs or DVD-As (or CDs) - analogue outs into the Denon processor, which passes through to my 552's AV input set to unitary gain; volume's adjusted on the Denon.

Yes, the reasons for downsampling are clear, I was just wandering whether it is 16/48 or 24/48 on blu-ray video replay. The "Info" screen says 24/48. So far, I have only tested the SPDIF output (both Toslink and coaxial) to the Naim DAC.

I am still unsure whether the "SPDIF output" in the "Audio Format Options" menu should be set to "Bitstream" or to "LPCM": the manual suggests "Bitstream" but in this setting there seems not to work with DVDs.

Anyway, the 4K upscaling of blu-ray discs is stunning and the connection to the TV through the 10m Supra cable works perfectly. The manual is also very nice. I will buy some cinch cables and test the analog output of the 203 next week. Thanks again, nbpf

Definitely set the SPDIF output to LPCM. 

tonym posted:

Definitely set the SPDIF output to LPCM. 

Now done! Thanks, nbpf