Oppo BD players..are users happy?

Going back to basics :

Use the speaker setup routine on the Oppo.  Check that the sound is coming from the correct speakers.  If not, try swapping the connections at the Oppo end until it all works.

P.S.  I assume that you're system (Oppo and AV amp) does KNOW it's got a subwoofer? 

Cambridge is not a exactly an Oppo 95 base.

They both use the same development kit from Mediatek ...

Here is what Cambridge explains :

"We had many similar queries about the 650BD and similarities to the Oppo models last year.

As with our previous models the forthcoming Cambridge Audio 751BD is based on a Mediatek chipset.

In this case its the very latest MTK8530 solution which supports dual HDMI, 3D TV output and other new features.

Cambridge Audio of course have had a long relationship with Mediatek having based all of our previous 650BD BluRay, DVD89, DVD99, DV30, 540D V1 and V2 DVD players on various different Mediatek platforms.

As you would expect we are not the only brand to be using Mediatek development kits and application software, Oppo continue to use them, as are various new big league adoptors.

Generally brands like us prefer to use platforms that are also used by other customers as it means that when/if issues with discs and playback formats are found everyone is feeding back into a common knowledge pool (Mediatek in this case) and all brands benefit in terms of the reliability and robustness of the chipset and core software.

In terms of what Mediatek offer each customer they give us all schematics, software and PCB layouts for example versions of their solution.

The processor code includes an OSD generator and tools for defining setup menus and the like.

In fact Mediatek supply application code that gives an excellent framework for this.

This does mean that any machine based on the chipset is very likely to have a similar look and feel to the On-Screen Display.

For the hardware, each manufacturer then edits or regenerates these to greater or lesser extent to add their own flavour of sockets, DACs, power supplies etc. as they see fit.

Our model is thus our own and in this case we designed from the ground up a new audio stage with both a dedicated stereo analogue output, and  7.1 analogue multi channel output

In addition, all analogue audio outputs (both Stereo and 7.1) are processed for jitter suppression and up-sampling to 24-bit/192kHz by Anagram Technologies Q5 up-sampling running in our 32bit SHARC DSP.

We use various components (particular brands and types of capacitors for instance) and circuits developed and chosen by us from many hours of measurement and listening tests.

This design and its attendant technology is completely proprietary to Cambridge Audio is derived from developments first used in the multiple award winning Azur 840C CD player and DacMagic.

We also offer a choice of digital filters – linear phase/minimum phase/steep filter, as featured in the DacMagic.

Various other tweaks have also been done and the transport is indeed a new very high quality item, its one of various ones MTK support/recommend and being freely available on the market others may well choose to use it.

We don’t actually have an inside track on what the other Mediatek licensees may choose to use.

In short Cambridge Audio and Oppo or others actually have no relation.  We are merely connected by our relationship with the chipset supplier, Mediatek and the fact that the core of our designs stem from there.

It’s a bit like saying all PCs are the same because they use Intel processors and run windows, that is the root but clearly the products deviate greatly from that starting point.

We seek to maximise the performance of our units for the type of customer we cater for, and in particular we are passionate about the musical ability of our products so a lot of ‘special sauce’ goes into that."

I am fairly new to Oppo and would like to know how come they are so revered here? Is it because of the analogue outputs inconjunction with the AV2 to provide the HD codecs or the SACD/DVD Audio ability?

Or are they the most similar to Naim sound wise? I appreciate that they also have great customer service etc. But they always seem to be the favoured choice over the Arcams and Cambridge Audios  who also market musicially optimised Bluray machines (or soon will be). 

Kind regards

Rod 

Well, I bought my Oppo 83SE because :

1. DVD picture quality as good as DVD5 (although I have kept my DVD5 as a transport for the nDAC)

2. Good onboard decoder for HD bluray soundtracks (via my AV2)

3. Multiregion for DVD and bluray

I use the Oppo's decoder for bluray HD audio only.  Other codecs I send to my AV2 via SPDIF.

As regards DVD-A, well my DVD5 is better at that than the Oppo.

SACD - a little underwhelmed by its "advantages".  To be honest, with the hybrid SACD discs I own, I prefer to play them as CDs using DVD5/nDAC than use the Oppo.

I did consider the top-of-range Pioneer bluray player, but for same facilites was a LOT more expensive.

I pretty much echo Dungassin.

I needed to pay BluRay for the new TV, and I needed the onboard decoding to feed to my AV2.

I still use the DVD5 for music DVDs.

I ripped my DVD-As and stream them - MUCH better than either DVD-A or SACD in my system.

I like the fact that Oppo actively support their machines, and offer bios updates.

I think the offer excellent VFM.

M