Oppo's BDP-83 initial impressions

by Mark Alt

Well, it's been about two weeks since my Oppo BDP-83 has arrived and set up in my home, so I figured it's high time to give my initial impressions on the player.

First, let me say that I have an older Onkyo TX-SR703 which does not have HDMI.  So I connected the HDMI out from the Oppo to my Samsung DLP TV for video and I am using the multichannel analog audio inputs on the 703 for the audio portion.  Since the Oppo has an on-board decoder for both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD (and, obviously, my 703 does not), I can still enjoy the higher quality audio with my older 703 through the multichannel inputs.

The Oppo is really easy to set up.  It has an initial setup that walks you through the basics.  And then a more extensive menu for tweaking the setup.  The menu is one of the best I've seen.  It has a really simple layout and very helpful menu tips that describe what each setting does.  In my case, since my DLP is 1080p capable, I am enjoying the best picture available.  And since I am using the on-board decoder, I needed to set up the speakers specifics on the Oppo as well (very similar if not the same as what you need to do on your A/V receiver to calibrate the speakers).  The multi-channel inputs on the receiver are essentially pass-throughs, the receiver does not do anything to the signal aside from controlling the volume.

Loading a Blu-ray disc to display on the screen is the fastest I've seen of any Blu-ray player.  I've seen first generations players take almost a minute (if not more) to start to display a picture from the disc - worse if it is a BD-live disc.  The Oppo takes mere seconds for a non-BD-live disc (virtually as fast as a standard DVD) and about 15 to 20 seconds for a BD-live disc - although I have not done any actual timing as of yet so those are estimates.

Picture and audio are top notch.  Even my wife is starting to come around when I did an A/B comparison with Disney's Cars first with a DVD version, then with the Blu-ray version.  The detail on the Blu-ray disc is amazing.  Maybe it was because it was my personal setup, but it seemed to me that the picture quality from the Oppo was even better than most of the players that I've seen.

Granted, I've had the player about two weeks now, but over that short time, I can say that I am extremely well pleased with the Oppo and am looking forward to incorporating it in my home theater system for years to come.

If anyone is curious about certain features or specs about the Oppo, let me know and I'll try to include them in future posts.

Oppo's new BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc player

by Mark Alt

For my first blog post, I figured I would write a teaser about the new Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc player which is currently being released to those lucky few who signed up for a pre-release.  That includes yours truly.  Mine is currently on its way to me and should be here tomorrow.

For those of you not in the loop, the BDP-83 is being touted as the first to be released "universal" Blu-ray player.  It isn't the first announced, Denon took those honors with their DVD-A1UD.  Unfortunately, that one has been delayed, so the Oppo gets the prize of "first one in the wild."

What's a universal Blu-ray player you ask? Well, it is a player that not only plays Blu-ray, DVD, and CD, but also plays SACD and DVD-Audio. Sorry, no HD-DVD support though.

The Oppo, which has undergone two rounds of "beta" testing, features some other impressive features such as on-board decoding of Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD with both HDMI and 7.1 analog outputs for those of us with older non-HDMI receivers such as myself, full 1080p upscaling via an Anchor Bay VRS processor, and the ability to play music or display pictures from USB drives via two USB ports (one conveniently located in the front).  Of course, it is BD-Live compatible with 1GB memory onboard and an Ethernet port on the back which also allows for easy firmware updates.  Oppo also has an optional add-on for a wireless adapter if necessary. Couple this with Oppo's impressive customer service and reputation for quality DVD players and it is shaping up to be a winner.

I am eagerly anticipating the arrival of my player and will follow up in the coming weeks with my thoughts on it after I get a chance to play with it.

All Things Vinyl, April 7, 2009: Zu Audio/Denon DL-103

by Oliver Amnuayphol

This week I wanna tell all you analog addicts out there about a very special range of products: The Zu Audio modded Denon DL-103 and 103r cartridges. Most vinylheads out there are already familiar with the legendary 103 range of cartridges; but just in case, a little background for ya: Way back during the Kennedy administration, Denon and the Japan Broadcasting Corporation wanted to produce a durable, wide-bandwidth, fuss-free, set-up friendly moving coil pick-up suitable for broadcast use. This collaboration gave us the Denon DL-103, a square-sided, plastic-bodied, low-output (0.3 mV) MC featuring a spherical stylus tip and a high-ish source impedance of 40 ohms. The Denon became an instant success with both industry professionals and consumers alike due to its reliability, ease of set up and unfailingly musical tone. In fact, the Denon has been so successful that the 103 and its variants (such as the 103 "r" with its larger diameter coil windings and lower 16 ohm impedance) have remained in continuous production for 45+ years--darn near HALF A CENTURY! What's more, all this analog goodness can be yours for a measly $229--a mere pittance for the amount of musical kicks on tap, and much less kwan than a lot of newer n' prettier (and quite likely not more musical) carts out there.

Of course, like any budget cartridge, the Denon has its sonic limitations, namely rolled off frequency extremes, a mild thickness in the bass region, and a minor peak in the mids/lower treble range; most vinylheads--including the folks at Zu--will tell you the 103's shortcomings are mainly due to its lightweight, non-rigid plastic body and the less than ideal manner in which various cartridge bits contact it. Zu addresses these shortcomings by dispensing with the plastic body altogether and encasing the nude cartridge into an absolutely gorgeous, CNC-machined from solid, 6061 grade aluminum body that retains the original's mounting geometry and dimensions. A good portion of the inner works are then sealed with a generous dose of clear epoxy for even better coupling. These mods are then incorporated into a range of increasingly tighter-tolerance 103s and 103rs that are available at ascending price points; I decided to purchase the $499, 1% tolerance Grade 1 Zu DL-103 to see how it compares to my stock Denon DL-103. So: We're now talking $229 for the Denon vs. $499 for the Zu modded cart; can the Zu possibly be more than twice as good?

In a word, yes. In three words: Hay-uhl Freakin' YES! Zu took everything that was good about the DL-103 and made it even gooder, keeping just enough of that rich, full-bodied tonality the Denon's famous for and increasing the overall bass depth, definition and clarity. There's still a slight warmth to the lower mids and bass region for sure, only now it's mated to a more neutral midrange and silky smooth treble. The sound is always compelling, with an altogether more even-handed presentation than the plain-jane Denon. This is a hell of a cart for only five Franklins; and if these were the only tricks this Zu modded pony had over a stock 103, I'd already pick it as my first choice in a sub $5 hundy pick up. But just like the infomercial says, "That's not all this baby can do!" There's also greater extension at the frequency extremes; wider and finer dynamic gradations; out of this world timbre and gads of texture, with a smooth, coherent character from top to bottom. And this ain't just "all sonic go and no musical show" either: the Zu DL-103 consistently pulls more music from more records than any sub-thou cart I've listened to. And Bruddah, Buh-leeve you me when I say I've listened to a big hot mess of 'em.

No doubt, the Grade 1 Zu/Denon DL-103 is a very special cartridge, competing more than favorably with other pickups costing twice its modest asking price. In fact it's so good, I even prefer some things about its presentation to my $1500 Lyra Argo i, a great cartridge in its own right; that the Zu DL-103 costs only a third of the Argo i's already reasonable sum makes it an insanely awesome value (kinda like Aperion speakers, wink wink!) and quite possibly the best value in all of hi fi. So even if you're budgeting for a more expensive cartridge, do yourself a favor and check out the Zu/Denon DL-103 first: its so eminently musical and supremely engaging that listening to records with it is an absolute joy. You may just save yourself a pile of scrilla for some more licorice pizzas and find that this is all the cartridge you'll ever need.

Cedia '08- More great stuff

By Caleb Denison

Ok.. I just have to get this one out of the way right away. If you're a fan of "This is Spinal Tap" I think you'll love this. If you're not, then I think you're missing out. That said, I present you with this:

That would be one of Marin Logan's finer subwoofers. Most folks familiar with Martin Logan know that they make fantastic, if not a bit pricey, audio equipment. What you may not know, is that they obviously have a sense of humor too. Check out the volume dial on this Bad Boy.

Yeah... that's right. It goes to 11. You might be asking "what's great about that" To which I would reply, "It's one louder isn't it?"

But it's not all just fun and jokes, there are some great new looks to some of the more popular A/V receivers. Check out the new top of the line Harmon Kardon AVR 7550 featuring the new Dolby Volume processor: Those curved edges are a really nice touch and the new Dolby Volume processing promises to be really useful. It is a volume moderator of sorts. You know how you're sitting comfortably, watching your favorite TV episode then BAM a commercial comes on and you're running for the volume control. Maybe you switch channels and you can barelty hear what's going on. Dolby Volume promises to change that by keeping the volume level the same, no matter what you're watching, listening or switching to. THANK YOU DOLBY. My family will love you for this (especially my cat)

Cedia '08- Day 1

By Caleb Denison

Our first day at Cedia has come and gone and it was great! After a very early 4 AM wake-up call, we got to the airport, endured the security gate and made it to Denver in record time.

One rental car and a few sammiches later, Ken, Mike and I arrived at the Denver convention center greeted by the big blue bear that stands guard, on it's hind quarters, poised to break through the glass and attack whatever is inside. Who's idea was this sculpture?

Inside the generously sized convention center is, well...just about everything a consumer electronics fan could ever want to geek out about. Amplifiers, receivers, turntables, speakers, custom integration devices, speakers, movie screens, projectors, speakers, giant LCD and Plasma displays and a few speakers.

One of the coolest devices I saw today was none of the above, really. It's the Squeezebox Duet and Squeezebox Boom that had me really impressed. The Squeezebox device, now owned by CE accessory giant Logitech, is a slick piece that wirelessly accesses ANY music that you could access with your computer. You name it: Pandora, Rhapsody, Music Giants, your entire stored music collection and every internet radio station out there- the Squeezebox can access it and play it for you. With the Boom, you're getting all of this functionality in a liitle boombox. With the Duet, the on-screen interface is replaced by a touch screen remote control. VERY slick. Talk about putting a wealth of music at your fingertips.

We also spent considerable time ogling Sharp's 108" LCD display which was not really perceivably larger than the equally impressive 106" Plasma discplay from Panasonic. I've read about them, but witnessing them in action is quite an experience. That there's a big TV!@!!!  Both of them made me reconsider my plans to use a projector in my new home theater space.

Macintosh is also on hand to provide some seriously impressive eye AND ear candy. Their latest addition to their speaker line is a very impressive point source design derived from their monstrous Line Array design seen here (as you can see, the tower somewhat dwarfs speaker engineer genius Ken Humphreys). While I did feel like the highs were a bit on the aggressive side, the overall tonal balance was amazing. Of course, I think the 2400 watts of power driving these beasts may have had something to do with the jaw dropping experience as well.

More to come. Lots more.  Also, before I go, let me please thank the free Wi-Fi service courtesy of a certain coffee mega-giant. Were it not for their internet hot spots, I wouldn't be able to blog from the general vicinity of the show at all. While there are at least 60 operating routers at this show, they are all secured and not available to the public. Bummer.

All Things Vinyl, April 28-May 2, 2008

by Oliver Amnuayphol

If you've been reading "All Things Vinyl" for sometime or know a bit about turntable setups, chances are you're probably aware that, in most cases, installing a high-quality phono cartridge at the front end of your vinyl-spinning rig can yield huge improvements in sound quality. I previously wrote about the benefits of a quality cartridge in the February 11-15, 2008 of "ATV" so I won't go into detail about that here. Suffice it to say that, if you're choosing a separate cart for whatever reasons, you can't just bolt cartridge to tonearm and expect great results: for the best sound--and most importantly, the least wear--from your cherished licorice pizzas, every cartridge must be properly aligned for geometrically correct contact with your vinyls.

Unfortunately, the number of dealers who have the know-how or inclination to do this for you are slim indeed; if you know one, count your lucky stars! But if not, you'll have to align the cart yourself, paying extra special attention to five important parameters: Overhang, azimuth, VTA (vertical tracking angle), VTF (vertical tracking force), and anti-skate. Not an easy task, to be sure--so it's a good idea to know the ins and outs of such a feat and to equip yourself with the right tools for the job. And while I love to endlessly wax poetic about the joys of vinyl, I've got limited space (and time!) to do so; check out Audiophilia's superb guide to setting up your cartridge here. If you're more of a visual person, I'd highly recommend "21st Century Vinyl: Michael Fremer's Practical Guide to Turntable Set-Up"--a must if you're serious about getting the most music off vinyl discs. And on that note, here are some other set-up goodies that should be in every vinyl lover's toolbox:

--DB systems alignment protractor ($49): A long-standing favorite for accurate cartridge alignment on the cheap, nothing beats the value of this protractor card from DB. It's super easy to use--quick alignment of your cartridge in just three steps. Less time fussing and more time listening? Amen DB, amen. 

-- Shure SFG-2 Stylus Force Gauge ($25): This simple and highly effective tool for measuring tracking force has been around since before I was born, and for good reason: it's by far the most cost-effective way of setting accurate tracking force for any cartridge out there. Cheap, durable, and easy to use--what's not to like?

--Hi-Fi News Test Record ($45): Chock-full of various turntable optimization tracks, this LP has been the long-running standard for setting correct anti-skate and azimuth and even has a cartridge/arm resonance test track. With over 17 tracks designed to help optimize your rig, the gains in performance will far outweigh its modest cost.

--Feickert Universal Protractor/alignment tool ($250): This beautifully built, dead-accurate gauge allows you to absolutely dial in the overhang and alignment for any tonearm/cartridge combination, making this the perfect tool for those with chronic upgradeitus or anyone who swaps cartridges on a regular basis. Expensive, yes; but if you have a top-tier vinyl playback system and want to get all the music you paid dearly for, consider this premium tool absolutely mandatory.

Next week: some more new hardware and software releases. 

All Things Vinyl, April 7-11, 2008

by Oliver Amnuayphol

So now that you're firmly committed to spinning the black circles, let's talk about good vinyl hygiene. Hygiene? As in cleaning? Absolutely! If you want to hear your records at their best, proper cleaning of your records is a must. You know all those ticks and pops and static-type sounds that notoriously goes hand in hand with vinyl? Nearly all of that can be eliminated by simply keeping your records clean. Most of those vinyl noises are caused by dirt, dust, and various other particles that are trapped the grooved walls of your records, causing lots of noise and, even worse, permanent damage to your precious vinyl. And even if it's a new record, chances are there's still some grime (and mold-release agents) that need to be cleaned from the record for best performance.

So--how does one go about getting those vinyl contaminants outta there? There are three basic things things you should do before playing any record: treat each one to a thorough wet wash (preferably with a specialized vacuum cleaning machine); clean each record with a record brush before every play; and clean the stylus before and after every record side. By keeping the record and the various parts it comes into contact with free of any possible contaminants, you'll guarantee noise-free play and top-notch sound quality from your vinyls for years to come (for a detailed description of a very thorough process, check out the excellent article from the musicangle.com site here).

And now, a smattering of some stellar record care products:

Gruv-Glide II Record Treatment LP cleaner ($28.99): A simple, spray on LP cleaner, the Gruv Glide is perfect for quick cleaning of garage sale finds or a great solution for those a little short on scratch for a wet-cleaning system. Can leave a residue of used with a heavy hand, but definitely better than no cleaner at all.

Nitty Gritty 1.0 Vacuum record cleaning machine ($365): If you have a substantial record collection or just want to get your records uber-clean, the 1.0 model from Nitty Gritty should be considered mandatory--especially considering its beer-budget price when compared to other models out there. Its powerful vacuum action and simple, fuss-free operation means you'll be enjoying super-quiet and squeaky-clean vinyl goodness for many moons to come.

The Disc Doctor record cleaning solutions (prices vary depending on item): I've tried many vinyl cleaning solutions with my cleaning machine over the years, and the Disc Doctor products are my cleaners of choice. The Miracle Record Cleaner spreads easily yet stays neatly on the record until it's time to suck it up. What's more, every item is a superb value, and their wet clean records are the best I've ever used.

Sleevetown.com record cleaning brush ($13.95): Using a quality, non-damaging brush to dust off those records before every play is important to maintaining clean vinyl surfaces, and the brush from Sleevetown is a dandy. Pretty much the same as that audiophile standard of brushes, the Hunt EDA--but less than half the cost.

Last Factory stylus cleaner and stylus treatment ($22.50 and $33 respectively): Even with the most immaculately cleansed records, over time microscopic dust, dirt, and grime particles form into a thin, coarse, sandpaper-like film that gouges your record's grooves with every play. An unavoidable occurrence--unless you clean your stylus before every listening session. Thank the analog gods for Last's stylus cleaner and treatment which will, when correctly applied, extend the life of both your records and your cartridge's stylus. Amen Last, amen.

Next week: Setting up your vinyl rig. 

Home Theater Week in Review, March 10-14, 2008

by Oliver Amnuayphol

If you're serious about accurate home theater performance, you've probably attempted the mystical art of calibrating your home theater display. With so many parameters to adjust (gray scale, color temperature, saturation, oh my!), it's no wonder one often has to call a bona-fide, ISF-certified tech to wring the best picture performance possible from your HD display. Well praise be the flat-screen gods at Panasonic, who've recently announced a line of THX-Certified displays that will display a dead-accurate, ATSC calibrated picture with the press of a magic "THX Movie Mode" button. Panasonic will have four sizes available in the THX-certified Viera PZ800 series (42", 46", 50" and 58"), and all will feature 1080p resolution, 30,000:1 contrast ratio, and four HDMI 1.3 connections. pricing and availability will be announced sometime this Spring.

Movie Releases for Next Week.

DVD: I am Legend; Atonement; Enchanted; Love in the Time of Cholera; Seekers; The Ice Storm--Criterion Collection; Antonio Gaudi--Criterion Collection; The Dragon Painter; Jet Li's Shaolin Fists Collection.

Blu-ray: I am Legend; Enchanted.

HD DVD: Atonement; Justice League--The New Frontier; Led Zepellin--The Song Remains the Same.

All Things Vinyl, February 18-22, 2008

by Oliver Amnuayphol

Pssst: wanna know a simple way to get more musical thrills out of those vinyl grooves? I'll tell you the secret--get thee self a proper phono preamp! That's right--I'm kicking in my two verbal cents on phono preamps this week for a few reasons:

--A good majority of receivers and amplifiers don't have built in phono stages, so you'll need one if you're planning on spinning the black circles.

--If you do have a receiver and preamp with a built-in phono stage, chances are it was included as an afterthought, with very little attention paid to sound quality.

--A quality, standalone phono preamp isolates all of this ultra-sensitive, delicate circuitry from any interference or noise generated by D/A converters, video processors, etc. that are part and parcel of today's modern receivers--resulting in much better sound quality.

--And most importantly, a really good phono pre can yield sonic gains equivalent to a quality phono cartridge upgrade.

So then--here's a few outstandingly musical phono preamps that will allow you to hear your records like you've never heard 'em before:

--Sumiko Pro-ject Phono Box II ($129): Suitable for both MM and MC cartridges, the Pro-Ject delivers far more smoothness, clarity, and tonal accuracy than the typical phono stages built-in to modern receivers and has enough gain for even moderately low-output MCs down to .5mV. A most cost-effective upgrade to any entry-level analog rig, and an outstanding value.

--Rolls/Bellari VP129 ($250): This MM-only tubed phono stage is so musically compelling it competes with units costing twice as much. The midrange richness and smooth treble refinement of this red-bodied beauty will keep you listening for hours on end with a naturalness and fun-factor that only tubes can provide. While its low-ish gain means you'll have to use a fairly high-output MM (preferably 3.0mV and above), the Bellari offers a huge dose of high-end sound for a very reasonable price. A winner!

--Musical Fidelity X-LPSv3 ($499): Like nearly every Musical Fidelity product, this MM/MC phono pre offers superb value, easily competing with units costing far more. True to its company moniker, the X-LPSv3 has all the qualities we've come to associate with excellent Brit-fi: Excellent rhythm-n-pacing, smooth, warm sound, an even-handed presentation, and yes, great fidelity to the music. Bonus: The X-LPSv3 has enough gain for even super-low output MCs (.20mV) and even keeps up with cartridges 2-3 times the MF's very reasonable asking price.

--PS Audio GCPH ($999): If you're really after top-tier sound, look no further than the GCPH. While certainly not inexpensive, this is a MM/MC phono pre for the ages. The GCPH has all the configurability and features to satisfy almost every vinyl die-hard, including independently adjustable gain and load settings, and dual mono signal paths with balanced circuitry. Of course, this would be moot if the PS Audio sounded only average; thankfully, the GCPH sounds stellar. Its deep, powerful bass, detailed presentation, textural richness, and supremely natural, organic presentation make this preamp the best sub-1k pre I've ever heard. Stiff tariff, yes; but its musicality is so far beyond its price point that significant improvements will cost much, much more.

Next week: Some notable vinyl releases.

All Things Vinyl, February 11-15, 2008

by Oliver Amnuayphol

Last week in "All Things Vinyl," I talked a bit about the heart and soul of a phono playback system, the turntable. And while I originally meant to cover phono preamps in this space (next week, I promise), I realized I haven't talked about the all important cartridge--the little thingy on the end of the tonearm that holds the stylus, or more commonly referred to as the "needle." The phono cartridge is in fact an electrical transducer--one that operates in reverse fashion in comparison to that other ubiquitous electrical transducer, the loudspeaker. Which means that, just like speakers, a small investment in a nice cartridge at the front end of your LP playback system can significantly alter--or improve(!)--the sound of your vinyl spinning rig, paying huge sonic dividends. So then, here are some great cartridge recommendations--at various price points--for your vinyl listening pleasure:

--Goldring Elektra ($100): Whether looking for your first good quality cartridge or upgrading one on an existing entry-level turntable, the Goldring Elektra is sure to please. With an elliptical stylus, low mass cantilever, and replaceable stylus, this rich, warm and smooth-sounding moving-magnet design will deliver a huge slice of fine vinyl sound without breaking the bank. Bonus: The Elektra's generous output (5mV) means it'll work great into any phono stage.

--Benz Micro MC20E2 ($250): A moving-coil design available in both high (2.2mV) and low (.5mV) versions. Like any MC, the stylus isn't replaceable, meaning you'll have to re-tip this cartridge once it's worn out. But the sound of almost every MC makes it all worthwile, and this one possesses great tone coupled to a smooth yet lively, non-fatiguing sound. The Benz can get a little edgy on records that are too hot in the upper registers, but if you're looking for a little excitement factor to jump-start your music, the MC20E2 is a great choice.

--Sumiko Blue Point Special Evo III ($399): Long a class leader, the high output (2.5mV) BPS Evo III sounds great will all kinds of music but really shines on rock or pop. Its quick, clear, nimble sound and overall excitement factor are simply unmatched at this price. Bonus: its excellent trackability means the BPS will sail through beat up garage sale or Goodwill finds and never miss a beat.

--Dynavector DV20x ($650): Another MC available in both high (2.5mV) and low (.3mV) versions for either MM or MC phono inputs respectively, the Dyna's greatest strengths are is its even-handed balance and smooth musical delivery. The DV20x won't wow your friends upon first listen, but the more you listen, the more you'll come to appreciate how this cart simply gets out of the way, letting you focus on the music and not the sound.

--Shelter 501 mkII ($900): Like all of the cartridges from the house of Shelter, the 501 excels at delivering a liquidity and richness that no other cartridge at this price point can match. The lush, densely-textured midrange is to die for, and top-to-bottom coherence is equally superb. While 9 bills for a cart is anything but cheap, consider the fact that the Shelter 501, in a previous guise, used to sell (in huge quantities, too!) for $2650 as the Crown Jewel SE. Pricey? Yes. Outstanding value? Absolutely, positively, double-whammy yes!

--Lyra Argo i ($1500): I made mention of my cherished cartridge in last week's blog, and even after over 6 months of owning it, I remain continually amazed by this little blue-bodied wonder. If you want to hear just how good analog can be, look no further than the Lyra Argo i. Luxuriously spendy, yes; but the Argo is one of the most detailed, transparent, and musically insightful cartridges I've ever heard--even compared to carts 3-4 times its stiff asking price. The highly-textured, rhythmically-incisive and organically natural sound is much to my liking. And you haven't heard powerful and well-defined bass until you've heard this Lyra do bass. Demands ultra-precise set-up, but the musical riches that result are well worth it.

Next week: phono preamps. Really!