SACD players?

Thinking about getting a nice SACD player as I have never owned one and there are some nice titles I'd like to get. There are are a lot of reasonably priced universal players which do SACD such as the Oppo BDP-103 or Marantz UD7007 but I'm not sure about universal players for SACD use. Does anyone know of any gems around the $1000 mark? Are they even worth buying at this price?

 

The Oppos are fantastic (I own the 105) and are highly regarded basically everywhere but here on SBAF

If you can get a decent price on a used one it'll be hard to do much better without spending a lot more $

 

I have an Oppo 105 that I would recommend for its convenience, and great video of course. I am also happy with its sound reproduction be it from SACD or otherwise. At the same time I can't say it is better than my previous setup: a $100 Sony BDP player, which also played SACDs, feeding a Meier DACcord. In other words, if sound quality is all you are after there may be better values in DACs than in audiophile SACD players.

 

The Oppos do seem to do disc playing well, but I have had problems with audio files streamed over the network. Mainly file format compatibility issues including utilizing multiple software packages to RIP and generate the files to test their assertion that it was the files. Basically Oppo has problems reading the audio files without pops, clicks, and or silence where there shouldn't be any even from an USB drive. Oppo service would work with me for a while but basically claim that it was my files even if I have no problems with any other device, and I tried multiple software packages to generate audio files that might be compatible with the Oppo with no success. In short, Oppo seems to concentrate on disk spinning, and the more modern digital audio files are not their forte. In fact, they also have problems supporting gapless which is an "experimental" feature for them where many other players have no problems with gapless playback. If you only have discs, then the Oppo might be a good solution for you. Oddly enough, I do not have any problem streaming my own digital video files over the network (such as home videos), so go figure.

 

Which Sony BDP player is that? Thanks.

 

Yeah the Oppo 103 is a great player just don't use the spdif output since it sucks imo. Though to be fair this i judged with video files which were converted to 2.0 perhaps with sacd it's fine. But isn't there some restriction where you can't play sacd over spdif?

 

From page 19 of the Oppo BDP-105 manual (emphasis added):

I confirm from personal experience you get no sound output at all when using S/PDIF output and attempting play SACDs (even those with regular CD layers) on an SACD player (Oppo in my case) due to copyright restrictions.

@deniall83, you need to decide:

1. Whether you will use the SACD player on its own or whether you'll be hooking it up to an external DAC; and
2. If you plan to use it on its own, whether you also need the SACD player to function as a DAC for other devices (e.g., USB, HDMI, and/or optical audio inputs).

Re: choice #1 - If you are using with an external DAC, to bypass the copyright restrictions noted above, you need either:

1. An Oppo BDP-103/D player outfitted with an Audiopraise Vanity103 HD upgrade board and a DAC with coaxial input. The Vanity board allows you to get around the inherent restrictions with the regular coaxial digital output on all SACD players. It also offers, among other things, four two-channel S/PDIF outputs, either PCM only or a newer version that offers DoP for SACD output if you are using with a DSD-capable external DAC; high quality DSD-to-PCM conversion; jitter reduction; and other improvements over the regular coaxial output. It also is compatible the 103/D's built-in downmixing feature. I use this board (PCM version) in a 103D with stereo downmixing with one coaxial cable hooked up to my Yggdrasil; or
2. An SACD player with an HDMI output and an external DAC with an HDMI input. I know of two such DACs: the Bryston BDA-3 and the Essence HDACC. Both Oppo players have dual HDMI outputs (HDMI1 through video processor and HDMI2 which can send SACD data, either DSD or PCM), so get the 103/D to save money if you go the Oppo route.
3. Edit: A SACD player with HDMI output and an HDMI de-embedder. In a perfect world, these allow you to use the HDMI output from a player to send audio, strips the protections, and give you coaxial and/or optical outputs for use with an external DAC. I tried the KanexPro recommended in the linked article and could not get sound with an Oppo BDP-105D and Yggdrasil, no matter the settings combination on player and de-embedder.

Re: choice #2 - You have many more options since your chain will be: SACD player --> preamp/amplifier or integrated amplifier.

• I highly recommend the Oppo BDP-105/D, especially if you will also be using the player for video. I also recommend getting the 105/D over the 103/D if you'll be using the player hooked up to an amp because the analog audio outputs are better-engineered. Having a TV/monitor hooked up to Oppo units is ideal because menu settings could be tricky using the mobile app. The Oppo BDP-105/D is also modded frequently in case you want to go down that route later. Both Oppo players offer HDMI input, so you can use them with consoles, cable boxes, or an Apple TV. The 105/D's DAC gives you USB, coaxial, and optical inputs as well. (The optical input on the 105/D could come in handy if you game frequently because the HDMI-input will increase input lag. Game console video via its own HDMI, but optical audio into the Oppo would solve that problem.) The 105/D also has a built-in headphone amp; the 103/D does not.
  • Understanding the Differences Between the BDP-103 and BDP-105
    
  • Is the Darbee Edition Right for Me?
• There are also high-quality SACD and/or SACD/Blu-ray players from many other companies like Marantz, Cambridge Audio and Sony. Many of these have digital inputs for use with the player's internal DAC.

Feel free to PM with any questions. Later this month, I'll likely be selling the 105D I upgraded to the 103D/Audiopraise unit, so let me know if you're interested.

 

Zonto that was a really helpful and informative post. Thanks. You saved me from buying the 103, which will not fit my needs for sacd playback.

 

You're welcome! Forgot a third option re: choice #1 above: an HDMI de-embedder. In a perfect world, these allow you to use the HDMI output from a player, strips the protections, and gives you coaxial and/or optical outputs for use with an external DAC.

I tried the KanexPro recommended in the article I linked to here with an Oppo BDP-105D, 75-ohm coaxial cable from Blue Jeans Cable, and my Yggdrasil, and could never get sound no matter the combination of settings I used on the Oppo or the KanexPro itself. Promptly returned.