Oppo DV-970HD's analog output

[regal]

I am planning a budget bedroom headphone setup. Thought about a cheap computer + DAC, but I have an unusual amount of HDCD's. I would say 75% of what I listen to are HDCD's! So I am considering this Oppo DV970.

Has anyone heard its analog output? Does it have a collasped sound stage or anything unusual? I'm not looking for the end all in audio performance but I don't want something that sounds like a cheap MP3 player either.

 

[Dragon Rider]

I've got the oppo DV-970HD DVD player, but use it primarily for Dvix/Xvid video playback > plays every video format I've thrown at it. It plays SACDs beautifuly. Have not tried DVD Audio. What are you calling HDCDs?

 

[Jahn]

sacd is the best with it imho - dvd-audio is next best, then HDCD (maybe it's just my copy of Dire Straits that isn't up to snuff) then redbook. all of these options sound better than my comp to DAC-ah except for the redbook - the DAC-ah still takes that one to town, but it's hard to top high fidelity!

 

[regal]

I have a DAC-AH on my main system, they are very good on RBCD.

 

[John D.]

I bought an Oppo DV970 specifically because I have quite a few Grateful Dead
discs in HDCD, they sound great. I also like the way SACD's and DVD-A sounds on this unit. I use this Oppo for audio application only. I contacted Oppo, they recommended this unit for audio applications. I'm very happy with it so far.

JD

 

[cjcerny]

Is there a preferred inexpensive headphone amp to use with the 970HD's analog outs?

 

[SFbayArch]

this TNT review of the Oppo DV970HD might help your cause:

http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/oppo_dv970_e.html

I pulled this from the review:

Quote:

Conclusion If you are looking for an absolute reference, OPPO is not your choice. I am very choosy, but all the hype you can read about it seems to me "a little exaggerated". However, you must consider that, right because of all the hype and consequent expectations, it has been tested in a system whose value is at least 50 times the cost of this multiplayer, and whose components are champions in the price/performance game. It would be a very hard, if at all reasonable, test for any system; without such expectations, I suspect the review conclusions would have probably been rather different... The naked truth is that the OPPO player, despite its far more refined and transparent sound with respect to direct competitors, shows big issues in terms of rhythm, body and verve when compared with products specifically oriented to audio. This, together with the strange behaviour in the controls, seems to show that it has been thought, developed and optimized as a Home Thatre device, more than as an audio source. On the other side, its huge flexibility, in terms of number of different audio media supported, cannot be denied, and is a plus difficult to find in competitors. To draw a bottom line, the DV970-HD cannot be considered a reference player, but still remains an interesting bargain.

 

[SiBurning]

I just tried ELP's Brain Salad Surgery DVDA on the oppo 970HD and it sounded awful. Booming bass, hollowed highs, minute mids. Just awful.

Long story short, I just reinstalled my JVC XV-SA602 to handle dvda. It does, however, have lousy redbook. Might just plug the dac back in and just use the oppo for video and sacd.

 

[infinitesymphony]

Quote:

The naked truth is that the OPPO player, despite its far more refined and transparent sound with respect to direct competitors, shows big issues in terms of rhythm, body and verve when compared with products specifically oriented to audio. To draw a bottom line, the DV970-HD cannot be considered a reference player...

Agreed, but where are the "products specifically oriented to audio" and "reference player" for $149.99 MSRP?

 

[Jahn]

yep, my Oppo mainly pulls SACD duties and transport for redbook out to the DAC-ah still. don't own too many DVD-A or HDCD but both formats don't shine as much as SACD does on the Oppo to my ears - but again, it may just be the discs i own.

 

[VicAjax]

i'm using a 970HD, with its analog output, as my primary CDP... and i'm amazed by its quality. Absolute Sound said it came close to the NAD master series universal, Affordable Audio said it easily bested an NAD 541i CDP and approached their Primare reference CDP...

it's not the be-all, but for the price, it really is phenomenal... perhaps even a giant killer. my only criticisms: the bass could be a bit more authoritative and the soundstage more 3D.

 

[soundboy]

I will blame you guys for "encouraging" me to pick up a 970HD. Drove from San Francisco to Oppo's office, and picked it up today while the boss was out gone....

 

[pageman99]

Soundboy, let us know what you think, please. Looking forward to your comments.

 

[melomaniac]

the current issue of stereophile heaps praise on this OPPO. nice, since I own one, and I think it sounds all right - but I am actually a bit surprised by the praise this thing gets. it's exceptional at the price, but it's not better than computer to decent DAC in my experience.

 

[Nebby]

I don't know much the two formats, but do the SACD and HDCD specs allow digital transport out to a dac?