Oppo BDP-93 vs Oppo BDP-95 which one should I get?

[Sunnyboy]

Dear everyone, after long waiting for BDP-93 and BDP-95, I think lots of people are wondering: which one should I get?

My suggestion is (I am not affiliated with OPPO in any way): If you use a BD player to connect to your HT system through HDMI, BDP-93 is for you. Period.

But, for people who is using traditional receivers, is BDP-95 worth it? Well, that depends.

The main difference between Oppo BDP-93 and BDP-95 is the audio board, however, the difference is not just $500! The difference is HUGE! BDP-93 and BDP-95 have exactly the same video circuits: SMPS (95 comes with isolation) --> video main board --> BD drive. But the difference stops here.

If you are a serious stereophile like me who want to take the advantage of ESS Sabre32, National Semiconductor LM4562/LME49720/LME49724 (all OP amps are one of them), WIMA MKP 5% caps, polystyrene caps and so on. Then BDP-95 is designed for you!

The architecture of BDP-95 is: power IEC inlet --> 2 power supply boards (1 is the same as that of BDP-93's Switching Power Supply, however, the other one connect to a insulated toroidal transformer made for BDP-95. These two power supplies are connected in parallel). I have no interests in reporting the video part, since people already familiar with Oppo's BD players performance.

On the power supply to audio board, there are 4 1N400X type of diodes (which makes modification easy), and ELNA 3300 uF, 50V x 4 filtering caps, and after LM317 regulators, there are 6 x ELNA SILMIC 470uF, 25V filtering caps. The raw DC power then feed into the audio board with 2 x ESS 9018 DACs. On this board, all power supplies are regulated again, and each IC/OP amps, power supplies are regulated, decoupled by a 220uF, 25V elco caps by-pass by Wima MKP 0.47 uF, 100V, 5% metalized PP caps. For each OP amps's compensation network, they are all using polystyrene and metal film resistors! Well, probably I should say all resisters are 1/8 W 1% metal film resistors!

After my baby got burned in, I will probably change stereo parts' caps all to Panasonic FM or Rubycon ones. But, at this time, no decision has been made.

For serious videophiles, BDP-95 is also for you, especially you drive each speaker separately with dedicated amps in your HT. Go for BDP-95.

Put it in this way, I have not seen any high-end audio equipments designed like this level for a price tag under $5000! I took some pictures already, when I find a place to host them, I will add the links later.

Further sound evaluation will come 2 weeks later (system break-in)... I will use OPPO BDP-95 --> Quad 606-II --> Tannoy Studio near field monitor to do the comparison. First listen: Sony SCD-XA5400ES is out!

Mike: you will be very very surprised!

[huaguosan]

Expert analysis and quite to the point. I will go with the 95. Thanks.

[Sunnyboy]

For people who wants to know more technical details or involving in more technical discussion of ESS 9018 chip, you can find a lot at http://www.diyaudio.com

[Doobiewah]

Thnx for the analysis. I decided to go with the 93 as I use HDMI for video and have an older receiver using an optical audio in. Won't be getting a new receiver anytime soon, so your analysis helped me save $500.

[The Duke]

Originally Posted by Doobiewah

Thnx for the analysis. I decided to go with the 93 as I use HDMI for video and have an older receiver using an optical audio in. Won't be getting a new receiver anytime soon, so your analysis helped me save $500.

With using optical audio you won't be getting lossless audio, just Dolby Digital or DTS with the player's audio output set to bitstream. With the player set to decode the audio and output PCM you'll only be getting 2 channel stereo. Does your receiver have mutli-channel analog input? (Not stereo, but 5.1 or 6.1) If you use that you'll get full lossless / High-def audio.

[Doobiewah]

Originally Posted by The Duke

With using optical audio you won't be getting lossless audio, just Dolby Digital or DTS with the player's audio output set to bitstream. With the player set to decode the audio and output PCM you'll only be getting 2 channel stereo. Does your receiver have mutli-channel analog input? (Not stereo, but 5.1 or 6.1) If you use that you'll get full lossless / High-def audio.

Unfortunately, the analog input on my receiver has never worked right and I didn't find out until after the warranty/return period was over (it was actually over two years before I found out, when I purchased a DVD player with multi-channel analog out to take advantage of that feature....) Too expensive to have someone fix it, so I've just stuck with the digital optical out using bitstream. I'm also more of a video guy than audio purist since my hearing was damaged years ago by a prescription med I was given for muscular problems. I'm excited about the Oppo video processing.

Thnx for the comment/heads up, tho!

[Gremal]

Thanks for your analysis Steve...where do you think the BDP-83SE fits in? I only use two-channel stereo analog outs...the multichannel is routed through HDMI.

[bnjiman]

Great post - very informative.

Could you please tell me how the Oppo 95 controls volume? I currently use an external monitor controller that features a stepped attenuator over optical coaxial (KRK Ergo) into powered speakers that do not offer a volume control (AE Pro Sat). These speakers will accept balanced inputs via XLR.

I have read that using a hardware attenuator to control volume is better than reducing the signal digitally due to bit loss and because of the risk of volume resetting to max could blow the speakers.

Do you know whether volume control in the 95 is achieved using an analogue method or is digital?

If the latter, would you suggest I go for the 93 as I would only be using the optical out?

Thanks in advance for your advice!
Cheers
Ben

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by bnjiman

Great post - very informative.

Could you please tell me how the Oppo 95 controls volume? I currently use an external monitor controller that features a stepped attenuator over optical coaxial (KRK Ergo) into powered speakers that do not offer a volume control (AE Pro Sat). These speakers will accept balanced inputs via XLR.

I have read that using a hardware attenuator to control volume is better than reducing the signal digitally due to bit loss and because of the risk of volume resetting to max could blow the speakers.

Do you know whether volume control in the 95 is achieved using an analogue method or is digital?

If the latter, would you suggest I go for the 93 as I would only be using the optical out?

Thanks in advance for your advice!
Cheers
Ben

believe it or not, all the answers are in the manuals for the units and are available online in a pdf format at oppos site. not trying to be a smart ass either; just letting you know that they are available to read and study.

all oppos (80's & 90's) control analog out volume only. in the manual you would see there are volume + - buttons on the remote and it tells you what/why they are there.

you could actually connect any oppo (mentioned) directly up to an external amp (or in your case powered speakers with no volume control built into them) and contol the volume of it through the machine as long as it is connected via analog.

hope that helps

[mpdhrd]

So in plain english... If I have an Onkyo TX-SR875 that I would likely be connecting to my player via HDMI, the 93 is more than adequate. If i were going to run my oppo through a pre-pro seperates system (ie Emotiva), I would benefit more from the 95.

Matt

[Clark Kent]

It really depends on how much you care about the sound quality through the stereo analog outputs. If premium sound (CD/DVD/Blu-ray/SACD) through analog means nothing to you, go with the BDP-93. If all you care about is hooking up your Blu-ray player via HDMI to your receiver, go with the BDP-93.

[mpdhrd]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

It really depends on how much you care about the sound quality through the stereo analog outputs. If premium sound (CD/DVD/Blu-ray/SACD) through analog means nothing to you, go with the BDP-93. If all you care about is hooking up your Blu-ray player via HDMI to your receiver, go with the BDP-93.

well my onkyo has analog inputs but with a PS3 as my only bluray player, i've never tried them. I dont know if i would notice a difference and $500 is a lot for an experiment. Would it make a difference whether it is the player or the reciever that is doing the HD audio decoding? I'm guessing the answer is yes for this thread to exist?

[SeanMF]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

It really depends on how much you care about the sound quality through the stereo analog outputs. If premium sound (CD/DVD/Blu-ray/SACD) through analog means nothing to you, go with the BDP-93. If all you care about is hooking up your Blu-ray player via HDMI to your receiver, go with the BDP-93.

Here is my situation. I will probably be trading my Arcam rDAC for a Naim nDAC. I will be getting a 93 or 95. I will be running the optical or coaxial for 2 channel playback from the Oppo to the Naim dac. 2 channel pcm is possible over optical and coax. That is all I will use it for and not multichannel music. I believe the dacs on the Naim to be better than the built in Oppo imo. However I'm open to any suggestions & opinions on the matter on whether the 95 is the better route to go.

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by mpdhrd

well my onkyo has analog inputs but with a PS3 as my only bluray player, i've never tried them. I dont know if i would notice a difference and $500 is a lot for an experiment. Would it make a difference whether it is the player or the reciever that is doing the HD audio decoding? I'm guessing the answer is yes for this thread to exist?

Originally Posted by SeanMF

Here is my situation. I will probably be trading my Arcam rDAC for a Naim nDAC. I will be getting a 93 or 95. I will be running the optical or coaxial for 2 channel playback from the Oppo to the Naim dac. 2 channel pcm is possible over optical and coax. That is all I will use it for and not multichannel music. I believe the dacs on the Naim to be better than the built in Oppo imo. However I'm open to any suggestions & opinions on the matter on whether the 95 is the better route to go.

Without knowing your personal situations, both cases sound like the Oppo BDD-93 would be the best choice. Running the player to a DAC, you are just using the player as a transport. Strictly as a transport, there is little difference between the two players.

[SeanMF]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

Without knowing your personal situations, both cases sound like the Oppo BDD-93 would be the best choice. Running the player to a DAC, you are just using the player as a transport. Strictly as a transport, there is little difference between the two players.

That is what I was thinking. Thanks.

[mpdhrd]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

Without knowing your personal situations, both cases sound like the Oppo BDD-93 would be the best choice. Running the player to a DAC, you are just using the player as a transport. Strictly as a transport, there is little difference between the two players.

What details would you need? I'm looking for the best player I can get without hitting a point of diminishing returns on my money. Let me know what you need to know to help me with a better decision.

[Clark Kent]

The Oppo BDP-95 only adds value if you plan to use the analog audio outputs. Even then it is mainly for the audio-centered person, one who regularly listens to CDs by themselves for instance.

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

The Oppo BDP-95 only adds value if you plan to use the analog audio outputs. Even then it is mainly for the audio-centered person, one who regularly listens to CDs by themselves for instance.

No, it's also good if you listen to CDs with other people around, as long as they don't talk too much while the CD is playing.

[yurisius]

Thanx for the infos about oppo 95.

I have some difficulties now choosing between 93 and 95.
The difference is just the analogue out .
I'd like to ask how is that difference. Is it very audible?

i think to buy a good external dac. A dac that sounds at least as good as the cd player jolida jd100s.

But if the oppo 95 has a very good sound quality, I'll buy the 95 and no ext dac.
If the sound should be similar to 93's, i'd buy oppo 93 and an ext dac, maybe a xindac 20th anniversary.

I haven't heard many dacs, I can't say to be an expert. I just know the sound of the arcam rdac (with new power supply), and I judge it very poor.
And I've listened the m2tech young dac, and I think it isn't sooo good.


thank you for any suggestions

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by yurisius

Thanx for the infos about oppo 95.

I have some difficulties now choosing between 93 and 95.
The difference is just the analogue out .
I'd like to ask how is that difference. Is it very audible?

i think to buy a good external dac. A dac that sounds at least as good as the cd player jolida jd100s.

But if the oppo 95 has a very good sound quality, I'll buy the 95 and no ext dac.
If the sound should be similar to 93's, i'd buy oppo 93 and an ext dac, maybe a xindac 20th anniversary.

I haven't heard many dacs, I can't say to be an expert. I just know the sound of the arcam rdac (with new power supply), and I judge it very poor.
And I've listened the m2tech young dac, and I think it isn't sooo good.


thank you for any suggestions

Whether it's audible will depend upon the rest of your chain and the type of music that you listen to. If you listen mostly to contemporary rock music, it's so processed and over-compressed, it's really not going to make any difference. If you listen to fine classical recordings, it will make a difference.

Personally, I think it's overkill to buy an external DAC when using the OPPO, unless you have positive confirmation from trusted sources that the external DAC does a better job than OPPO's internal DAC. And I'd personally trust such a source only if they did a double-blind comparison. Personally....I'd go with the 95 and forget the external DAC. And if you have so much money that it's not a big deal to buy the external DAC, then I'd go for the 95 anyway.