The OPPO BDP-95 January 2012 Absolute Sound magazine review

[HDTV1080P]

The OPPO BDP-95 January 2012 Absolute Sound magazine review

The January 2012 Absolute Sound magazine had an excellent review on the OPPO BDP-95. Review is located on pages 32, 34, and 37 of the January 2012 Absolute Sound magazine. The $999 OPPO BDP-95 is a low cost high quality Universal Blu-ray player with analog audio outputs that are almost as good as equipment costing $8,499+. For those that only plan on using HDMI connections than a $499 OPPO BDP-93 or other brand of Blu-ray player with SACD/DVD-Audio capability will sound just as good as the OPPO BDP-95. The OPPO BDP-95 strong points is its high quality analog audio outputs.

The following are select quotes from the January 2012 Absolute Sound magazine

“During my listening tests, for example, I compared the sound of a series of discs being decoded by the digital front end of the excellent Anthem Statement D2v A/V controller ($8499) to the sound of the same discs played through the BDP-95. I also did similar comparisons between the BDP-95 and two comparatively expensive reference players I had on hand a Musical Fidelity kW SACD player and a Rega Isis CD player. The results were eye-opening.”

“While I ultimately preferred my reference players to the Oppo, the Oppo sounded, in a qualitative sense, much more like the premium-priced reference players than unlike them. In short, the Oppo proved to my satisfaction that it could “play with the big boys.” “

“Absolutely nothing I’ve heard at or even vaguely close to the BDP-95’s price can compete with its sound quality.”

“The bottom line is this: The BDP-95 is by far the finest Blu-ray/universal disc player Oppo has yet produced. If you can afford one, then put the Oppo right at the top of your short list. If you can afford something more expensive, strongly consider buying the Oppo anyway. It’s that good.”

[Brian81]

Will this model be available in January 2012? It has analog high definition output. I was kind of expecting new Oppo models to come for 2012 but I've read nothing of that sort.

[jvonl]

The BDP-95 is already available.

[Brian81]

It is available now but will it be available come 2012? From my understanding, those models announced/released in 2010 would be able to be sold through 2011, but starting 2012 all players that ship would have to downrez over analog. If they keep the model going, how would they go about firmware updates, differentiating between 2011 and 2012 shipped players?

[solarrdadd]

2012 is about 3+ weeks from now, do we really think oppo is going to stop making the 93 & 95 by then? it's here to stay. now that's not to say oppo isn't going to release either another machine in the 90 series or a new series but i don't think (if they do that is) that will occur until the second half of the year. i don't think they will make a BDP-90 because i think they weren't happy enough with the 80 sales (even though they were good).

i'd easily tell anyone wanting one of the current 90 series to go ahead and get one and not worry.

[HDTV1080P]

My understanding is that the OPPO BDP-93 and BDP-95 are out of production and possible OPPO Digital might have enough in stock to last 6 months or so. The AACS mandate requires all Blu-ray players manufactured or introduced after December 31st 2010 to limit analog outputs to SD quality when playing Blu-ray movies encoded with AACS (99% of movies). I have not seen or heard of a OPPO BDP-93 or BDP-95 with a manufactured date of 2011. It appears OPPO Digital Inc manufactured a whole bunch of players before the AACS cutoff date in late 2010.

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

My understanding is that the OPPO BDP-93 and BDP-95 are out of production and possible OPPO Digital might have enough in stock to last 6 months or so. The AACS mandate requires all Blu-ray players manufactured or introduced after December 31st 2010 to limit analog outputs to SD quality when playing Blu-ray movies encoded with AACS (99% of movies). I have not seen or heard of a OPPO BDP-93 or BDP-95 with a manufactured date of 2011. It appears OPPO Digital Inc manufactured a whole bunch of players before the AACS cutoff date in late 2010.

Does the AACS mandate affect CDs, SACDs or DVD-Audio discs? Will those still output over analog at full resolution on any newly manufactured machines?

[fdm]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

Does the AACS mandate affect CDs, SACDs or DVD-Audio discs? Will those still output over analog at full resolution on any newly manufactured machines?

Just video. Basically it will no longer allow 1080i (or 720p ?) over component video connections. And at some point component video connections will no longer be allowed at all. If you are using HDMI nothing will change.

(Going from memory of reading about it a year or two ago, so grain of salt, but it does just apply to video.)

[Hug]

Do those restrictions apply to analogue audio output as well?

[fdm]

Originally Posted by Hug

Do those restrictions apply to analogue audio output as well?

None of these restrictions apply to audio, either digital or analog.

[HDTV1080P]

fdm is correct the AACS mandate only effects video on analog video outputs for future players. Audio will be the same, it’s up to the manufactories if they decide to include a 7.1 analog audio output. Many companies eliminate analog 7.1 audio outputs to keep cost lower.

[yellowcakeuf6]

I just bought an OPPO BDP-95 and the manufacture date is October 2011.

[Geezer00003]

Question,

I have an older Denon 4802 AVR with 8 RCA type connections labeled EXT IN.
Front x2, center, sw, surround x2 and surround back x2.
Would I get the benefit of the Oppo 95's analogue audio, SACD and DTS master decoding though my receiver?

cheers

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Geezer00003

Question,

I have an older Denon 4802 AVR with 8 RCA type connections labeled EXT IN.
Front x2, center, sw, surround x2 and surround back x2.
Would I get the benefit of the Oppo 95's analogue audio, SACD and DTS master decoding though my receiver?

cheers

Certainly you'll derive some new capabilities by using the BDP-95 with the AVR-4802. 95 would output to analog inputs on the 4802 for number of playback modes, including the BDP-95 decoding lossless and outputting LPCM to 4802 through its superior analog outputs. But the 4802 is now just about 10 years old, and a lot has changed with the Denon receiver line as well as other brands. I think it would buy you time to decide how your setup might evolve.

[Geezer00003]

Thx for the reply JohnAV. Nicely stated!
No one is more aware than myself of my dated equipment!
Alas the money's needed for a proper update are absent
Baby steps perhaps and the 95 might be a good start.

[Geezer00003]

I'll probably go get myself the Oppo 95 tomorrow. I'll at least give it a look/listen and if that pans out to my liking.....deal me in!

It'd be fair to say it should be an improvement over my PS3 and +15 year old Denon LA 3500 multi disc player for all my audio/video needs? The Oppo's Sabre 32 DAC vs my Denon's old 20 bit DAC, agreed?

Probably won't sleep tonight...hehe, damm

[Varanophile]

I've had the 95 for about a month now, still burning in the stereo analog outs but the mch analog sound for my DVDA & SACD is phenomenal.

You can't beat this player at this price, period.

Chris

[Geezer00003]

Originally Posted by Geezer00003

I'll probably go get myself the Oppo 95 tomorrow. I'll at least give it a look/listen and if that pans out to my liking.....deal me in!

It'd be fair to say it should be an improvement over my PS3 and +15 year old Denon LA 3500 multi disc player for all my audio/video needs? The Oppo's Sabre 32 DAC vs my Denon's old 20 bit DAC, agreed?

Probably won't sleep tonight...hehe, damm

To follow up on my previous post......

I did sleep and I'm now the proud owner of an Oppo 95.
In short while I still have some fine tuning to do intergrating the Oppo into it's new home. I say Wow! It is an improvement over the PS3(video) and Denon 3500(audio).

Cheers to Oppo

[RONDALLAS]

After buying the oppo 83 to replace my Ps3 . I realized what a great company oppo is and how much of my life I've wasted watching movies on that blanking Ps3 and I love movies. Well, I just got the Oppo 95 and once again its back to re watching my movie collection again. This player is awesome and then some. It sounds so much richer and clearer. It great with my dvd . Its have brought new life to them and music sound incredible. Love love love love love my oppo . Who cares I got to eat Radmin noddles for the next couple of months. Its so worth it.