Oppo 981 -- nice sound!

[supervij]

So I bought the Oppo 981 a week or so ago, and have been extraordinarily pleased with the video quality. And now I'm finding that the audio quality is pretty good too!

I popped in a CD a while back, and because I was so used to listening to CDs using the digital connection from my old Pioneer 588A to my Yamaha 750 receiver, I did the same with my new Oppo. It all sounded pretty much the same -- I didn't expect it to sound different, as I was using the digital connection.

For some reason, I decided to play around, and the first thing I did was listen to a song on that CD using the analog connection. I was really taken aback to hear the song sounding a little better! The bass was a bit stronger and tighter, and the music overall just seemed a bit more detailed, a bit more spacious. It makes sense, I suppose, since the Oppo 981 is newer than the Yamaha 750, and probably has newer, better DACs.

Then I tried a concert on DVD: Peter Gabriel's Still Growing Up Tour. I chose DTS sound, then switched back and forth between digital and analog. Each time, the analog sounded definitely better. In both cases (CDs and music DVDs), I found that the sound was a step up from the digital connection. Not a huge step up, but a definite, small one.

Next, I'm going to try it with DVD movies. I haven't picked out which one to try first, but I guess I'd have to pick one that has 5.1, not 6.1 (the Oppo has 5.1 analog outputs, not 6.1 or 7.1). I'm anxious to see if I can hear a difference. I assume I will be able to, but what's exciting me is the newness of it all, the possibility of some improvement where I didn't expect any to be. Now that I think about all this, it seems weird to be using an analog connection -- just seems so twentieth century!

I'm not sure what my reason is for posting this. I'm just a little juiced at having improved the audio in my system, and felt the need to share. None of my friends would get excited over this; none of them are into a/v stuff, so looks like I'm sharing with you. So thanks.

cheers,
supervij

 

[Don_T]

I also bought the 981 and have been VERY pleased with the video quality. Should placate me until the HD DVD war's dust settles a bit.

I have not yet played around with the audio as of yet but you have made me curious. Did you have to go into the setup of the oppo and set the speaker distances/levels? Can't remember if there were level adjustments or not.

How about SACD? tried that yet?

 

[GeorgeH]

You owe it to yourself to try a SACD or DVD-A or two. I have a 970 and am just starting to experiment. So far, I've bought the usual suspects (Dark Side of The Moon, Brothers in Arms, Gaucho, etc) and the SQ is really nice. On Gaucho, the track "Thrid World Man" has a repeating riff that has an anonomous quality to it on the Redbook CD. I could identify it as a musical note, of course, but it was never quite clear wether it came from a musical instrument, a synthesizer, etc. On the DVD-A (or SACD, I suppose) it's very clear that it's a lightly strummed guitar. It's fun discovering the old standbys again.

These are nice players, unbelieveable for the money.

 

[supervij]

Sadly for me, life gets busy sometimes, and little projects like this get shoved to the side.

I've tried DVD-A (R.E.M.'s "In Time"), and was very pleased with what I heard. But I'm just not sure if it sounded better than my old Pio 588A; it's been a while since I heard it on the Pio, which I recently gave away anyway, so I can't really ask for it back to compare.

In the Oppo, you do have to go in and set distances and speaker size and indicate if there's a sub or not. It also lets you change speaker levels, but the manual says that it has that just in case your receiver doesn't offer that. So I've left all the speaker levels at zero for the Oppo, and use the levels in my receiver.

I'm hoping to try SACD sometime soon, when work gets a little less nuts.

And I agree with you regarding the video quality. It comes pretty close to HD-quality, I gotta say. On really well-transferred DVDs (like Season One of Lost, for example), there are moments when I could swear that what I was watching really is HD. Definitely makes me okay with sitting out the HD on disc war going on.

cheers,
supervij

 

[Ryan8886]

Hmmmm...now you've got my curiousity piqued! That Peter Gabriel concert you mentioned earlier is one of my favorites, only I have it on my DVR...so I can't play around with the sound.....digital all the way with that. I may have to go buy the DVD and hook up the analogue outputs on my 981 for kicks! I can't imagine "Sky Blue" sounding any better though! Best song in the show!

 

[supervij]

Hey Ryan. Actually, I was talking about PG's "Still Growing Up: Live and Unwrapped" DVD. It's a film of the second leg of his Growing Up tour. "Sky Blue" isn't on there.

"Sky Blue" was indeed one of the great songs from that concert! Some people thought it was cheesy the way the Blind Boys rose up from underneath the floor, but when they started singing, o man was that cool!

But . . . don't get all excited about my saying that the Oppo has great sound! The reason I'M excited about it is that I have a low-end receiver, really nothing to get write home about. The Oppo is way newer than my receiver, so it shouldn't surprise me that the analog sound is a small step up for me. So if you've got a decent receiver, you may not hear any difference at all . . . or you may find that your receiver gives you better audio. Don't get your hopes TOO high!

cheers,
supervij

 

[candy129]

Wow! I have been debating which player to buy and after reading this I have no choice to go with an OPPO. I don't really have much to contribute since I have yet to purchase one, but I just had to say thanks for your seemingly meaningless posting. This leaves no doubts in my mind that the OPPO will be the perfect choice. And now I know who to come to with questions when I do get it!

 

[Ron Temple]

I have the 971 and seriously prefer analog playback to digital. It broadens the soundstage and adds depth and clarity. Not only is MCH better, but 2 channel as well. I only use the digital for 2 channel that does better with the sub.

Video's nice too.

 

[supervij]

I just discovered something about the 981 that's kinda ticking me off. When playing SACDs, the front display shows a number 1 no matter what track is playing. And I can't get the unit to show me anything other than the elapsed time for the playing track -- no track remaining time, disc elapsed time, nor disc remaining time. It's always on track elapsed time. A little peculiar, and a little annoying.

Other than that, SACDs sound shiny! I did some direct comparisons to Peter Gabriel's Plays Live CD and the SACD. While the CD sounded fine, oh man oh man did the SACD ever kick it up a notch. Or two! Suddenly there was strong bass, clearer soundscape, and it was a whole lot punchier. Very nice.

I was extremely impressed with Peter Gabriel's Up SACD (I seem to be on a real PG kick lately). This disc has a lot going on; there are many layers of sound, and a lot of instrumentation all over the place. Every time I play it, I feel like I discover something new. Having said that, it was a step or two up on the Oppo (compared to my old Pioneer 588A). Subtle sounds were clearer, gigantic soundscape, I don't even know what terminology to use. But I was hugely impressed with the sound.

Okay, okay, my only point of reference IS the Pio 588A, but still . . . I feel like my breath was taken away.

candy, I don't think you'll be disappointed with a purchase of the Oppo 981. The video in particular is really something.

And Ron, I fully agree with your assessment of the analog playback of the Oppo.

cheers,
supervij

 

[billy p]

Thanks

I have the 971 and seriously prefer analog playback to digital. It broadens the soundstage and adds depth and clarity. Not only is MCH better, but 2 channel as well. I only use the digital for 2 channel that does better with the sub.

Video's nice too.

I read your post when you first purchased your oppo, bass mgn was good but not great and many others have said that as well. How much tweaking was needed to do to get it there? I myself only use the digital output it make things easy, however your post has inspired me to tinker and try it out! I guess the biggest hurdle for the oppo 971 was its stellar video performance and audio was just average.

Cheers, Billy p

 

[Ron Temple]

I read your post when you first purchased your oppo, bass mgn was good but not great and many others have said that as well. How much tweaking was needed to do to get it there? I myself only use the digital output it make things easy, however your post has inspired me to tinker and try it out! I guess the biggest hurdle for the oppo 971 was its stellar video performance and audio was just average.

Cheers, Billy p

Billy, my HK won't allow me to run tones when set to 6/8channel direct, so I have to utilize the Oppo channel trim. It was tedious using an SPL meter, so I kept the HK flat except for the sub which I've have at +7 (normally -7 for DD/DTS) and listened to a ton of music to get things right. For DVD As, I have the sub at +2 on the Oppo and for my room it's great. For 2 channel, I still use the Oppo, but no sub. My speakers are full range and I mostly prefer it that way. If the music really benefits with a sub, I use the HK for BM in stereo mode (digital connection).

I have no complaints with the SQ. It's a great, inexpensive, source.