Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems HelpPlease - Looking to buy a new Blu-Ray player

I am considering the Ayre DX5 / Oppo or Theta CompliBlu.

I�m running a Meridian 861V4 + HD621 on the audio side and a Runco video processor + Runco plasma display on the video side. From what I have been able to ascertain , the Ayre is unlikely to offer me much (if any) benefit in terms of Blu-Ray video presentation versus the Oppo or Theta for that matter. Is this a correct assumption or am i missing something?

On the audio side, given that I�m using the 861 + HD621 I am also assuming that the Ayre/Oppo/Theta will not provide me with materially better/higher quality audio when watching Blu-Ray or DVDs? Is that also a correct assumption or am I again missing something?

If the abvove assumptions that I'm making are correct it is a question of what is the best transport available for my purposes that can internally decode Dolby True HD and DTS Master Audio and send the resulting signal to my HD621 (I'm assuming that all three units can do this but if that is not the case please let me know as that would clearly rule that product out). Do any of these three units work particularly well with the 861v4 + HD621 combination? Is there another product that I should be looking at? It seems to me that all the "enhanced" Oppo based products have little merit for Meridian based systems as the vast majority of the additional enginering/value is on the analog audio side which would not be utilised in an 861 + HD621 set-up, correct?

I would only use the new transport for BD as I would retain my Meridian DVD player for DVD-A playback as well as SD DVD playback. I never built up an SACD library and thus I�m indifferent to this format.



Many thanks in advance.

Note according to Ayre. I have not tried the Ayre video.

I am sworn to silence about the Ayre until my column appears in January. Michael Fremer comments on the analog audio outputs in the current issue of Stereophile.

I personally would never buy a highend player. Technology changes too fast. That's partly why Meridian got out of it. A new Oppo player a year later will probably supercede any tweaked one. Buy it's your money.

I agree with George. I need another Blu-Ray player so I'm waiting for the Oppo BDP-93. But my new 861 v6 has shipped and will arrive early next week. I think I have my priorities straight.

Yes the enhanced SE versions of the Oppo-BDP-83 were only for analog and they were quite favorably reviewed using the 861 v6 and using analog inputs. For me however I want the 7.1 capability and so I need to use HDMI into the HD621. I am not sure but, I don't believe they plan on having an SE version of the -93.

I really don't understand why people are prepared to spent big money on 'high-end' analog outputs on a BR player.

Especially when he/she is a Meridian owner.

If you opt for the BDP-93 and travel to the US then have it delivered to your hotel and save a fortune. Brought my BDP-83 back to the UK in carry on luggage to protect it in transit, and easily fitted the region free kit from CRT (may no longer be trading but also available from bluraychip.dk)

Oppo are working on an SE version of the 93, with improved analogue output. It's been confirmed by Oppo over on AVS. Not sure of time frames or any more detail. Oh and it may end up being labeled 95, to avoid confusion.

CRT are going to be the official importer of the new BDP-93 I believe

There's a good Cambridge Audio universal player.

Isn't that made by BBK (owners of Oppo brand) and based on the Oppo BDP-80 with IR option ?

Oppo cited availability of the model of Sony laser assembly as the reason for discontinuation of the 80/83 so I wonder what will happen with other brands based on the BBK/Oppo platform ?

Avii

It is being replaced so they can sell everyone a new model, you can bet the 83 owners will all upgrade at some point, as you have to have the latest.

But the loss of parts have clearly given Oppo problems. They have no players to sell until the BDP95 comes on stream. It was originally slated for after the third week of this month. The first shipment to the UK is already sold.

The BDP95 is said to be a new build with better DAC / analogue outs. This will not happen until next year.

Meanwhile, the 93 will have 2 HDMI out which can be set so that one outputs video and the other one outputs audio. It will be interesting to see whether it will be better to send a combined signal to the HD621, or only an audio signal with the video going direct to the display.