Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat Meridian 861 + 621 + OPPO 93 users: Advise Please

I cannot recall (nor can I find) whether I've made this comment before, so sorry if redundent ....

Using the two HDMI outputs will have the advantage of not having to switch on a downstream video component to prevent 861 from 'flipping' between presets whan playing SACD or DVD from the Oppo. Presumably this problem can be fixed with a HD621 firmware update, but in the meantime I'm planning to run one HDMI from Oppo 93 to the HD621 and then the other to my Lumagen Radiance. The HD621 will not have anything connected to its HDMI output thus no sink problems.

OK, I admit, I'm a big-time skeptic of all these mods, but really, who writes this stuff? I've always had this mental picture of people coming up with the most absurd terminology, and then lauging themsleves silly when people actually buy it. Frankly, I'll eat my BDP-93 if any of these mods make a whit of difference to the video perofmance of the player. I've just ordered and plan to use the stock unit.

Yes what I'm talking about would be covered by the principles of ISF.

Avii

Indeed - having a technical background as I & many other HH'ers do, we know it's utter nonsense, but I've also been studying the psychology of this kind of thing & quite often the writer's actually believe this stuff themselves ! Usually they've no / limited knowledge of what they're talking about & if they actually do some testing, the tests are so flawed or simply incorrect that they're utterly meaningless. Ever seen any before / after mod-measurements included in the sales blurb ? No, me neither....

I'm going to order a stock BDP-93 as well soon (and sell my BDP-83SE) just to future-proof myself for 3D & to give the flexibility of 2 HDMI outputs - but I'll quite happily join you in a Blu-ray buffet !

I'm also ready to buy a stock Oppo. Will there be any advantage for a 861 v6 / HD621 HDMI user with respect to the Oppo-95 over the Oppo-93?

My understanding (mostly from the AVS threads) is that the 95 will be no different than the 93 for HDMI systems. The 95 has it's primary advantage through the analogue outputs, both stereo and multi-channel. It is unlikely the different power supply will have an effect on audio/video quality through the HDMI outputs.

Regards,

Wayne

Yep, probably not. Had my 83 upgraded with a linear power supply and could not tell any difference at all. I also think it may have been in Kal's review of the Ayre where he observed that just the better power supply seemed to make no discernable difference versus the stock 83 (although other changes were found to be material).

And, I presume somewhere they will state some benefits associated with these 'amazing modifications'. I wonder what Russ Andrews lawyers would feel about any such claims.

The update has been delayed. I have no date for when it will now be delivered.

I have not had any sink problems but in any case play SACD as a phantom source.

I actually just placed an order for the 93 yesterday. I had been waffling over the 95 versus the 93, based on the tiny possibility that the 95 would be better even over HDMI, but then I realized that I'd have to shift my entire rack around to make space for the slightly higher 95 profile - and I'm way too lazy to do that.

My modified unit has not come back yet and thus I have not posted any comments.

I will be keeping my existing Pioneer BD in the system and thus it will be easy to a/b betwen it and the modified Oppo as i have duplicates of a few discs.

I used the stock Oppo 93 unit for a couple of days before sending it back for modifications so I have a sense of how it performed in my system initially but I have since changed all of my speakers and thus will not be able to tell how much/little improvement there may be on the audio but on the video side things have not been altered.

I should be able to post my initial thoughts on the modified unit within a couple of weeks.