Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Restaurant at the End of Universe Hitchhikers - Meridian Equipment Oppo BDP-83 Universal Player with 4x SPDIF Powerbuy!

region free will be available in a few weeks, HD-SDI this week

thanks

Just let us know.
Regards,

Frederick

PS: can the 4x SPDIF output DVD-A copy-protected content?

Fred, of course it can, no problem at all

thanks

Does anybody know? I am interested to know because my PS3 cannot handle FLAC files (it works with WAV though).

I wanted to report on my experience with my modified BDP-83. I had Gary do the digital edition mods plus 4xSPDIF multi-channel audio output (I did not have the analog outputs disabled).

As reference, my system is as follows:

Meridian 861v4 Processor
Meridian 800v4 CD Player
Denon 3910 (w/ 3xSPDIF mod from DVDUpgrades)
Genesis 201 Front Speakers
Bohlender-Graebner 520i Surround Speakers (8.1 setup)
Genesis Sub-Woofers (7)
VTL 450 II LRC Amplifiers
Krell 3250 Surround Amplifiers
Sony VPL200 Projector
Panamorph 480 Anamorphic Lens
Lumagen Radiance XD Video Processor

The good news:

Bluray playback is outstanding. Video performance versus the stock Oppo player is close - I believe it is sightly better, although I might not be able to reliably distiguish in A/B comparisons. Audio performance is significantly improved through the 4xSPDIF versus the 5.1 analog connections. Avoiding the additional D/A conversions clearly helps.

DVD playback is also outstanding. Similar comments on video and audio as above.

CD playback is pretty darn close to that of my 800v4. Perhaps not quite as open and relaxed, but pretty close. I will continue to use the 800 for CD (Analogy: the $10 million ballplayer almost always plays ahead of the $100K ballplayer).

The not-so-good news:

There is something amiss with SACD playback on my BDP-83/861 combo. While the sound quality is superb (at least the equal of my modified Denon) I am having some decoding issues that result in periodic soft pops/dropouts. This occurs on both the 4xSPDIF outputs and the analog outputs so I think it is not an issue with Gary's mods. I need SACD to work properly in the Oppo otherwise I have three MCH digital sources but only two MCH inputs on my 861. Soft pops have been reported by other non-modified Oppo EAP users so I'll have to pursue with Oppo. (EDIT - spoke to Oppo CS and they note this is a known issue. Apparently it is quite subtle so many people might not even notice - or chalk it up to a flaw in the recording. They are investigating and I've little doubt that a fix will show up in a subsequent version of the firmware)

Did not test:

I did not bother to test DVD-A on the Oppo. Partly because DVD-A is so good on my 800, and partly because the reports of DVD-A performance so far on the Oppo has been buggy.

Hope this is helpful.

Simon

thanks for your report Simon, after this issue is fixed by Oppo I have no doubt you will find the Oppo 99% of these ubber $$$ high-end units

give DVD-A a spin and let us know what you think, most of the issues are ironed out now on the Oppo

thanks again

Gary,
Are you providing any shipment projections to those like me who have purchased a modded Oppo already?

You have received my email with the order and can let me know through that line when I can expect the unit to be shipped to me. I guess you can also send email within meridianunplugged.com without cluttering the forum.

Roger

Roger, you purchased on the powerbuy correct?

I expect to start filling those within 10 to 14 days from now, won't be long

Oppo says stock will be available steady by that time

thanks, appreciate it

Gary,

Yes, I purchased on the powerbuy on May 15, 2009.

I saw the various discussions about the HD-SDI option you are also offering. What is the additional cost for the SDI output together with the Digital Transport Meridian Edition modifications of the Oppo-BDP83? Would it still be possible for me to switch to such a modification?

I am wondering whether the expected improvement of the video is worth this addition. My Fujitsu scaler does not have HD-SDI input (it has DVI inputs) and so I would also need an adapter to run the SDI cable into it. Those adapters are apparently not cheap (Blackmagic, Gefen, Datavideo all between $400 and 700). Do you or other experienced Hitchhikers think the improved video is worth such an investment?

Roger

Roger, HD-SDI is for obsessed videophiles (like me) who demand and will pay for that last 2 or 3% PQ increase

if I were you I would go for a VP50pro scaler if I wanted HD-SDI, you gain so much for all your sources and they can be add at amazing prices these days

you can certainly add HD-SDI

if you are crazy about video HD-SDI is worth it, but it is costly

the Oppo will also do standard 480i/576i SDI output when a DVD is played

thanks

HD-SDI into a scaler like VP50Pro can be worth it if you're a videophile, but I can't see the meaning of HD-SDI into a HD-SDI-->DVI adapter...

I have not personally seen HD-SDI verus HD-over-HDMI, but I have seen SDI versus 480i-over-HDMI, and if that is any indication, the benefits of HD-SDI will be quite small and elusive.

I am also not sure how well the SDI-to-DVI/HDMI adapters really work. I originally had a Lumagen HDQ with SDI input, but when I upgraded to the Lumagen Radiance and explored a number of the adapters (although not the Black magic) I was ultimatelty less-than-satisfied with the performance. Using the adapter, I felt, gave me inferior performance to 480i native over HDMI.

If you have a VP that has direct SDI/HD-SDI inputs then I think going the SDI/HD-SDI route is worth considering. If you have to fool with adapters, IMO, it is not.

Also, and Gary Murrell is likely better qualified to comment, it is my sense that Bluray players with a well designed source-direct mode like the Oppo will further erode the small advantage to SDI/HD-SDI.