I am going to start saving now for the new audio upgrade later in the year. Meanwhile their first 4K Blu-ray is out now.



website for OPPO: http://www.oppodigital.com/blu-ray-udp-203/

HDR and HDR to SDR Conversion is a mind blower.

One of the more exciting elements of the new 4K UHD format is the inclusion of high-dynamic range (HDR) video and an expanded color range, allowing for more natural and true-to-life colors. The UDP-203 supports the HDR10 format, and it is also capable of providing an accurate conversion from HDR to SDR for older displays

From Digital Bits:

In terms of new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player hardware, obviously Oppo Digital has just launched their debut player on the format, the UDP-203 (SRP $549).

I’ve been testing this unit for about a week now and it’s just tremendous.

For a first-generation player, it’s very solid, very fast, and it plays just about everything – Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD, DVD-Audio, CD, and SACD, plus a wide variety of digital video and audio formats via network and USB. It’s compatible with HDR-10 right out of the box, and it’s also hardware compatible with Dolby Vision; a firmware update in the months ahead will add full Dolby Vision compatibility (keep in mind that no Dolby Vision UHD BD software is yet available, though software is forthcoming – again, more in a moment – and you can stream it now via Netflix and Vudu).

Oppo is also working on an audiophile-upgraded version of this player, the UDP-205 (SRP around $1K), due for release later this year.

And here's the baby I am awaiting:
OPPO's UDP-205 4K UHD Audiophile Blu-ray disc player is arriving in early 2017*.



Rick A.

There audio upgrade players (I assume you're referencing the x5 vs the x3's?) Are definitely worth it.

For those required to use headphones, they also now have a combination DAC (requires some sort of transport for discs or pc based player for files) & super high quality headphone amp at the $1200 price point that includes there hi end audio circuitry. Not on my radar, but good to know.

Shame they didn't license something like foobar for files. It wouldn't have added much to the price.

question:

HDCD?

If I may be so bold, I believe Renny's question was more "Does the Oppo player handle HDCD discs?" rather than "What is HDCD?"

yes, that is what i meant, thank you jim.

In that Wikipedia article, it mentions OPPO's play HDCDs. OPPO's are the absolute best.

So if one was going to build a new system around this - what kind of receiver (specs) would one need. I have an old receiver (probably 20+ years old) which I like but is far from mid-high quality and is well, old school (2-channel). I assume surround, but have not really followed the technology.

This might help.

From the OPPO website:

7.1-Channel Analog Output

To ensure compatibility with older amplifiers, pre-amps, and receivers that do not support HDMI, the UDP-203 retains a 7.1 multi-channel analog output section, which delivers an incredible sound stage and an immersive surround experience.

Rick A.

Later this year when my media room is completed and I'm putting together my new A/V system, I will be referencing this thread and possibly sending some PM's to help figure out which is the right Oppo for me.

Thanks.

At this point I would go with a modern receiver that utilizes HDMI and USB. Much simpler, less wires, the OPPO will talk to the receiver. They are now up to Dolby Atmos which can utilize 9 speakers (2 subs) but that's overkill for most people with a modest room.
I still am happy with Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS 5.1 using HDMI from my Sony PS4 to my Denon receiver (which was the first to have HDMI).
Many of today's Blu-rays have 7.1 soundtracks but most people can't put speakers behind them.
I find a 5.1 system with 3 speakers up front (left, center, right) and 2 side speakers on the wall with a subwoofer works great.

This looks so nice.

Renny, the Oppo 95 does read HDCD from physical CD's. I'm uncertain if it reads the HDCD bits on 44/16 files, as there is no HDCD indicator function for files (which I find frustrating). For newer models, I'd suggest checking Oppo's website, & if needed calling CS. I have found CS's knowledge level to be Oppo's biggest weakness in the past, though; so hopefully it will be stated in the specifications on the website.

oppo always had HDCD encoding built in to all their models.

now that HDCD seems to have become passe, i didn't know if they still did.

there is usually a little indicator which tells you if the disc is HDCD, my cheap rotel has one, so i'd guess the oppo models have one too.

The Oppo 95 does not. On cd, the on screen (Television) display will indicate if it's on. That feature does not work with files. I don't know if it's an oversite; or if on the 95 HDCD doesn't work with files (that would be a decoder issue; it SHOULD work unless it was left out of the decoder; which on the 95 is a licensed flac/wav decoder from another manufacturer).

i really don;t know if HDCD even exists anymore, i know that neil young bought into it, most of his stuff was HDCD, and it was starting to show up everywhere, then it just kind of died.

My current OPPO BDP-103 does have a HDCD indicator. I accent the word current.

Rick A.

I know the Grateful Dead is still using HDCD. Oddly; from what I have seen, the biggest selection of HDCD recordings were from many contemporary Country artists.

I've heard 2 differing theories as to why HDCD tends to be good (& neither is from Wikiediia, I haven't read that article)

1. The reconstructed encoded extra 4 bits in the word length

2. Reference Recordings (the originator of HDCD & original copyright holder) built a very high quality a/d convertor & even with 16 bit it sounds better due to the quality of the convertor.

I don't know for sure if either or both are correct; HDCD seems to often sound a little better the CD.

My understanding is they supposedly encode 4 extra bits in the word length that cd players don't see at all unless the dac has an HDCD encoder; then supposedly the 4 extra bits are added to the digital word before decoding to analog.

i don't know all the techie stuff, all i know is that HDCD CD's do sounds a bit better than the regular ones. more fuller....if that makes any sense at all ????

Yes, it does.