OPPO BDP-105D as a stereo and HT preamp

[Darek]

I ask you for advice. Do any of you use the OPPO BDP-105D as a stereo and HT preamp linking it directly to the power amplifier? Do you have any experience? What are the advantages and disadvantages of such a solution? Thank you for all the suggestions and advice.

[audiobill]

I believe that member Boomzilla has had great experience doing this.

[garbulky]

The Oppo 105 sounds "pretty good" running direct to the power amp. There's nothing TREMENDOUSLY special about it though other than it sounds good. And for a lot of people that level is really good. I mean let's be real now! For me it was decent.
But...at least on emo power amps and the "relatively" large axiom m80, putting an XSP-1 in it really elevates things to the next level. I would put hte Oppo 105 as "okay to decent. XSP-1 to near the best sound I've heard." Combine them with two PSA XV15 subwoofers and the sound gets ooh la la. My personal opinion. There's at least two people here who think you need absolutely no XSP-1 at all to get ooh la la.

[badronald]

I have a similar question speaking about the XSP-1 in the mix. I've been listening to my oppo 105D through a XMC-1. I just bought an XSP-1 Gen2 (havent even received it yet). Can I expect an a fairly reasonable improvment? I will now have bass management now running dual SVS SB-2000 subs with Paradigm Studio 100s V3. I was thinking to set rear Xovers to both 50hz, high and low pass. Waht do you guys think?

[garbulky]

Oh that's a tough one. The XMC-1 is reported to have a good preamp function. I have heard the XMC-1 but not in a familiar enough envronment to compare it with the XSP-1. I think you'll just have to tell us! BTW the XMC-1 was heard with a paradigm studio 100 at novisnick's place. He also just so happened to have multiple subs in the mix. He also has an XSP-1 too. But I only heard it without the subs.
What I can tell you is that an XSP-1 with dual subs sounds freakishly nice! Like incredibly nice with a good DAC. If you get your speaker and sub setup right you can hear a very thick dimensional nearly transparent soundstage which will make you question how they managed to record that on a simple CD.

[novisnick]

Nov 19, 2015 22:26:51 GMT -5 badronald said:

I have a similar question speaking about the XSP-1 in the mix. I've been listening to my oppo 105D through a XMC-1. I just bought an XSP-1 Gen2 (havent even received it yet). Can I expect an a fairly reasonable improvment? I will now have bass management now running dual SVS SB-2000 subs with Paradigm Studio 100s V3. I was thinking to set rear Xovers to both 50hz, high and low pass. Waht do you guys think?

Why did you purchase the XSP-1? Curious?
Different setup? Or adding to the XMC-1? 

[FLcanuck]

This has been asked a few times... here's one of my responses that may help answer some of your questions darek...

I've been using the 105 as a pre-amp since it was released and have no plans to change how it's being used. It works great, sounds great, and has simplified my system - so easy, even a caveman my wife can use it

Some of the main questions you need to answer are...

1. Do I need room correction?
2. Can I live without trigger inputs/outputs?
3. Do I have any analog sources (i.e., Turntable) that I can't live without or use in another system?
4. Do I need a multi-channel set-up?

The 105 as a pre-amp does not provide room correction, it does not provide triggers, and does not support analog inputs. But you do have a variable volume control (needs to be set in menu options), bass management, speaker trims, and 2-channel or multi-channel set-up.

My 105 is not the D version, but all the above applies just the same. I still haven't changed the way I'm using it - very happy with how it sounds and how simple it is.

[Boomzilla]

105 in stereo = pretty good
105 in surround = 99% of having a processor

[mountain]

I had my oppo bdp-105 connected directly to my power amp for about one year before adding my emo umc-200.  I only added the pre/pro because my oppo did not play well with scientific Atlanta explorer cable box via hdmi.  I occasionally had audio dropouts on a couple of channels and would get green screen when switching channels too quickly.  Audio and video through oppo was and still is excellent. I now use oppo 105 through 7.1 channel analog inputs or two channel analog inputs of the umc-200, for audio, depending on what type of disc etc.  Video is through hdmi of umc-200 to tv.  I watch cable tv and Apple TV using the umc-200 via hdmi.  My subs are built into my 3 front speakers, so I set them at large through set up etc.  i tend to manage bass manually via controls on my speakers,  I am happy with this situation and I have plenty of digital and analog inputs between the oppo and emo.  I agree with previous related questions.  Is room correction important to you, do you like to frequently adjust/play with frequency settings (peq), how many and what type of inputs do you need/want, do you want a trigger(s) for your amp(s), and how do you want do bass management?

[Darek]

Thank you for all your answers. I'm looking just to simplify the system. The use of 105 will give it. The most bothers me that, for example switching signal source I must turn on the TV. Thats right?

[milsap195]

Nov 21, 2015 5:55:11 GMT -5 Darek said:

Thank you for all your answers. I'm looking just to simplify the system. The use of 105 will give it. The most bothers me that, for example switching signal source I must turn on the TV. Thats right?

The signal source will show on the front of the oppo. You do not need to have the tv on.

[vneal]

I have tried the 105D as a preamp. As a audio preamp/5.1 exclusively it works fine. I now use the UMC200 as a processor and find it more versatile . To me the 105 D sounded a little flat vs the Emotiva

[Darek]

And what about stereo with sub?

[badronald]

I purchased the XSP-1 because I wanted bass management for dual subs in the analog domain. The XMC-1 does not provide this. And if I did just use the XMC-1, It would defeat the purpose of why I wanted the 105, for it's balanced analog out for 2-ch music which is 80% of what i listen to.

[vneal]

I am the wrong person to ask on bass management. I use JL Audio sub woofer products and use their ARO bass management system. Which I have found to be the best available

[Boomzilla]

OK - Here's my take on HT vs. Stereo (2.1) using the Oppo BDP-105:

For HT use, it's very close to having a processor in the mix. It lacks a number of features, however, that might be available if you DID use a processor including:

Stereo subwoofer output (the Oppo has "point-one" output only for monophonic bass - not stereo
No room correction is available via the Oppo - If you have a good room to start with (or one tamed by sound absorbers), then this isn't much of a handicap.
No balanced outputs for the center, rear, or side channels (probably not an issue unless you have LONG cable runs)
Digital volume control only (drops bits as the volume is lowered)
Small, hard-to-read front panel display - get more than 15 feet away and squint hard

For stereo use, things are closer. The Oppo does sound good, but:

All the "shortcomings" listed above for HT use still apply in stereo
My gut feeling is that the digital volume control is the biggest impediment to top notch stereo sound. The sound just isn't as good. If you don't have a really (REALLY) good preamp in the system, then you'll never notice and the Oppo straight to power amp will sound fine. In fact, my propensity to simplify almost (almost) led me to return my XSP-1 and just keep the Oppo as a preamp. But over time, I came to appreciate the things that my preamp added to the system. Those were:

1. Better sound - Maybe it's the analog volume control that doesn't throw away music resolution and maybe not. But what I heard with the preamp in the system was a more natural presentation of all the music. To use garbulky words - The Oppo alone sounded like a stereo system reproducing music. The Oppo with the preamp sounded like musicians in the room.

2. Better convenience - The switching and multiple inputs allowed for more flexibility when playing with new equipment (and everyone here knows that I NEVER get new equipment).

3. Stereo subwoofer outputs - Having a right and a left signal allow me to run my two subs in stereo. Sounds definitely better than the mono bass of the Oppo.

4. Balanced connections - Do they make any difference? I don't know but they certainly don't degrade the signal compared to RCA unbalanced connections

5. HT bypass - When I watch a movie, the Oppo's outputs are sufficient. Having the bypass on the preamp allows me to switch between movies & stereo without changing wiring.

So overall, I prefer the system with the XSP-1 (gen. 2) preamp IN the system despite the added complexity and the "magical mystery dials" for bass management. It isn't a perfect preamp, but it justifies its cost over the Oppo alone. As always, the above comments refer to my system in my room, and to my ears. YMMV.

Boomzilla

[creimes]

Nov 25, 2015 0:19:33 GMT -5 badronald said:

I purchased the XSP-1 because I wanted bass management for dual subs in the analog domain. The XMC-1 does not provide this. And if I did just use the XMC-1, It would defeat the purpose of why I wanted the 105, for it's balanced analog out for 2-ch music which is 80% of what i listen to.

Having owned a XSP-1 right before getting my XMC-1 I actually prefer the bass management on the XMC-1, first it's hard to reach the back bass management knobs on the back of the XSP-1 as to just using the OSD of the XMC-1 to make adjustments and second Dirac works wonders with my dual 18" subs and the XSP-1 can't even come close in that aspect and I found zero zip difference in SQ using both as an analog preamp but the XMC-1 has Dirac, also the XMC-1 does have Fully balanced quad differential XLR inputs as well.

One big differnce for me in my setup like I mentioned is Dirac, even in Reference Stereo the SQ is excellent but running in Stereo with Dirac active everything opens up sounds wider and deeper, just a better presence of sound in my room

Chad

[henryj]

I am currently running a bdp-83se to pt-7030 to an xpa-5. I like the pt except for its quirks. I have been thinking about using a 105 as a pre for movies (multi-channel)and getting a xsp-1 for music (90 percent of the time). Does anyone have any feedback on this?