Comparing the Oppo DAC to the XMC-2

[pzzr]

Per a comment you made in the other thread about comparing the Oppo UDP205’s Sabre DACs to the XMC-2’s, I have some technical ‘weirdness’ to ask about.

I have a Sony XR75x90J and a Sony Projector hooked up to the video outputs.

When neither display is on, listening to Roon through the balanced outputs from Oppo to balanced inputs on the XMC-2 is great. But, I had a hell of a time getting any output through the HDMI input for ‘BlueRay’ (input 3, not that it matters) to try the XMC DAC’s. When I finally did, it was about 10-12db lower, which didn’t surprise me, the tv is about the same. Tonight, I couldn’t get any audio, or even a pic, from the BlueRay, so on a whim I turned on the projector and lo and behold, pic and sound, and the levels are (by ear) the same through either input (balanced or HDMI).

Seriously confused!! I love the sound, but I’m so frustrated with the random issues…I have a ticket in with Brent about the snap/crackle/pop from the speakers whenever I change inputs on the tv, or pause/Ff/rew and then ‘play’ again.

[KeithL]

I'm not sure exactly what's going on in your case... but...

The Oppo 203 and Oppo 205 have two HDMI inputs...

And, because of this, they identify themselves to other CEC-enabled devices as "processors"...

Because HDMI-CEC only allows for a single "processor" in a system this can cause various weird things to happen...

(Like the processor or the TV "stealing audio".)

If this is the case then you will probably find that it varies depending on what is turned on LAST.

(With CEC, if there is a conflict, the LAST device to be powered on usually wins.)

(And every time you power cycle the processor or the Oppo it again becomes "'the last device to be turned on".)

So, before anything else, I would try disabling CEC ON THE OPPO... and see if the problem goes away.

(or just see if it happens with the Oppo temporarily disconnected.)

Dec 16, 2021 22:03:17 GMT -5 pzzr said:

Per a comment you made in the other thread about comparing the Oppo UDP205’s Sabre DACs to the XMC-2’s, I have some technical ‘weirdness’ to ask about.

I have a Sony XR75x90J and a Sony Projector hooked up to the video outputs.

When neither display is on, listening to Roon through the balanced outputs from Oppo to balanced inputs on the XMC-2 is great. But, I had a hell of a time getting any output through the HDMI input for ‘BlueRay’ (input 3, not that it matters) to try the XMC DAC’s. When I finally did, it was about 10-12db lower, which didn’t surprise me, the tv is about the same. Tonight, I couldn’t get any audio, or even a pic, from the BlueRay, so on a whim I turned on the projector and lo and behold, pic and sound, and the levels are (by ear) the same through either input (balanced or HDMI).

Seriously confused!! I love the sound, but I’m so frustrated with the random issues…I have a ticket in with Brent about the snap/crackle/pop from the speakers whenever I change inputs on the tv, or pause/Ff/rew and then ‘play’ again.

[pzzr]

I’ll give that a shot, although not by disconnecting the Oppo since that feeds my Roon to the XMC. Kinda need it in the loop
Thanks!!