Oppo BDP-83SE
Blu-ray Player

This New And Improved Oppo Player Rocks On Sonic

Oppo BDP-83SE

Oppo's first Blu-ray player, the BDP-83, was a hit. Not content on resting, the busy people at Oppo went back to the lab and produced the Special Edition.

Not too long ago, Oppo brought out their first Blu-ray player, the BDP-83. This universal player could play nearly all kinds of media discs and it did it with ease and finesse.

Why tinker with success? One of its features included the use of a Cirrus-Logic digital-to-analog (DAC) converter. When buyers used the stereo analog RCA jacks on the back of the Oppo to play back CDs and SACDs (Super Audio Compact Discs), digital audio was converted into analog audio. The result was clear and pleasing sound that gave both buyers and critics smiles on their faces.

As good as the original player sounded on CDs and SACDs, the engineers felt there could be improvements in the sound quality.

Oppo BDP-83 Versus the Oppo BDP-83 Special Edition

Appearance and feature wise, the Special Edition is identical to its slightly older sibling. Everything inside is housed in a handsome black casing. The front plate is brushed metal with a clear and bright display. The entire unit is built solid with a nice weighted balance.

The BDP-83 is a quick, high quality Blu-ray and DVD player that gives the Sony Playstation 3 a run for its money. The original player also excelled on picture and movie sound quality. The Special Edition uses the same identical menus and features and it's just as fast. The only visible difference is a "Special Edition" sticker on the front.

What's different about the Special Edition is on the inside. Oppo took out the Cirrus-Logic DAC and replaced it with the ESS Technology 8-channel Sabre32 Ultra (ES9016) DAC for its analog stereo output. It uses four DACS for each channel. For the player's analog 7.1 multichannel output, the Special Edition uses an 8-channel Sabre Premier (ES9006) DAC. The Special Edition also uses a bigger power supply and new audio boards. Together, these can produce lovely sound quality. Do these new parts add up to a fine audio experience on the BDP-83SE?

Why Upgrade to the BDP-83 Special Edition?

One might question the value of this new upgrade. With many people listening to their music on small media devices like Apple's iPod or their computers, it may not make sense to build a special "audiophile" player today. But why limit one's audio options if the price is right?

Many people listen to their Blu-rays, DVDs and CDs through the HDMI hookup or through the TOSLINK/coaxial digital connections. What is missing, especially on the music end, is the depth and seductive power music can convey through a high quality DAC. Both MP3 and HDMI may sound fine on headphones and movies, but with music, jitter and compression take much of the sound quality away. Music becomes veiled and uninvolving. And if your home theater receiver already has poor DACs, the sound is compromised.

After listening to the Oppo BDP-83 Special Edition, listeners will be convinced that there can be some stunning sound in those discs gathering dust on the shelf.

Sweet, Sweet Music

The previous BDP-83 player's Cirrus-Logic DAC sounded wonderful, but there was a sense that the sound could be better. The Cirrus-Logic DACs produced an open and airy sound with a tight soundstage.

The Special Edition is an audio revelation. Having the better power supply, upgraded audio boards, and the ESS Technology DACs, the Special Edition sounds better, more refined, and more natural than the previous BDP-83. The staging is wider and more dynamic, and there's more of a sense of rhythm to the music.

This reviewer doesn't have the lauded Denon DVD-A1UDCI Universal Blu-ray Player to compare. It can be said that the Special Edition is quite good at getting the most out of CDs and SACDs, especially for its price.

One of the featured SACDs used in this review is the legendary recording of Getz/Gilberto featuring Antonio Carlos Jobim. The 1963 stereo recording is lush and warm with a "you-are-there" sound presence. The original BDP-83 plays this disc with, excuse the pun, verve. It's a lovely recording that will sound great on almost any quality SACD player with decent speakers.

On the Special Edition, Astrud Gilberto's vocals come alive. The musicians sound as if they're in the room with the listener. The Special Edition also spreads the soundstage wider and more comfortably than the previous BDP-83. There is a sense of ease in how this player plays music.

Not all CDs or SACDs will sound great through the Special Edition, and they shouldn't. Poorly mastered and recorded media will sound "okay," but don't expect the player to resurrect every detail in a recording, especially if the detail isn't there in the first place.

Playing movies through the analog 7.1 sound jacks sound very good, as well.

Comparison

This review was done in conjunction with highly rated Wadia 170iTransport. The Wadia bypasses the Apple iPod's DAC and extracts the digital file directly, sending audio to an external DAC. How does the Special Edition's DAC compare with the Wadia's digital output?

They sound nearly identical.

Going back and forth with Diana Krall's "The Look of Love" WAV file and CD, it was difficult to distinguish between the Oppo and Wadia. Sound quality will depend on the DAC being used with the Wadia. To list the Oppo on the level of the Wadia is quite a compliment.

Worth The Price

Is the Oppo BDP-83 Special Edition worth $899.00?

Most definitely.

Sure, it's great having access to thousands of songs on an iPod or computer. But the BDP-83 Special Edition gives most decerning listeners the option of breaking out those CDs and SACDs again. It is possible to have high-end audio at a reasonable price, plus have excellent video quality with this player. Toss Oppo's wonderful customer service into the package, there's no reason not to have it all.

Special thanks to Jason Liao at Oppo Digital for permission to review the BDP-83 Special Edition