The audiophile version of the OPPO BDP-93 was no surprise and it has come in the form of the new BDP-95. What was most surprising was the difference in the overall design between the two units. Not only is the BDP-95 larger in size, but the internals are significantly different as well, especially when compared to the difference between the earlier BDP-83 and BDP-83SE. OPPO has put a lot of effort into making this newer audiophile version of the BDP-93 to a notch above the previous designs. The new BDP-95 feels more solid and weighs 15.9 pounds versus 10.6 pounds on the BDP-93.
This is not a full review, but a glimpse into what we found to be noticeable differences between the BDP-93 and BDP-95. We will have a full review of the BDP-95 shortly, once the unit is officially released with the latest firmware. There are no performance tests as of yet since this would not necessarly represent the final product.
BDP-93 versus the BDP-95New Front Panel
The new BDP-95 is significantly (1/3) larger than the BDP-93, measuring a full inch taller. The width and depth remain the same for both units. The front panel has been redesigned with a contoured design versus the flat anodized surface found on the BDP-93. The main power button on the BDP-95 bears the OPPO name with the five capacitive-touch, backlit playback buttons instead of dedicated mechanical buttons found on the BDP-93. The Open/Close button found next to the tray remains the same.
New Back Panel
The back of the BDP-95 has an additional set of two channel balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) connections. All multi-channel RCA output jacks are spaced farther apart, making it easier to connect high-end cabling. In addition, each RCA audio connector has a dedicated mounting screw, giving the connector even more strength when using heavier cabling typically found with better cables. OPPO has also added a fan to the BDP-95 for better cooling capability. This fan is not normally needed, but in cases when temperatures rise in confined spaces, it thermally activates to help keep the electronics cool. Most of the other connections have remained unchanged since the main A/V board is still the same.
Inside the BDP-95
The BDP-95 design has significant changes inside the unit and should not be considered just an upgrade to the BDP-93. In fact, OPPO cannot offer an upgrade to BDP-93 customers because of the large differences between the two units. The large new audio board occupies the entire width of the unit and takes up more than half of the depth. While the main A/V board remains largely the same, the switching power supply adds an AC connector to provide power to the linear power supply for the new high performance audio board. OPPO has provided a cover (shield) over the switching power supply to help minimize radiated noise into the analog electronics. Even the ribbon cable carrying the digital signals from the main A/V board to the analog board has EMI (Electro-Magnetic Interference) shielding.
Rotel TransformerRotel Toroid Transformer
A Rotel designed toroidal transformer is used to provide stepped down AC power to a new Linear Power Supply located on the front right side of the of the BDP-95. While these (toroidal) transformers cost more, they offer significant advantages over traditional transformer designs. Lower EMI, lower hum, and and high efficiency are just a few benefits. The output of the toroidal transformer supplies a center tapped secondary voltage to the Linear power supply. These type of power supplies are known for their low noise floor and are the preferred choice for any high-end audio component.
Linear Power SupplyLinear Power Supply
The Rotel toroidal power transformer feeds a full-wave bridge rectifier on the linear power supply. Four audio grade 3300uF/50V ELNA capacitors are used for bulk filtration before feeding a set of positive and negative linear voltage regulators. Another set of 470uF/25V ELNA capacitors are used for post-regulation filtration and current storage. The voltage rating of the capacitors used in these circuits are significantly higher than the actual working voltage required by the parts. With such large voltage margins, the capacitors less stressed and far more likely to last longer without failures. In general, electrolytic capacitors have a higher failure rate over time than other electrical components, so it is nice to see OPPO didn't skimp on parts to save a little money. Finally, the regulated power forms go to an 8-pin connector that provide conditioned power to the high performance audio board. Heavy gauge wire is used for the power cable as shown in the photo.
OPPO BDP-95 Audio BoardHigh-End Audio Board
The BDP-95 audio board uses the new ESS Technology ESS9018 SABRE32 Reference 8-channel audio DAC offering significant improvements (with 10 dB lower THD) over the ESS9016 used in the BDP-83SE. One chip handles the 7.1 channel audio outputs, while a second ESS9018 (configured with 4 DACs stacked per channel) provides the dedicated two-channel audio. Each unbalanced (RCA) channel is driven with a LM4562 opamp. The balanced (XLR) outputs use a fully differential audio amplifier LME49724 for maximum performance. All two channel outputs including those from the 7.1 channels, use relays to mute the audio. WIMA (Metallized Polypropylene) and polystyrene audio capacitors are used throughout the audio signal path for the ultimate audio performance. The audio board has yet another level of onboard linear voltage regulators near the input power connector for ultra-quiet operation. From my observations, much attention has been paid to maximizing performance of the audio in the BDP-95, from the power conditioning, DAC implementation, signal chain capacitors, and output amplifiers.
More to come
While this Preview covers some of the technical aspects of the new BDP-95, it does not address the performance of this unit. Unfortunately, I cannot get into the performance aspects of the BDP-95 until the product and firmware are officially released. Based on what we have seen so far, we are excited.
Please stay tuned...