I am using a 103 for Ethernet streaming of music from my pc to 103 coax out to external DAC. Would your power supply improve performance for that also?
That's exactly how I use my 103. I found that Coris power supply improves the coax output.
A linear power supply for the digital stage of the device, it improve quite much all this stage functionality. More precise, it will improve the outputted signals quality (for both picture and sound), including the sound quality when using Ethernet interface, coax or whatever. This improvement is very obvious and immediate.
Also improving the clock system it will increase the overall quality for the signals outputted.
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Getting Hi- Res-audio
I have two separate systems and would like to be able to play music from some of the hi-res apps available. I been doing some reading and DSD and MQA seem to have the highest res. Is that correct?
My first question is about one of my systems. It is a Meridian 506.20CDP, Aragon 18K MkII preamp and Modulus86 amp. In the same room is an Acer top line lap top. I use it with WI-Fi and it works great. I think it might be good for sending hi-res music files to some device that accepts files via Wi-Fi, and connects to the preamp via RCA cables.
The meridan word length and sampling rate are lower than just about everything called Hi-Res. What would be a good device that would connect to the computer,via Wi-Fi, and connect to the preamp via RCA cables? I would also like it to work with the high word length and sampling rate sources in the DSD range.
Thanks,
henrylrjr
I have two separate systems and would like to be able to play music from some of the hi-res apps available. I been doing some reading and DSD and MQA seem to have the highest res. Is that correct?
My first question is about one of my systems. It is a Meridian 506.20CDP, Aragon 18K MkII preamp and Modulus86 amp. In the same room is an Acer top line lap top. I use it with WI-Fi and it works great. I think it might be good for sending hi-res music files to some device that accepts files via Wi-Fi, and connects to the preamp via RCA cables.
The meridan word length and sampling rate are lower than just about everything called Hi-Res. What would be a good device that would connect to the computer,via Wi-Fi, and connect to the preamp via RCA cables? I would also like it to work with the high word length and sampling rate sources in the DSD range.
Thanks,
henrylrjr
This question is about my other system. It is an OPPO BDP-95, Audible Illisuons M3A and will soon have a Neurochrome Parallel86 amp. It is setup to receive movies via Wi-Fi from another good computer. There is no lag or breakup when watching movies from netflix via WI-Fi. Blue Ray cds and movies also look and sound great.
My thought for that system is that I may just need a storage device. It would receive files, from the computer, via Wi-Fi and I would be able to select and play a file via the OPPO and then through the rest of the system. Does that make sense?
What device would I need to be able to play the very Hi-Res music files? I know I would have to subscribe to something like Itunes or whatever has the very hi res files. Would the storage device have to be compatible with MQA or DSD?
Thanks,
henrylrjr
My thought for that system is that I may just need a storage device. It would receive files, from the computer, via Wi-Fi and I would be able to select and play a file via the OPPO and then through the rest of the system. Does that make sense?
What device would I need to be able to play the very Hi-Res music files? I know I would have to subscribe to something like Itunes or whatever has the very hi res files. Would the storage device have to be compatible with MQA or DSD?
Thanks,
henrylrjr
Just spent some time at a friend's hi-end audio store and told him I was looking for a volume control. He specializes in very hi-end custom installs. Last time I was there someone bought a pair of $75k speakers.
Anyway, years ago, before the digital age, I bought Niles, P&G & Nakamichi speaker controls from him. He told me he stopped selling that technology about ten years ago.
He demonstrated a Bluesound Node 2 device that blew me away. It can be connected to a smart phone, lap top, whatever, via Wi Fi. What really blew me away was that volume can be controlled by a smartphone or any other networked device. No need form a separate, hard wired, volume pot.
I have a feeling most of you know about this digital technology, but I didn't. It seems one pays a monthly fee to any one of the many music providers and gets access to hundreds of cds. Has anyone run into any downsides with this type of device? Is there anything better or cheaper but equal?
Thanks,
henry
Anyway, years ago, before the digital age, I bought Niles, P&G & Nakamichi speaker controls from him. He told me he stopped selling that technology about ten years ago.
He demonstrated a Bluesound Node 2 device that blew me away. It can be connected to a smart phone, lap top, whatever, via Wi Fi. What really blew me away was that volume can be controlled by a smartphone or any other networked device. No need form a separate, hard wired, volume pot.
I have a feeling most of you know about this digital technology, but I didn't. It seems one pays a monthly fee to any one of the many music providers and gets access to hundreds of cds. Has anyone run into any downsides with this type of device? Is there anything better or cheaper but equal?
Thanks,
henry
I`m afraid you are not just in the right place about the subjects you are interested into. This thread it may be meant/dedicated to Oppo devices, upgrading, mods, and so on, based on DIY philosophy...
Maybe a thread/forum about general audio/video subjects it may fit better for your questions/needs?
Yes, indeed! 100µ/16v
A good cap there is a unpolarised cap, not as it was used by Oppo... This is basic at least... Else is better without any cap there. You can measure the DC offset you may have there (before the caps...). If is into few +/-mV, then you can just bypass that caps without removing it from the board. Please check if your amplifier it may feel well with a DC coupling, and with that eventual few mV offset, you may find there. If the offset is important, then you should use some unpolarised caps. As larger their capacities as better. 16v is OK.
A good cap there is a unpolarised cap, not as it was used by Oppo... This is basic at least... Else is better without any cap there. You can measure the DC offset you may have there (before the caps...). If is into few +/-mV, then you can just bypass that caps without removing it from the board. Please check if your amplifier it may feel well with a DC coupling, and with that eventual few mV offset, you may find there. If the offset is important, then you should use some unpolarised caps. As larger their capacities as better. 16v is OK.
Thanks Coris, I actually changed those caps to Blackgate.
I am a newbie mod, I am sorry I dont really know what are you talking about. When doing a mod I usually change all caps with better quality one. It always give me better result. In the case of analog board, I ask a friend to change all caps with elna slimic and replace the diodes.
I was going to replace the regulator with low noise before but I bought the wrong value.
They are LM337, LM317 in the back, and LM3990t and LM3940ct. Can you tell me how many volt / A are they and the recommended low noise regulator? I usually use Dexa New class but they are 1.5A.
If I want to bypass the blackgate with high end film caps to give some color what value should I use? .44uf and higher than 16 V enough?
I also heard you can replace these with small values film caps.
Thanks
I am a newbie mod, I am sorry I dont really know what are you talking about. When doing a mod I usually change all caps with better quality one. It always give me better result. In the case of analog board, I ask a friend to change all caps with elna slimic and replace the diodes.
I was going to replace the regulator with low noise before but I bought the wrong value.
They are LM337, LM317 in the back, and LM3990t and LM3940ct. Can you tell me how many volt / A are they and the recommended low noise regulator? I usually use Dexa New class but they are 1.5A.
If I want to bypass the blackgate with high end film caps to give some color what value should I use? .44uf and higher than 16 V enough?
I also heard you can replace these with small values film caps.
Thanks
All right!
Changing the filtering caps it bring an improvement of course. In case this Oppo device, there is important to use some larger capacities for filtering, as the original ones are insufficient to ensure a good filtering (lowest ripple).
When about regulators for analogue stage, the original one are good for the job to be done. The problem is the filtering, and some design issues, but not the regulators itself, as components. Else, there is not so efficient to use ultra low noise regulators in that place where the original one are placed. F. ex. the positive regulated rail it is used to power the mute relays on board, and it is a little bit stupid to use good quality regulators for such task... Here is the concept itself which is not very fortunate for the Oppo design. The whole clue about low noise regulated power is to be used for the targeted circuits/stages, locally, but not for all what is on the board. Therefore I found finally out that it is a better solution to redesign the whole output stage of this player, implementing so in a better way both circuits and components. In my output module I have ultra low noise regulators for each opamp in that stage, with solid filtering. In this way the power quality for the targeted circuits (locally) it not depend very much by the rest of the power rails quality. I still use the original regulators also...
In your case, it is a good improvement to use larger capacities caps for filtering, for the components as it are. You should also improve the capacities on the opamp decoupling (caps around the opamps - power stage).
There is an improvement of course if you may bypass the AC coupling caps with film ones. Into 1µ is a good choice. Also more than 16v is not necessary in that place. Else the caps may become quite big as dimensions, and long components legs or wires for connections it may not be a good thing...
Changing the filtering caps it bring an improvement of course. In case this Oppo device, there is important to use some larger capacities for filtering, as the original ones are insufficient to ensure a good filtering (lowest ripple).
When about regulators for analogue stage, the original one are good for the job to be done. The problem is the filtering, and some design issues, but not the regulators itself, as components. Else, there is not so efficient to use ultra low noise regulators in that place where the original one are placed. F. ex. the positive regulated rail it is used to power the mute relays on board, and it is a little bit stupid to use good quality regulators for such task... Here is the concept itself which is not very fortunate for the Oppo design. The whole clue about low noise regulated power is to be used for the targeted circuits/stages, locally, but not for all what is on the board. Therefore I found finally out that it is a better solution to redesign the whole output stage of this player, implementing so in a better way both circuits and components. In my output module I have ultra low noise regulators for each opamp in that stage, with solid filtering. In this way the power quality for the targeted circuits (locally) it not depend very much by the rest of the power rails quality. I still use the original regulators also...
In your case, it is a good improvement to use larger capacities caps for filtering, for the components as it are. You should also improve the capacities on the opamp decoupling (caps around the opamps - power stage).
There is an improvement of course if you may bypass the AC coupling caps with film ones. Into 1µ is a good choice. Also more than 16v is not necessary in that place. Else the caps may become quite big as dimensions, and long components legs or wires for connections it may not be a good thing...
oppo bdp 95 connection
Thanks,
hnery
I hope this question is appropriate here. My bdp-95 has built in remote controlled volume. Based on that capability, would connecting it directly to an amp be better than going through a preamp? My preamp does not have remote capability. Going directly to the amp would make volume control easier. Am I missing something?
Thanks,
hnery
Even though the volume control on these Oppo players is based on the DAC chip advanced digital controlled volume, there is better (I prefer so) to have that volume set it up on Fixed, controlling it further from the rest of the chain. So, the digital streams are less processed into the DAC. Oppo 95 as the rest of the series, it can be connected directly to an power amp to shorten the chain for the signals path. I assume almost all the power amps out there may have a volume control, more or less remote.
I personally feel very seldom the need to modify the volume level on my amp, and I use Fixed volume on Oppo. When and if necessary (very rarely) I change it manually...
Also, in my opinion, there is nothing wrong to use your 95 through preamp. At least there is a personal choice, based on the particular audio chain quality.
Well some more or less personal comments/answers to your question...
I personally feel very seldom the need to modify the volume level on my amp, and I use Fixed volume on Oppo. When and if necessary (very rarely) I change it manually...
Also, in my opinion, there is nothing wrong to use your 95 through preamp. At least there is a personal choice, based on the particular audio chain quality.
Well some more or less personal comments/answers to your question...
There is no any functional benefit in disconnecting the audio board, if not used, but only saving few mW power for a better and cleaner world environment...
If the player is powered by another power supply than the original one, without providing the +/-15v rails power to this board too, then one should disconnect the flat cable coming from the main board, as without the main power rails, but connected further to the main board, this board it disturb the functionality of the rest of the system.
If the player is powered by another power supply than the original one, without providing the +/-15v rails power to this board too, then one should disconnect the flat cable coming from the main board, as without the main power rails, but connected further to the main board, this board it disturb the functionality of the rest of the system.
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Interesting. So you don't think that removing the audio board might help with, say, reducing noise?
There is no any (EMI) noises generated by, or around the audio board. After that SMPS, the next noisy part in the system is the main board itself. However, that it can not be removed...
The audio board is mostly an analogue part/device.
The only to be done is completely disconnecting if the above mentioned situation. Else, the single advantage/consequence by removing it, it may be to lower the loading for the power supply...
Well, to be more accurate and very deep into the microscopic details of a such "case", we may say so also: disconnecting the audio board (when powered by the original SMPS) it will unload the SMPS, and so it may lower the overall noise level into the system. The HF noises generated by SMPS it will not be transmitted further through a quite big surface emitting like device, to the rest of the components...
So, a such "theory" it may satisfy/explain the another theory about "reducing the noise". A kind of theories space/field here, more or less hypothetical... If not a little bit absurd...
The audio board is mostly an analogue part/device.
The only to be done is completely disconnecting if the above mentioned situation. Else, the single advantage/consequence by removing it, it may be to lower the loading for the power supply...
Well, to be more accurate and very deep into the microscopic details of a such "case", we may say so also: disconnecting the audio board (when powered by the original SMPS) it will unload the SMPS, and so it may lower the overall noise level into the system. The HF noises generated by SMPS it will not be transmitted further through a quite big surface emitting like device, to the rest of the components...
So, a such "theory" it may satisfy/explain the another theory about "reducing the noise". A kind of theories space/field here, more or less hypothetical...
If not a little bit absurd...
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I described my system on several sites and asked about the sonic quality of the OPPO BDP-95 DAC volume control. Most responses said the sound would be better, for various reasons, with the OPPO connected to my Audible Illusions preamp, for volume control.
I thought the OPPO had very good DACs so I sent an email to OPPO, saying the OPPO was connected to the AI preamp for volume control, and asked if there would be any sonic losses using only the OPPO DAC volume control.
I sent a second email asking for the bit value of the DACs. Based on their two responses, I'm going to connect the OPPO directly to my amp.
The AI preamp will be used for my other source components.
I thought I would share the two OPPO responses, so here they are. I have no connection with OPPO other than being a very pleased customer.
"Henry,
The player uses digital volume controls in the DAC so there is no loss of resolution and accuracy. So you can use the player direct to your amplifier.
Best Regards,
Customer Service
OPPO Digital, Inc.
162 Constitution Dr.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Service@oppodigital.com"
"Henry,
It is 32-bit, which is why you will not lose any resolution when using the player's volume controls.
Best Regards,
Customer Service
OPPO Digital, Inc.
162 Constitution Dr.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Service@oppodigital.com"
ESS introduced with this their DAC chip a sophisticated digital mechanism to minimise the negative impact of a digital volume processing for the outputted audio signals.
They reduced the negative impact of such processing, but it still be a digital processing involved, which in my opinion it have a influence over the final signals. I appreciate that it may be better, with less, a minimum or none processing, than a whatever processing no matter how much sophisticated it may be...
So, I prefer (and advice) "Fixed volume" on Oppo and analogue volume after it.
Else, of course one can successfully use the digital volume as it is implemented by Oppo in their products, based on Sabre DAC chip.
They reduced the negative impact of such processing, but it still be a digital processing involved, which in my opinion it have a influence over the final signals. I appreciate that it may be better, with less, a minimum or none processing, than a whatever processing no matter how much sophisticated it may be...
So, I prefer (and advice) "Fixed volume" on Oppo and analogue volume after it.
Else, of course one can successfully use the digital volume as it is implemented by Oppo in their products, based on Sabre DAC chip.