Macca's Lash Up 2: Lash Harder

[tapid]

You gonna get the Krell sorted matey ?. Shame its sitting there doing nowt. Not that I can preach about non working stuff lol. Good luck with the Oppo.

[Macca]

I got it sorted once, was fine on testing, got it home and it was dead. What can you do? It's probably something simple this time, connection come loose maybe. Nothing that can be done during this lockdown. Anyway I've got another Krell to be going on with, I just slightly prefer the one that's currently broken.

[tapid]

Argh, not noticed the other Krell. Bit like London buses then, you get one then the other soon follows !. I know you was having a "weighty " convo with Marco yesterday but did you give the Opportunity a spin at all ?
Been interested in the brand for somewhile, and there s a dealer near us at Swiss Cottage but of course there a bit meaty price wise new. Enjoy.

[Macca]

Okay so had a bit of a session with the new Oppo last night.

Started out listening to Erikah Badu 'Mama's Gun', just had it on in the background. Was reading some nonsense on the internet but about three songs in I noticed I was having trouble concentrating on what I was reading as the sound was demanding my attention. So gave up on the nonsense and started having a proper listen. It's a great record but I don't play it that much so I'm not 'intimate' with it. Some of the sparser tracks were very well presented.

The Oppo is not as sweet-sounding as the Sony XB790QS. I liked the sweet sound of that player but on occasion I'd be laughing to myself as it was just too sweet to be real. None of that here with the Oppo but it was not a 'hard' sound either.

Then put on that old test favourite 'Brothers In Arms.' Bought this on vinyl the week it came out, so 35 years and a lot of plays, although I've since graduated to the re-mastered CD. But I know it well. This was bit of a revelation. In truth I wasn't expecting there to be much, if any difference to how this sounds on the Pioneer DVD565A. Wrong!

The first tune. 'So Far Away' was ruthlessly stripped back to its component parts. The vocal was astonishingly clear, not heard this before with any of my dozens of cd players. I'd describe the sound characteristics of this player as dry and architectural. There's no rosy glow or syrup added to the sound at all. I was playing just at the level where there's a bit of 'bite' to the sound - every system has that point - but no louder. There was no harshness or grain at all, backgrounds were black. Blacker than the Pioneer could manage. Now the Sony can do that lack of noise too but as I said, it is sweeter. The Oppo is closer to unadulterated studio playback.

'Brothers' is an early digital recording and it has that 'sheen' to it. Not unpleasant but it is in the character of the recording. The Krell is pretty warm sounding and ameliorates this a bit. Coupled with a warm player and you don't get it at all. I don't like that, I like to hear the individual character of recordings. I don't want the same sauce poured over everything. The Oppo was able to cut through the Krell's warmth a bit and present the 'sheen', although not entirely truthfully. But that's the Krell's colouration, not the cd player.

Was getting late but thought I would manage one more album and no session is complete without some Dan, so put on 'The Royal Scam'. A good analogue recording from 1976. Another one I know very well having been a fanatical Dan fan since an old hippy speed-freak introduced me to them back in 1990.

Was not prepared for this. This album has never particularly impressed me either as a recording or musically compared to Aja and Gaucho. Until last night. The vocal was so present and so real it was actually eerie on occasion. Amazing dynamics. Cavernous soundstage. Really not heard this album like this ever before. The final tune, the title track, which I've never cared for, had me gripped on every note.

The differences between this '76 analogue recording and the 1985 digital 'Brothers In Arms were quite pronounced. Even though both are great recordings, I like to hear that difference. It shows you're on the right track to neutrality.

By the time that finished it was 2300 so had to - very reluctantly -pack it in for the night.

So yes, I was wrong, there is quite a big difference between what this Oppo can do compared to the humble Pioneer. I was hoping for a small improvement at best but this is quite a big improvement. It's dry, it's architectural, it's exactly how I like it. I've no doubt that if I could swap the Krell 100 for its smaller, more neutral-sounding cousin the 50S I'd be almost as close to as neutral a playback as it's possible to get (the 50s is still a bit warm in the bass). But as it is I can live with this for the moment. I'm surprised and quite pleased. What a great upgrade for just £230!

[tapid]

Great minds think alike, posted at the same time !. Anyway, seems like a right good result.

[Macca]

Great minds think alike, posted at the same time !. Anyway, seems like a right good result.

Yes - if your looking for a player that has not had fairy dust sprinkled on the sound by people called Ken then I'd recommend it. Think I'm in the minority there though.

[struth]

Yes - if your looking for a player that has not had fairy dust sprinkled on the sound by people called Ken then I'd recommend it. Think I'm in the minority there though.

thought you might like the oppo.. glad ur sorted

[Gazjam]

Welcome to the Oppo club Martin.
They DO make exceedingly good disc players.

You can change it's "flavour" with an external Dac, but the one built is to your liking...so hey, all good.
Big draw for me is the Transport, up there with the best at getting the 1's and 0's off a disc.

They respond well to mods as well.


Glad you found a player that'll keep you happy mate, enjoy.

[Macca]

Welcome to the Oppo club Martin.
They DO make exceedingly good disc players.

You can change it's "flavour" with an external Dac, but the one built is to your liking...so hey, all good.
Big draw for me is the Transport, up there with the best at getting the 1's and 0's off a disc.

They respond well to mods as well.


Glad you found a player that'll keep you happy mate, enjoy.

I'm steeling myself to buy an RME ADI2 DAC to use with it. I want to try DSP and parametric EQ and that has it. It's just a bit spendy.

[struth]

I'm steeling myself to buy an RME ADI2 DAC to use with it. I want to try DSP and parametric EQ and that has it. It's just a bit spendy.

yeah could be useful for you. I use that, its built in to Roon. it is surprisingly complete and complex as to what you can do with it.