Best Universal Disc Player - £500 max.

[Charlie Jefferson]

I'm finally selling my Arcam CDP, and want a universal disc spinner to replace it.

It'll be fed into my NAD M51 DAC, and cater for mostly Blu-rays (both audio and film formats), a smattering of DVD-As and SACDs, oh and occasionally a CD.

What's the best bet? I'd be prepared to go second hand, but would probably prefer to buy new.

Maximum budget: £500

 

[John Duncan]

Normally I'd say the 651BD but Richers are satin 'last few' which might suggest a replacement is imminent - I know the 752 has been announced.

The Denon 2012 is supposed to be £500 now but I can't see it for less than £574.

I can't speak for the new Oppos (103?) which are supposed to be Cambridge-like.

Marantz UD5007 is going for around £430.

 

[Charlie Jefferson]

Thanks John.

Just spotted the Marantz for £350. In terms of looks alone, I'm not drawn to the CA kit, but could be persuaded on price.

I'll keep searching. I've got a buyer for my Arcam player, so I'm in a bit of a hurry to buy a new box.

 

[manicm]

I'd spend the extra on the Denon 2012. The CA-651, while on paper has the same video specs as the 751, apparently doesn't have that last pixel in picture quality as the more expensive model, and will not sound as good either. This was WHF's findings, as well on TrustedReview's online, even though it's a good player in its own right.

Note the replacement for the Denon 2012 will cost nearly double that, which makes it a bargain. Get the wife/gf to cough up the 50 quid as an early birthday present!

 

[Anonymous]

It has got to be the Marantz http://www.whathifi.com/review/marantz-ud7006

Or the Denon http://www.whathifi.com/review/denon-dbp-2012ud

The Marantz was originally £1000, which could be had for £800 at the time. Now seriously discounted because of the new model UD7007.

Very very good player.

 

[bigboss]

I would recommend Oppo 103 at your price point. It is a brilliant universal player with excellent after sales support.

 

[John Duncan]

Small point - I don't know if SACD can output via optical to a stereo DAC? I don't know how it works so it may be worth investigating.

 

[John Duncan]

UNPUBLISHED DUPE

 

[Charlie Jefferson]

Small point - I don't know if SACD can output via optical to a stereo DAC? I don't know how it works so it may be worth investigating.

This is of some pertinence to my needs, actually. My DAC has various inputs, (HDMI, coax, optical, USB, AES), but I'm not exactly sure how it would extract the full SACD layer. Although in statistical terms my Blu-rays easily outnumber SACDs, but it would be nice to play the few I have in their intended higher format.

Swaying towards the Marantz as mentioned and celebrated above.

It's hardly revolutionary I know, but it will feel odd relinquishing a standalone CD player, and knowing it will never in all likelihood be replaced.

 

[the record spot]

Older player but much cheaper now, the Denon DVD3930 offers you HDCD too. Sound quality is excellent and picture quality very good too.

 

[Charlie Jefferson]

It's model name suggests it's not a Blu-ray player though.

Shame. Looks great.

 

[plastic penguin]

I'm at the early stages of lobbing my Arcam in favour of a Blu-ray Universal player, so it's interesting to see Oppo being mentioned.

 

[the record spot]

It's model name suggests it's not a Blu-ray player though.

Shame. Looks great.

Yes sorry mate, I probably missed that bit out. 11kgs worth mind, so build quality is pretty decent!

 

[altruistic.lemon]

Since you're using the player for audio purposes as a transport only, I'd get one of those inexpensive Sonys. If you wnt to play SACD you'll have to bypass the DAC.

 

[Frank Harvey]

Oppo BDP103. Just before we closed today, I was playing around with a few DVD-A's and SACD's - very impressive.

It can be wired digitally into your DAC, and you can also connect the analogue outs directly to your amp to replay SACD's.

 

[Charlie Jefferson]

Thanks David,

I'm being swayed away from the twin attack of Denon & Marantz now.

My interest is piqued by the SACD capability, certainly. Presumably other connections to my DAC are via HDMI? I'll scrutinise the tech spec of this latest contender. Right at the top of my budget too.

 

[bigboss]

Denon & Marantz are similar in performance & share almost all components, as they're built by the same manufacturer. If they're on your shortlist, pick whichever is cheaper.

 

[Charlie Jefferson]

Denon & Marantz are similar in performance & share almost all components, as they're built by the same manufacturer. If they're on your shortlist, pick whichever is cheaper.

Thanks for that BB, I'd forgotten that. I'm currently "researching" my options.

Price wise, the Marantz and Denon models mentioned above seem to be £100plus cheaper than the lowest priced Oppo 93.

If performance of all of these is similar, and I'm using the machine as a transport only, I may go with the cheapest. I suppose it's all down to that "if" now.

 

[bigboss]

If transport only, also look at Denon 3313UD. Definitely demo the Oppo as well.

 

[Charlie Jefferson]

So I bought a cheap-ish Universal disc spinner, the Denon 1713 for £250 ex-dem, and I've been running with all various disc formats at my disposal.

I've also still got my Arcam CD92 for a couple of weeks until my brother-in-law trials it prior to possible purchase, so I've been able to compare it too.

First impressions of the Denon and a few questions:

1) Denon feels a bit a bit cheap and insubstantial compared to the Arcam, build wise.

2) Pleased with the Denon playing Blu-rays and DVD-A. A level or two above my PS3, certainly.

3) CDs also sound pretty good. Remembering all discs are into my DAC.

4) I couldn't distinguish between CDs into my Arcam/DAC and into the Denon/DAC

5) SACDs played in the Denon into DAC, sampling rate displayed as 88.2kHz, sounded good too. But then I also tried missing out the DAC and linking the SACD directly to my Roksan pre-amp. That sounded very similar.

Is there a way to get better SACD sound using the DAC? I'm not using the NAD as pre-amp, just as a DAC.

Hope that all makes some sense, it's early in the morning for me!

 

[k77stan]

what about the Nad T567? has anyone demoed it?i know it only received *** in whf,but that was at 600 quid,it now costs 449...i'm defo interested on hearing comments on the sound if its similair to their cd players...

 

[Anonymous]

Oppo BDP103. Just before we closed today, I was playing around with a few DVD-A's and SACD's - very impressive.

It can be wired digitally into your DAC, and you can also connect the analogue outs directly to your amp to replay SACD's.

I'm looking to replace my old pioneer universal player, which i use to play CD, SACD, DVD-A and DVD-V. So all those formats are essential and ideally I'd like network streaming as well. I was looking at the Marantz UD-5007 and was nearly sold but then realised it doesn't have 6-channel analogue outputs which killed the deal for me. Does the BDP103 have multichannel analogue outs? And does it do network streaming? Thanks

 

[bigboss]

Does the BDP103 have multichannel analogue outs? And does it do network streaming? Thanks

Yes & yes!