Next Blu Ray upgrade?

[atkins4725]

Evening all,

The time has come to replace my CA 650bd. Players I'm looking at are the CA 751 or a Marantz unit to match my SR 7005. I'm not a massive techno guru and I'm struggling to workout wich Marantz unit would be an all round upgrade and not just a side step.

The CA I can take home and audition but the Marantz I can't!! Should the UD7006 provide a noticeable upgrade with both music and movies over my 650bd???

 

[bigboss]

If you let your receiver decode audio, you shouldn't notice any improvement. If you let your player decode audio, the difference will be very small. Only you can decide if that tiny difference is worth the upgrade, especially if your current player is working perfectly.

 

[atkins4725]

The player is always set to bitstream with movies so the player does the decoding. The analogue outs are used with chord chorus 2 interconnects when cd's are playing.

Surely, the difference with between the 650 & 751 should be very noticeable, should it not???

 

[bigboss]

The player is always set to bitstream with movies so the player does the decoding. The analogue outs are used with chord chorus 2 interconnects when cd's are playing.

Surely, the difference with between the 650 & 751 should be very noticeable, should it not???

Only you can decide that with an audition. Report back!

 

[DandyCobalt]

I did a 1 hour comparative test at richer Maidstone when the 751 came out. Vs a 650. The 751 won hands down in terms of sound and image, and is better than my Cyrus prexpdqx and pioneer lx53 for dacs. I posted on this site somewhere. The transport is better too. Go for it.

Ah, here it is...

http://www.whathifi.com/forum/home-cinema/cambridge-audio-bd751-vs-bd650-personal-review

 

[Chewy]

The player is always set to bitstream with movies so the player does the decoding.

If the player is set to bitstream, the amp is doing the decoding, not the player. In which case changing the player for a change in sound quality should (in theory) have little to no impact.

If you are using an analogue connection for CD's there may be a difference in CD playback quality.

Surely, the difference with between the 650 & 751 should be very noticeable, should it not???

What BigBoss said!

 

[bigboss]

The player is always set to bitstream with movies so the player does the decoding.

If the player is set to bitstream, the amp is doing the decoding, not the player. In which case changing the player for a change in sound quality should (in theory) have little to no impact.

Oh yeah, didn't notice that bit in OP's post!

 

[atkins4725]

The player is always set to bitstream with movies so the player does the decoding.

If the player is set to bitstream, the amp is doing the decoding, not the player. In which case changing the player for a change in sound quality should (in theory) have little to no impact.

Oh yeah, didn't notice that bit in OP's post!

Cause it is, my mistake :-D

Well, my 650 is on its way out. Sometimes doesnt load blu rays at all, have to keep turning off the machine and then reloading the disc, software is up to date so it isn't that. I didn' really want multiple boxes hence the universal player

 

[bigboss]

Ok, in that case, look at the upcoming Oppo 105 (apart from your shortlist). It's got some extremely useful features not found in any other blu ray player in the market.

http://hometheater.about.com/b/2012/09/19/oppo-formally-announces-bdp-103-and-bdp-105-blu-ray-disc-players.htm

It should be launched this year.

 

[strapped for cash]

Well, my 650 is on its way out. Sometimes doesnt load blu rays at all, have to keep turning off the machine and then reloading the disc, software is up to date so it isn't that. I didn' really want multiple boxes hence the universal player

That's worrying. The 650 is hardly a cheap player and should last considerably longer. I know we live in a culture where everything seems immediately disposable, but if I bought a mid-to-high-end BDP I'd expect it to remain fully functioning for more than a couple of years! Such an experience would put me off buying another BDP from the same manufacturer.

 

[bigboss]

Agreed. My Panasonic BD60 still works flawlessly after more than 3 years of regular use.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Lots of refurbished 650's on eBay.

My Pioneer still works great!

 

[woodster]

My pioneer is good still and I absolutely do not need 3D, which will in my opinion is still a pain with those awful specs. It would have to be something spetacular to tempt me to upgrade for a while yet.

 

[atkins4725]

Think im just gunna wait till the 650 pops its cloggs and buy a dedicated player and not go the universal route. Only thing now is i need to try and workout how much £££ to spend on a dedicated cd player without going over board taking in to account i'll be using the apex system for music aswell as movies.

My original buget was around £800 for the universal player but would this buy a cd player thats over the top for the apex???

I was considering the marantz pearl lite

 

[bigboss]

Why don't you buy a DAC instead?

 

[atkins4725]

Why don't you buy a DAC instead?

i've considered this and was looking at the Audiolab DAC. The only problems for me is that it adds yet another box. If the Audiolab DAC is considerably better than that of the Marantz pearl light (which has additional digital inputs) then I'll add It to my short list for a listen.

I'm gunna have a read up anyway but do you know if the Audiolab DAC is any different to that which is in the 8200cd ???

 

[bigboss]

It's no additional box. Blu ray player + CD player or blu ray player + DAC. Your choice.

 

[atkins4725]

Thought I'd update my choice of upgrade whilst the Mrs is watching Crapfactor.

I had the CA 751bd and the new Marantz 7007ud at home for the last couple of days battling it out. Long story short, the Marantz is back in the box and ready to go back. The CA blew me away straight from the start where as the Marantz was a completely different story.

I went off CA stuff after owning the 650a but this 751bd has me wanting more CA kit.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Thought I'd update my choice of upgrade whilst the Mrs is watching Crapfactor.

I had the CA 751bd and the new Marantz 7007ud at home for the last couple of days battling it out. Long story short, the Marantz is back in the box and ready to go back. The CA blew me away straight from the start where as the Marantz was a completely different story.

I went off CA stuff after owning the 650a but this 751bd has me wanting more CA kit.

Hi

Nice one. If you don't mind me asking where did you buy or borrow from?

Cheers.

 

[atkins4725]

Bizarre question ???

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Bizarre question ???

Why?

 

[atkins4725]

Why would you need to know???

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Why would you need to know???

Because if you can borrow one, I wouldn't mind doing so. And I know very few dealers sell one though.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

:wave: anybody there?

 

[DandyCobalt]

The 751 is a seriously good machine with great dacs and video processing. Hasn't missed a beat since getting the first one sold at Maidstone richer sounds. They were happy for me to spend a good hour or so doing a head to head with the 650.