new sacd player for <$200

[lumpy]

I am looking at buying another Cambridge audio dvd89 or an oppo dvd980. Does anybody have an oppinion?

[TNRabbit]

Oppo.

[lumpy]

TNRabbit
would your oppinion be based on sound quality, build quallity or connectivity?

[TNRabbit]

SQ & options/connectivity. Build quality is simply average. They seem to hold up ok, though, as long as you don't SIT on them..

[venomclan]

In another thread, Sony just killed SACD. But if you are going to pull the trigger, I would stay away from Cambridge based on build quality. I had 4 Cambridge units (3 cd players and 1 music server) They all failed and were returned in less than 30 days. Good luck.
Venom

[Bass_Pedal]

There is no doubt that Cambridge Audio's quality control is spotty at best. If you get a unit that was assembled properly and works out of the box you're laughing, at least that's the experience I had. I returned 2 CD players before I got the one I own now. Awesome player IMO, but brutal quality control. I believe SACDs will still be produced by other labels just not Sony America.

[F1nut]

In another thread, Sony just killed SACD.

That's not true. Sony US is not going to support SACD any longer, but Sony Japan is. Sony US wasn't putting out much of anything anyway, so not that big of a deal.

[lumpy]

I have a cambridge dvd89 and it has been solid for over a year now - but the options are a bit lacking. this unit does not appear to send the bitstream via hdmi to my rxv661 and is connected via 5.1 rca.

It looks like the oppo980 has more on options and the ability to send the signal directly to my rxv863 via hdmi to be decoded there. no need for 7 rca cables.

[venomclan]

That's not true. Sony US is not going to support SACD any longer, but Sony Japan is. Sony US wasn't putting out much of anything anyway, so not that big of a deal.

Ok, perhaps killed was exageration. But the way I see it, Sony is in big trouble financially. There are rumors of them killing the PS3, which they are losing $ on. I cannot see Sony Japan floating SACD much longer either. They usually fall like dominos.
Venom

[mmadden28]

In another thread, Sony just killed SACD. But if you are going to pull the trigger, I would stay away from Cambridge based on build quality. I had 4 Cambridge units (3 cd players and 1 music server) They all failed and were returned in less than 30 days. Good luck.
Venom

That's not true. Sony US is not going to support SACD any longer, but Sony Japan is. Sony US wasn't putting out much of anything anyway, so not that big of a deal.

That and Sony is not the only company that put music out on SACD. Telarc, Mobile Fidelity, Chesky, etc.

I've been under the impression that Cambridge Audio had a good build quality :confused:, hmmm.

[Kex]

I have a cambridge dvd89 and it has been solid for over a year now - but the options are a bit lacking. this unit does not appear to send the bitstream via hdmi to my rxv661 and is connected via 5.1 rca.

It looks like the oppo980 has more on options and the ability to send the signal directly to my rxv863 via hdmi to be decoded there. no need for 7 rca cables.
Options seem to be a bit lacking in a lot of these units. I have the Oppo, and it's acceptable for video. I can't judge the audio properly since it's my only experience so far with SACD, but it will not even do program play, which is a PITA for me, since I frequently like to set up a program of several different titles and then shuffle play them randomly. There is no option to change the crossover either, so I'm guessing it's fixed at 80Hz.

One nice thing though, which may have it's importance if you're using it for video and audio: you can hook up both digital audio output and analog output, so you get full surround sound, with audio settings managed by your receiver, for movies; but two channel or multi-channel audio for music listening, with audio settings managed by the player. You just switch the input on the receiver with your remote to change from one to the other. I'm not sure that they will all allow you to do this. It could also proove useful if you don't want to use the subwoofer for music playback.

Have you noticed the Pioneer Elite from Vanns for $100 BTW?

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/486974189

P.S. some of what I wrote above may not concern you, since I think you are using a HDMI connection for audio playback, but others might find the information useful. Sorry!

[mmadden28]

....u can hook up both digital audio output and analog output, ... I'm not sure that they will all allow you to do this....
Have you noticed the Pioneer Elite from Vanns for $100 BTW?

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/486974189

P.S. some of what I wrote above may not concern you, since I think you are using a HDMI connection for audio playback, but others might find the information useful. Sorry!

Oh cool the Pio is in stock again. I would've mentioned it but I didn't think it was avail anymore.
Just a note on the Pio DV46 (and likely the DV48 as well), you can use both digital and analog outputs at the same time. For A/B purposes, I have the analogs going to my pre input 1, and the Coax to an Ext DAC, then to the pre Input #2. While playing a CD (Redbook CD, as SACD won't output via the digital outs for me at least not into the DAC), I am able to simply switch between the inputs to do live comparisons.

As Kex said you may be using HDMI--Another note. the DV46 will not output SACD via HDMI, but the DV48 will just fine.