Oppo 103 Blu-ray Player Gets 3 Stars!
It goes without saying that there will be improvements with the Oppo 105 (in this case for music) It's ability to play CD's using the analogue outputs really negates the need to have a standalone CD player, for me. But like most things, its subject to taste. I would have a demo with the player and possibly buy it online so you can return it if not satisfied. From personal experience, picture and sound are superior on this player to that of the BDT500. I had an extensive demo with the panasonic, sony and oppo range and nothing came close to the Oppo on bluray playback and Music. To say they perform like budget players is not true, not even in the slightest 
Give Hifix a call and speak to David he will demo it for you and show you how much better it really is.Nice setup by the way, snap on the TV and I love the LX86, I wish I could upgrade mine to it!!
Thanks duaplex, I have to be honest, I personally don't think the Panny 65 is as good as my KRP 500a (whole other thread) but it is a bigger screen and my viewing distance is similar so I thought I could try and improve it from the inside, so to speak. So I will investigate the 105 and thanks for taking the time to comment.
I have only had the LX86 for a few weeks, I used to have the first VSA AX10, then an Onkyo TX NR 905. I thought the Onkyo was pretty good, but the Pioneer is like listening to a new soundtrack. I swear I'm hearing sounds I didn't hear before, not just that they were muffled or indistinct. I realise you have to allow for set up and some amps are all about detail and have a different balance etc etc. But I'm really impressed with the Pioneer. And a 9.2 set up just washes over you. Very happy sound wise.
Ok I'm looking at the BDP 105 EU for around a grand. There is also a 95 which seems to be more expensive in general. Am I right in thinking the 105 is the update to the 95? Or are they two seperate players which co exist?
It goes without saying that there will be improvements with the Oppo 105 (in this case for music) It's ability to play CD's using the analogue outputs really negates the need to have a standalone CD player, for me. But like most things, its subject to taste. I would have a demo with the player and possibly buy it online so you can return it if not satisfied. From personal experience, picture and sound are superior on this player to that of the BDT500. I had an extensive demo with the panasonic, sony and oppo range and nothing came close to the Oppo on bluray playback and Music. To say they perform like budget players is not true, not even in the slightest
Give Hifix a call and speak to David he will demo it for you and show you how much better it really is.Nice setup by the way, snap on the TV and I love the LX86, I wish I could upgrade mine to it!!
Thanks duaplex, I have to be honest, I personally don't think the Panny 65 is as good as my KRP 500a (whole other thread) but it is a bigger screen and my viewing distance is similar so I thought I could try and improve it from the inside, so to speak. So I will investigate the 105 and thanks for taking the time to comment.
I have only had the LX86 for a few weeks, I used to have the first VSA AX10, then an Onkyo TX NR 905. I thought the Onkyo was pretty good, but the Pioneer is like listening to a new soundtrack. I swear I'm hearing sounds I didn't hear before, not just that they were muffled or indistinct. I realise you have to allow for set up and some amps are all about detail and have a different balance etc etc. But I'm really impressed with the Pioneer. And a 9.2 set up just washes over you. Very happy sound wise.
Ok I'm looking at the BDP 105 EU for around a grand. There is also a 95 which seems to be more expensive in general. Am I right in thinking the 105 is the update to the 95? Or are they two seperate players which co exist?
The 105 is the update of the 95, whether it is better though I would wait to see what What HiFi say about it. The one I personally would now look at is the Marantz UD7007.
Here is the review of the Marantz
http://www.whathifi.com/review/marantz-ud7007
Looks like your system would be the ideal partner, and sounds like at least the Oppo 103 could sound pretty rubbish in your system.
You can't go wrong with the Pioneer TV :)A friend of mine recently went from an Onkyo to a Pioneer too. These Av's are naturally a little brighter in sound and personally I prefer that. I like to hear all the high pings and tings as bullets fly about. Some however prefer that more warmer sound like an Arcam.Indeed with Music the Pioneer is spectacualr for an AV receiver :)As Gel said the Marantz is good and to add to your demo list I would recommend a look at the Arcam BDP300 too. I felt the 105 was superior to the 95, as much as the 95 was to other players.
But don't take my word for it, give it a try! You can get a good player like the Marantz for a good price, but how impportant is 4k?
Here is the review of the Marantz
http://www.whathifi.com/review/marantz-ud7007
Looks like your system would be the ideal partner, and sounds like at least the Oppo 103 could sound pretty rubbish in your system.
http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-11155-marantz-ud7007-networked-3d-ready-blu-r...
Thanks guys, and duaplex that's a good price for the marantz. I am not bothered about c.d sound because I have a seperate hi fi system ...
(including the aforementioned Marantz cd7, and an Audio Synthesis Dax decade so that side of things is taken care of) but obviously home cinema sound matters to me, so I am going to try to get a demo of the Oppo and the Marantz if possible. Thanks to both of you for the input, sometimes a nudge in the right direction is just what's needed.
As an aside, I have tried to save my systems under or as my signature 3 times now (So as to stop having to quote their respective contents in posts) But it will not seem to save it. Any ideas what I may be doing wrong?
Oh and duaplex, seeing as you like tings I thought you might like this..http://youtu.be/FA06jbROmMM
Oh that doesn't seem to have saved as a link. I'm not very good at this. Apologies.
Looks like your system would be the ideal partner, and sounds like at least the Oppo 103 could sound pretty rubbish in your system.
Not really. He / she has the brilliant Pioneer LX86 to decode audio. I don't see any point in investing in a player with superior DACs. Just bitstream audio to the Pioneer. Simples!
Been working away, sorry for the late reply Big Boss...
I have an LX 86, a Panasonic VT65, Jamo Concert 11s, (fronts) 8s, (rears) Concert centre, Concert surrounds( can't remember the model number) and a pair of Monitor audio rxfx for front height/width. Also two REL R328 subs. So a reasonable set up I think. I already have a KRP 500a in the bedroom so a second T.V is not required. I am happy with the picture I get from the BT500 but just wondered if worthwhile improvments could be had from a top end player from the likes of Marantz or maybe Denon/Oppo... I Have a Marantz CD7 on my hi fi and have always loved it.
I personally don't think you'll get improvements in blu ray picture quality by upgrading your player. As I explained earlier, you've got a flagship receiver which will decode audio brilliantly. My advice would be to keep your system. Certainly demo your options in comparison to the Panasonic player & see if the "upgrade" is worth the extra outlay, unless you're after a universal player.
Looks like your system would be the ideal partner, and sounds like at least the Oppo 103 could sound pretty rubbish in your system.
Not really. He / she has the brilliant Pioneer LX86 to decode audio. I don't see any point in investing in a player with superior DACs. Just bitstream audio to the Pioneer. Simples!
Thing is though when I change Blu-ray players in my system with the Pioneer LX70 amp, I clearly hear the difference between Blu-ray players 100 per cent, perhaps my amp is different somehow? But I hear other people with different amps making the same comments. The difference is really big between each Blu-ray players too.
Looks like your system would be the ideal partner, and sounds like at least the Oppo 103 could sound pretty rubbish in your system.
Not really. He / she has the brilliant Pioneer LX86 to decode audio. I don't see any point in investing in a player with superior DACs. Just bitstream audio to the Pioneer. Simples!
Thing is though when I change Blu-ray players in my system with the Pioneer LX70 amp, I clearly hear the difference between Blu-ray players 100 per cent, perhaps my amp is different somehow? But I hear other people with different amps making the same comments. The difference is really big between each Blu-ray players too.
And the ones with superior DACs always come out sounding better. So in my system I know for sure the Marantz should sound good.
Looks like your system would be the ideal partner, and sounds like at least the Oppo 103 could sound pretty rubbish in your system.
Not really. He / she has the brilliant Pioneer LX86 to decode audio. I don't see any point in investing in a player with superior DACs. Just bitstream audio to the Pioneer. Simples!
Thing is though when I change Blu-ray players in my system with the Pioneer LX70 amp, I clearly hear the difference between Blu-ray players 100 per cent, perhaps my amp is different somehow? But I hear other people with different amps making the same comments. The difference is really big between each Blu-ray players too.
Your receiver isn't upto scratch then!
Seriously though, have you tried bitstreaming audio to your receiver?
Looks like your system would be the ideal partner, and sounds like at least the Oppo 103 could sound pretty rubbish in your system.
Not really. He / she has the brilliant Pioneer LX86 to decode audio. I don't see any point in investing in a player with superior DACs. Just bitstream audio to the Pioneer. Simples!
Thing is though when I change Blu-ray players in my system with the Pioneer LX70 amp, I clearly hear the difference between Blu-ray players 100 per cent, perhaps my amp is different somehow? But I hear other people with different amps making the same comments. The difference is really big between each Blu-ray players too.
Your receiver isn't upto scratch then!
Seriously though, have you tried bitstreaming audio to your receiver?
Yep, 100 per cent it is setup right. The amp is decoding on the front, and it was setup by a shop, it sounds amazing to be honest. 
Here is the spec on it
http://www.pioneer.eu/uk/products/archive/VSX-LX70/page.html
I suspect you're not giving any work to your brilliant receiver. By default, all blu ray players decode audio, unless you change the settings to bitstream it to your receiver. If you bitstream, there shouldn't be any difference to audio when changing players, as the players' DACs are not being used at all!
Hey look David is on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B009P3R6LO/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d0_i4?p...
Good feedback too.
Panasonic 50GT50, Pioneer Bdp-lx71, Pioneer Vsx-lx70, B&W FPM Series & B&W PV1.