New CD player any got any suggestions?

I think an external DAC option if you feel it necessary, is a good option to have.

Oppo seem well regarded too so not a bad move at all.

I'd be interested in the details Oli. Sorry for thread drift...

The Arcam 192 features a version of the DCS ring dac, not your old fashioned sounding Arcam sound.

Hope you find the Oppo to your liking Macca, I guess what's needed most is the cd mech, you can always upgrade with an external dac.

Every cloud has a silver lining. 

and ..... howzit sound?

Probably needs to run in.
It's nice to see that it feels at home already.

Looks nice enough actually.

Fingers crossed for good reports.

Good news so far then, hope it continues.

The SLP1200? Well it doesn't sound exactly the same as it.

Going to give it a proper run out tomorrow as got the day off. Don't like to give a verdict without playing a wide range of music first. Well, as wide as my tastes stretch anyway.

Okay so had a bit of a session last night. Bruce you are right.

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 XB970QS. 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 it's 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 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!

Yes I was going to listen to 'Love Over Gold' next until I looked at my watch!

The Oppo uses a 'Premium 32-bit DAC by AKM'. The player came out in 2016 so less than 4 years old. 

I'm not after 'musicality', I'm after truthful replay of the recording. So my priorities differ and that's one of the reasons  why I no longer bother with vinyl (the others are the faff and the expense). Yes it can sound amazing but digital is closer to what was done in the studio. 

EDIT - the unit came on the market in November 2015

At last, a more modern player that makes you appreciate the strides that have been made.

Very pleased you are getting the neutrality a lot of us are chasing.

Nah, It would be a Benchmark if I was going to get a new power amp. But I'll get the KSA50S fixed  instead I think. It's a known quantity. Next step will be the RME ADI2 DAC. 

The Benchmark is too small to deliver long term satisfaction, it's physical insufficiency would niggle at from across the room compared to the krell.

Why not buy one and put it in a bigger case? That's audio nirvana right there...