Cambridge Audio 752BD Universal Player review or, "how Universal players should be done"

Thanks for all the input gentlemen. Unfortunately a demo with the Cambridge isn't possible as the dealer(in another city) has to procure it especially. Gone are the days when I had a friendly local audio shop that let me take home gear of my choice for a home demo.
I some respects I'm drawn towards the Oppo as a known quality as I have their headphone amp and phones but against that I'd be paying an extra $600 for items that I wouldn't use like the inbuilt headphone amp, usb dac etc. Both the players under consideration have excellent reviews on their audio output but almost all the reading I can find online compares them to other Blue Ray players rather than dedicated cdp in that respect.
The AudioEnz review on the audio capabilities of the Cambridge unit is quite compelling. I was a member of that forum for many years and found his reviews to be well though out and free of the usual bulls**t.
Another option I have is to keep the Saturn but dispense with my E-Sound Signature cdp but I'm rather attached to that Chinese battle ship...decisions, decisions.
Think I'll ponder over the weekend and make a choice come Monday.

 

I took the Esoteric on dem from my local dealer-nothing to lose. My Oppo 105 beat my old Ayre CX-7 which was a £3K player on it's original release when I bought it. I lived with the Esoteric for a couple of weeks on CD's and SACD's it simply sounded noticeably better.

I loved the Oppo and the fact the Eso didn't have a digital in meant that I would lose out on Blu Ray Audios and downloads but I simply thought the % improvement was too good to miss out on. I never or so far have never really listened to the Oppo for stereo again.

I really don't see how you can disagree with me as you haven't heard the players in my system.

The Oppo is fantastic, a no brainer but there is better than the Oppo just as there will be with the EsotericX-03SE.

 

The AudioEnz review was what made me sit up and take notice. I had used their review some years earlier for the Marantz SA7001-KI CD/SACD player and found it to be bang on. They were right with the Cambridge too. I did have it slightly easier when I bought mine as I had the ability to return it up to the end of January this year, so I could give it a proper run through. A special order and no return is a different shout though.

If it's any help, compared to the AVI, the Cambridge is as good - not bad given it was against a dedicated CDP - and is a better player than the SA7001-KI.

 

Hi BSC,


Oh of course

I would be shocked if there wasn't a heap of dedicated CDP's out there that will cane the OPPO.

I don't think we are disagreeing big picture wise.

Obviously we haven't heard each others systems...but we have heard the components in question in our OWN systems.

That's all I can really base MY opinion on.

It sounds like the Esoteric is working very well for you which is great.

Just wondering if you are aware of some of the OPPO mods out there these days?

I am in Australia and have heard a fully modded Custom Analogue OPPO 105D.

http://www.customanalogue.com/index.html

A lot of users believe it matches a $10K dedicated CDP!!! (as do I)

Cost including Multi Region mod.........just U.S.$1,500

I reckon one of THOSE vs your Esoteric should raise your interest!!!


Cheers

 

I must admit I don't totally buy the mod approach-paying often more than the cost of the actual player to mod simply doesn't ring true to me-it's a path I looked at here in the UK you can pay £3.3K for a modded Oppo! Similarly even coming down in price I don't believe it would be good value I don't really understand your rationale in saying a mod that costs the same price as the original player is a "case of "just". Of course you would need to hear the player but my years of building a system etc it just doesn't sit right with me.

I really respect Oppo as a company something like the 105 was really well thought out and delivers a lot-I've often wondered why they simply haven't done a super model I'm quite sure they could easily deliver a player with all the mods these companies offer at a lower price. And yet they don't.

I bought a very high end player at less than a third of it's original value and it should hold a reasonable amount of that value for a good while. The build quality is off the scale and the transport is recognised as world class whatever they've done it still beats a new player like an Oppo 105 pretty easily. That's the bottom line-how does it sound.

Where I would look at as the next step in digital is something like the PS Audio Direct Stream DAC I've heard some really convincing things about that but of course it's a lot of money.

 

All of this is just IMHO but I thought my rationale was pretty obvious......

A player that costs you $3K outperforming players that will cost you $10K or more

What's not to like???

That's EXACTLY right.......how does it sound??

I KNOW how your Esoteric sounds....Do YOU know how the modded OPPO I mentioned sounds??

Who says your next step has to cost a lot of money??
As previously stated a fully modded OPPO 105D is only $3K
It's quite possible that it would run rings around the Esoteric.

I know as I have heard one and it's just a shame that you have already so casually dismissed it.
Sometimes you don't NEED to spend the big $$

I remember having a $3.5K Meridian 507 which was soundly beaten in less than a minute by a $600 Harman Kardon HD970!!!


BTW I hope you understand that the real gist of my posts was NEVER to bag your wonderful Esoteric.


Cheers

 

I refer back to my main point about Oppo you are really asking me to believe what appears to be a progressive company can't get a few components, look at their clock etc and put out a universal player at probably less than £3K that is simply going to set a benchmark at that price? You've got to think it's going to have an impact in the market for them. That universality their machine brings plus close to world class performance. I simply don't understand why they don't pick up that opportunity. There may well be sound reasons.

A fully modded Oppo here would have cost me approx the same (roughly) as my Esoteric-that's a fair bit of cash to buy blind and get a machine with nowhere near the build quality etc. You need to ask why the Eso beats the Oppo with reasonable ease considering it's age. I have to conclude the transport, design and quality of build are a big part of things.

Would I like to hear a modded Oppo? 100% The reality is it's not really possible. It's a big ask to go down that route and I considered it, looked at it, read the Hi-fi+ review and actually spoke to Audiocom (who away years back did a mod for me on an old Audio Alchemy DAC) here in the UK. I remain unconvinced until I hear one.

Anybody can put together a kit, a good one without spending major bucks I would think I could put together a pretty good total system for around £1-1.5K based on my experience of moving through the levels. However the reality is once you get up the ladder with components of a certain quality you are simply are looking at spending cash and usually in the thousands-in reality the top graded Oppo mod here in the UK costs £2.3K. Again you would need specialised experience of the mods to know if you can do it cheaper.

I have to ask when you are getting your Oppo modded?

Listen I never thought you were dismissing my player. Somewhere along the line you need to stop and enjoy the music and obviously you get your own feeling for the next move in your system-if I could pick one component it wouldn't be a modded Oppo it would be the PS Audio DAC. The reality is barring a lottery win my system will be staying static for a while.....and that's no bad thing.

 

Hi BSC,

Thanks for your great post.
I will be modding my OPPO 105 in the next 3-6 months
I used to own a modded OPPO 83 from the same company.

Only changed when the 105 came out as it offered quite a few more features I wanted AND, as a result, the potential for even better SQ.

All the modding companies out there ( and me BTW) believe that the OPPO 105D is a perfect platform to build on
as the DAC etc offers great potential not currently being utilised by OPPO themselves.

Why not???

Haven't a clue....maybe price point??.....intended market??........the mind boggles!!!

Further to the OP I wonder why CA don't offer something higher end either??

If I had to guess I would say that maybe cashed up hard core audiophiles baulk at the thought of using a "lowly" UDP with a high price tag!!

In the meantime at least we are both doing pretty well I reckon!!

I'm off for a listen now.......night time is the best time for it IMHO!!


Cheers

 

Just out of interest and to conclude on what has been a bit of a side tracked issue on the OP I just did a quick A/B of my Oppo versus the Esoteric. Chosen music was what was in the tray. Relayer by Yes the Steven Wilson remaster.

It's not close. The Oppo in comparison sounds dark, less life like and flatter. The Eso delivers much clearer low level detail which gives the illusion of more volume but doesn't actually jump when the full band come in. Warmer, more detailed, more life like, better cohesion, better resolution by far. And that's on what I consider quite a difficult production for a system to reproduce.
It would be very difficult for me to go back to the Oppo for stereo replay.

 

Decided I'll take a chance and get the Cambridge, the price is too good V the Oppo 105 to pass up. Since there're doing a run out price on the 752BD here in NZ I'm guessing that a new model can't be too far away but for my needs it'll do just fine.
Interesting exercise picking through all the reviews and threads online and weeding out, or maybe toning down, some of the Oppo fans. I have nothing against Oppo, love their headphone amp and headphones so a 105 would certainly met my needs if I required all the extra bells and whistles.
Now I just need to source a cheap monitor for setup until I can purloin the TV from our lounge in a few months time.
Having a rearrangement in my music room last night and discovered that I have a lot more music dvds/BR than I remembered so there'll be the occasional use for the video section of the Cambridge.

 

Nice one - glad you got it for a good price. Hope you like it and enjoy the new toy!

 

Good luck I hope it works out.

I think on stereo there are differing opinions but my guess is the Oppo would be a better stereo player. I'll be a tad surprised if the Cambridge beats your Rega but you'll be the judge. I think there was a better chance of that happening with the Oppo but it is more expensive.

I don't think you can lose and also my "guess" may well be out. Let us know how this goes I'll be delighted to be wrong.

 

There's a fair chance i'll keep the Rega in my bedroom system so the Cambridge would battle it out with my E-Sound Signature which is a more than capable player.

 

Let us know how you go. When do you expect your Cambridge?

 

Next week some time but I have to source a monitor of some sort to set it all up as well. The 752 will be in my music room which is separate from our house.

 

Have to say I reckon the Cambridge could well be a match for the Oppo on stereo playback. Not heard the Oppo, but a few reviews (not least the AudioEnz) pings it for me. Other user reviews elsewhere, but of course, that may just be a matter of taste. I've no problem that Cambridge avoided going for the Sabre DAC. The Wolfsons are more than up to it. I think you're right to pitch the Cambridge up against your more expensive player (albeit, I don't expect the 752 to be as good).

 

Hi Brother,

I know they are both good machines but I did find it interesting that What Hi Fi only rated the CA 752 with 4 stars and had SQ concerns.

They are usually quite loyal to home grown product.

They did however see fit to give 5 stars and a very glowing review for the U.S. based OPPO 105 which I enjoyed reading.

Cheers

 

I did read their review of the 752BD several times but in the end I gave more credence to Michael Wong's review on Audioenz . Call it biases towards my fellow Kiwi if you wish but I've found his reviews pretty good over the years having purchased a few items based on his recommendations.
Probably best for all parties to agree that both are excellent machines and move on, as it is a debate that will have no conclusion that will suit either camp.

 

Depends how much store you put in that magazine. Twenty years ago maybe. Now, they're a mag for ads and decent review or editorial is absent. They routinely give Cyrus 5 stars too, though their gear is often described here as cold and sterile.

AudioEnz, Hi Fi World, Stereophile, HiFI Choice, much better. Consequently, I gave up on WHFS&V years ago.

 

And which was my point too.

 

Nibor and Brother Rael,


Agreed,
At the end of the day we are ALL really in the same big "camp" anyway!!!

 

I'd be willing to wager that one could take the Oppo's D/A chips, adapt them for the Esoteric design, and get a sound that is in a similar league to what you describe. Point being, when shopping for players or DACs, mind the designer, the manufacturer and their reputation, and the attention to power supply and analog stage. The D/A chip can be virtually ignored in contrast. (These two players are at far different price points, so I'm not suggesting that a $1,200 Universal should produce hi-end sound quality)

 

I've believed this for a long time, but I'm starting to believe it less. Something has to go into the decision of the actual chip, it can't be a matter of power supply and analog stage design and flipping a coin as to which chipset to use. And I've owned enough DACs with the same chips to be able to detect general sonic trends.

 

It would be nice to be a "fly on the wall" in the labs of some of these big Manufacturers and see just what THEY think the important stuff is!!

I would hate to think they just number crunch and worry about the competition ALL the time!!!

 

Agreed. I'd love to ask that question to a DAC designer.