Gonk, Yes for $170 the player was great!!! No complaints! I think I spent as much or more from bluejeans on analog cables for it!!!

But like I said the Olive has raised the bar.

SACD listening is really the most critical I do so the old 980 needs to make the march to the basement system where old faithful components go and continue! At the time it replaced a 5 year old sony unit that was doing double duty for a while and worked just fine with the uber heavy Loewe Aconda.

I always thought Oppo would continue inexpensive players even if it went up incrementally and have something to replace every 18mos without much thought. I was really waiting for the bugs to get worked out on the 83, then the SE came and I was planning on buying it but low and behold its gone. Used market prices are crazy now on the unit.

A $500 player is no problem but an $899 player to me is a bit of a stretch considering how fast these things become obsolete. THat could have been my procrastinatin along with a home restoration on top lifes other things. My core system of outlaw components still is ok in my book even if the 990 lacks hdmi and other trickery. For the money it could not be beat. My gauge is really "am I happy" not what is available. So a $899 player represents a quantum leap IM not sure I want to take. At $499 I can do, and if in three or so years another one trumps it and the maybe 83se, then its progress and it only costs $99 over just getting an 83se.

I guess if the 93 is a big step up for me than I should be happy. I am streaming Netflix on a Ruku and have thought about sending it also to the basement and given the new 93 model has it built in it streamlines the process. I'd say Netflix streaming is becoming more beneficial and while they say its a few years to replacing discs, they are offering more content. I suppose they will keep raising the price and perhaps offer a premium service to get current offerings on it. The 93 having this with thought of its performance is a major plus.

I can only assume the 95 will cost $899 or more. Not to say its not worth it but my SACD listening is not that frequent enough to do this.

By the way the Olive products are quite good and the freedom to not have cd's around is really excellent. THe benefits of ipod but with excellent reproduction!

Bottom line is that is sounds great and we listen to more music. The internet streaming and ability to pull in higher bit rate stations is really excellent. While I don't buy as much music as I used to, we are getting great variety.

I don't really buy DVD's or blue-rays and have yet to have a blue ray machine. I am happy with DVD on my 58 panny plasma and like to look forward to having new technology when it becomes mainstream. Perhaps its time now.

The oppos are great value products and my next purchase will be my third! Outlaw and Oppo have a nice "For the money" factor that is imortant to me. Im perfectly content to be state of the art 3 years after the fact.