Originally Posted By: gonk
Originally Posted By: FAUguy
In one of the first Firmware updates for the Oppo 95, it states the following:
"For the BDP-95 model only, the dedicated stereo output ports (XLR and RCA) can now be assigned to use as the Front Left and Front Right output channels."

Does that mean that when playing a BD or multi-chanel discs, that you can use the Stereo RCA L+R output along with the 7.1 RCA output? Meaning that the left and right channels are sent through the stereo outs, while the center/surrounds/sub is sent through the mulri-chanel outs?

[quote=FAUguy]With using the 7.1 out (for me it would be 5.1), I would have to buy 6 RCA cables, then 2 more RCA cables for the 2ch stereo output (8 in total). But if I can use the 2ch stereo RCA out in place of the L/R RCA multi-chanel outs, then I'd only need 6 cables.

(I hope I explained that right).


Yes, the BDP-95 can be set up to use the dedicated stereo output as the front left/right for multichannel, in which case you would connect the dedicated stereo output and the 7.1 channel's center, surrounds, back surrounds, and sub outputs (eight cables in all) to the 7.1 channel input on the processor. If you are running a 5.1 setup, you would omit the back surrounds and only use six cables.

This does rule out connecting the stereo output to a stereo analog input on the Model 990, of course.

Originally Posted By: FAUguy
For my current bass management, since I'm only using three Digital inputs, and I have the Fronts sets to Small and sub set to Yes, this digital bass management applies. With Fronts set to 40 Hz and Center at 60 Hz crossover.

If I use the 7.1 (5.1) Analog input for BD and the 2ch Stereo for CDs from the Oppo 95, then the 990's Analog bass management applies. Using the "bypass" mode sends full-range too all speakers including the sub. I guess this would mean I'd have to turn on the active crossover on the Outlaw LFM-1 Plus sub and set it to around 45 Hz, so it only plays frequencies below that point, which is roll-off of the B&W 804S speakers?


Have you considered using higher crossover points for your center and mains? The fronts are -2dB at 38Hz, and the center is -3dB at 42Hz. When you consider the natural roll-off in output and the curves involved in crossover points, the rule of thumb is often to go one octave higher than the -3dB point. That would mean around 80Hz for the center and at least 60Hz from the fronts. That may be worth tinkering with.

The sub crossover setting is only going to apply if you use the stereo bypass mode, which you won't if you use the stereo output on the BDP-95 as the front left/right channels. If you do plan to use the stereo bypass mode, though, I wouldn't set the sub's crossover that low. No matter what you do with front channel crossovers, I'd think about setting the sub's crossover no lower than 80Hz or 100Hz. Going lower will almost certainly create a dip in frequency response due to the multiple crossover curves operating in the same area and will throw away a significant amount of the LFE channel. Going higher will likely result in a peak in the frequency response when the front channels contain these low frequencies, but there will be many times where there's no content this low in the fronts and it will avoid throwing away LFE channel content.

Originally Posted By: FAUguy
I'd like to get another 5 years out this 36" Panasonic Tube HDTV if possible. If it broke down and cost more than $500 to fix, then I'd look at getting a new set and entertainment cabinet. I know the new 55" OLEDs are going for $12K, so that would take 5-7 years for them to drop under $4K.

So I guess I'd have to look at investing in an HD Furry with the Oppo 95, so that BDs can be output at 1080i, as well the Oppo upconverting DVDs to 1080i. If I just use the Oppo's Component out, then all DVDs are at 480p (which I have now from my Pioneer DVD player), and it would be a toss-up as to if BDs get downconverted to 480p.


Sadly, component video inputs are very limited these days. What you're seeing is the real damage resulting from the industry's decisions regarding "analog sunset" (including decisions going back almost ten years now).


Ok, I need to simplify this down some.

For the analog audio connections, I can do one of two things:
1) Use the 7.1 out from the Oppo 95 to the Outlaw 990 (for BD/multi channel), and also the 2ch RCA stereo outs from the 95 to the 990 (for CD).
-or-
2) Use the 2ch RCA L/R from the Oppo, along with the Center, Surrounds, and sub, all to the 990's 7.1 input.

If I do option 1, then I'd have to switch inputs on the 990 between the CD and 7.1 depending on what discs and output I'm using on the Oppo.
If I go with option 2, then I would have to use the 7.1 input on the 990 for both CD and BD.

Either way, I'd have to place the 990 in Bypass mode to avoid its internal A/D/A, so that the sound quality remains pure from the Oppo. But with the 990 in Bypass mode, it sends full-range sound to all speakers. Because of this, would it then be best to just have the 990 set on "Large" and do the bass management in the Oppo? That way the crossover work is done by the Oppo and sent to the 990, which would be in Bypass mode. Does that seem OK? I'm just trying to find out which is the best way to set-up the Oppo with the 990, while maintaining a clean signal, but also proper bass crossovers.

When I got my B&W 804S/HTM3S speakers 5 years ago, I did experiment with the crossover settings. I started out with all the front/center set to 80Hz. I didn't like this, because I could hear it mess with the sound stage; such as if there was cello & double-bass that would normally be coming out of my left speaker, I would then hear it come from the sub that is on the right side of the room. I then lowered the crossovers to 60HZ, and it was better, but eventually went to 40Hz for the fronts and 60Hz on the center, which to me left the imaging in place, yet still sent the frequencies below that to the sub. Since I'm a musician, I have pretty good hearing and am picky when it comes to music and sound quality.

Regarding the video, instead of having to buy the HD Furry product, if I were to instead use an HDMI-to-DVI cable from the Oppo and connected it to the 990's DVI input, could I then send the video from the 990's Component output to the TV? The user guide doesn't really say if this is possible or not. Or does the 990 just to DVI input to DVI output and doesn't send it to Component as well?


Edited by FAUguy (02/14/13 01:33 AM)