[zx10guy]

I know there are a few A/V enthusiasts here. So I just found out today the news Oppo Digital is stopping all manufacturing. This is indeed a sad for the A/V world akin to when Pioneer left the plasma TV market with their legendary Kuro TVs. Sad to see a company that offered one of the best bang for the buck products, built exceptionally well, great performance, and great customer service now gone.

If you're on the fence about buying anything from Oppo, make up your mind now as what's out there in inventory is it. Once they're gone, they're gone. My wallet got much lighter today as I bought a UDP-203 and a PM-3.

https://www.audioholics.com/editoria...-manufacturing

[minn19]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

I know there are a few A/V enthusiasts here. So I just found out today the news Oppo Digital is stopping all manufacturing. This is indeed a sad for the A/V world akin to when Pioneer left the plasma TV market with their legendary Kuro TVs. Sad to see a company that offered one of the best bang for the buck products, built exceptionally well, great performance, and great customer service now gone.

If you're on the fence about buying anything from Oppo, make up your mind now as what's out there in inventory is it. Once they're gone, they're gone. My wallet got much lighter today as I bought a UDP-203 and a PM-3.

https://www.audioholics.com/editoria...-manufacturing

That does suck. Glad I got my 205 a few months ago.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by minn19

That does suck. Glad I got my 205 a few months ago.

How is the 205? I was going back and forth on buying the audiophile editions of their players. It seems if I wanted to buy a 205 now, I can't. Oppo doesn't show them in stock and has a link to be notified when they are available. Which with this announcement, I doubt they'll ever be now.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

How is the 205? I was going back and forth on buying the audiophile editions of their players. It seems if I wanted to buy a 205 now, I can't. Oppo doesn't show them in stock and has a link to be notified when they are available. Which with this announcement, I doubt they'll ever be now.

Like everything else Oppo it is awesome. I’m a kid of the 80s so I have a ton of CDs. It is the main reason I got the 205 over the 203. It has a lot of other hook ups in the back and a bit better anti judder reduction from what I’ve read, but both are great players.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by minn19

Like everything else Oppo it is awesome. I’m a kid of the 80s so I have a ton of CDs. It is the main reason I got the 205 over the 203. It has a lot of other hook ups in the back and a bit better anti judder reduction from what I’ve read, but both are great players.

Good to hear. Maybe I'll check in a couple of months to see if Oppo has any B-Stock 205s. With my system, I'm not sure if the 205s make sense. I also have a lot of physical media and will continue to buy physical media. I don't want the MPAA/RIAA controlling how I consume my content nor any of the crap compression with my source material. But I've hitched my wagon onto Meridian products. So the 205 may not provide any benefits in my systems.

[BLOJOE]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

I know there are a few A/V enthusiasts here. So I just found out today the news Oppo Digital is stopping all manufacturing. This is indeed a sad for the A/V world akin to when Pioneer left the plasma TV market with their legendary Kuro TVs. Sad to see a company that offered one of the best bang for the buck products, built exceptionally well, great performance, and great customer service now gone.

If you're on the fence about buying anything from Oppo, make up your mind now as what's out there in inventory is it. Once they're gone, they're gone. My wallet got much lighter today as I bought a UDP-203 and a PM-3.

https://www.audioholics.com/editoria...-manufacturing

Sad but nowadays (and for some time) there really has not been that great of a consumer market for high end home electronics. That's what killed the Pioneer plasma I believe. Why spend $5000 on a "high-end" Pioneer plasma when I can goto Costco and buy the "same size" (Visio) TV for $1000 that looks "the same".

I still have one of the last Pioneer Kuros. 65in. One of the MOSFETS died on me recently and I had a Plasma "repair specialist" come out and fix it for like $150. He said this is really the only design flaw of the TV - in all other respects it's better made and generally superior than anything else out there these days. I love telling people what it is when they ask: "one of the best if not THE BEST plasma TVs ever made". Same is true of my old Denon receiver - just don't make them like this anymore...

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by BLOJOE

Sad but nowadays (and for some time) there really has not been that great of a consumer market for high end home electronics. That's what killed the Pioneer plasma I believe. Why spend $5000 on a "high-end" Pioneer plasma when I can goto Costco and buy the "same size" (Visio) TV for $1000 that looks "the same".

I still have one of the last Pioneer Kuros. 65in. One of the MOSFETS died on me recently and I had a Plasma "repair specialist" come out and fix it for like $150. He said this is really the only design flaw of the TV - in all other respects it's better made and generally superior than anything else out there these days. I love telling people what it is when they ask: "one of the best if not THE BEST plasma TVs ever made". Same is true of my old Denon receiver - just don't make them like this anymore...

In my opinion, what killed Pioneer was their attempt to go mass market. When people think retina burning picture settings is a sign of quality, you're in a losing battle to convince the mass market consumer paying 2 to 3k more for a TV is worth it. How many people have you run into that have even bothered to get their TVs calibrated? These people will not find any value that part of the cost of why Pioneer costs more is due to them making their own glass or that Pioneer uses custom ASICs.

There is a market for high end compnents. It's up to the company on if they're satisfied with the small market share that accompanies that market.

I also own two Pioneer plasmas. One is a 1010HD and the other is a 141FD. Both calibrated by D-Nice from AVSForum fame. Don't even have an urge to look at anything current.

[ASAP]

I think the enthusiast high end market of consumer electronics (maybe outside of iphones which are also considered an accessory) is almost gone. You have very high quality cheaper alternatives as everyone has caught up... there will be those that see a difference and there will always be more of those that don't. It's just like cars... in 2001, the E46 M3 was almost an exotic compared to its competition... in 2017, the F80 M3 is like any other 70K sports sedan.

[zx10guy]

Not sure what products you are comparing and what your definition of high quality is, but high end products are definitely not disappearing. The ones that seem to have problems are in the middle niche that straddles between consumer and lower high end.

There are plenty of companies which I got to know when I got into being a "phile" in the late 80s that are still around. Companies like Krell, Audio Research, Wilson Audio, Meridian, Martin Logan, Mark Levinson, Theta Digital, Wadia, B&W, VPI, Bryston, to name just a few. The differences are there compared to mass market if one cares about the differences. It's all about priorities. The analogy can be compared to driving a Prius versus an M car. Both will get you to the same destination. But yet both provide a different level of experience to the driver. An example of the quality one gets with higher end equipment is in the construction and components used. An example of this is my Bryston 6B-ST 3 channel amp. The thing is built like a tank. Weighs about 90lbs. Every amp made by Bryston, including mine, goes through a 24 hour burn in where the amp is driven at full power the entire time. If the amp survives this QA test, then it gets a pass. This is why Bryston amps have a 20 year warranty. Don't know of any mass market product/manufacturer which has anything close to this level of QA and warranty.

Hopefully people will realize the demise of physical digital media is going to make things worse overall for the consumer and we'll see the resurgence of optical media just like we're seeing a revival of vinyl.

[pz619]

I was pretty bummed when I heard this. I have both the pm3 headphones and ha-2se and love both.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by pz619

I was pretty bummed when I heard this. I have both the pm3 headphones and ha-2se and love both.

Good to hear that you're pleased with the PM3s. I've been going through various headphones. I currently have a set of B&Os, Shure SE535, Grado SR100, and AKG K280s. The ones I use the most for quality listening are the Shure SE535 and the Grado SR100.

I'm wondering if the sound of the PM3s will mimic the lush sounds I love from ribbon/electrostatic speakers. I remember hearing a set of Apogee Stages being driven by a full Krell stack at the local drug dealer to my college. The dealer had this in a listening room where they set up an acoustically transparent curtain. The curtain rails were set up just in front of the speakers and they would pull the curtain across during auditions. After a while, you forget there are speakers behind the curtain and you're just in the moment.

I remember Stax headphones and always wanted to own a set. But the price of admission was way too high. Hoping these PM3s will match up. I also have a portable headphone amplifier I will use with the PM3s from Ray Samuels Audio called the Predator.

[pz619]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

Good to hear that you're pleased with the PM3s. I've been going through various headphones. I currently have a set of B&Os, Shure SE535, Grado SR100, and AKG K280s. The ones I use the most for quality listening are the Shure SE535 and the Grado SR100.

I'm wondering if the sound of the PM3s will mimic the lush sounds I love from ribbon/electrostatic speakers. I remember hearing a set of Apogee Stages being driven by a full Krell stack at the local drug dealer to my college. The dealer had this in a listening room where they set up an acoustically transparent curtain. The curtain rails were set up just in front of the speakers and they would pull the curtain across during auditions. After a while, you forget there are speakers behind the curtain and you're just in the moment.

I remember Stax headphones and always wanted to own a set. But the price of admission was way too high. Hoping these PM3s will match up. I also have a portable headphone amplifier I will use with the PM3s from Ray Samuels Audio called the Predator.

How do you like the Shure 535? Looking for a good IEM as I'm getting a little bored with the Klipsch X20i. As for the PM-3 I really like the design, feel, warmth of the tone. But if I'm being critical, some of the Grado models I do like better. The PM-3 was perfect for me as I was able to get a pair for about 40% off. Definitely no regrets though.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by pz619

How do you like the Shure 535? Looking for a good IEM as I'm getting a little bored with the Klipsch X20i. As for the PM-3 I really like the design, feel, warmth of the tone. But if I'm being critical, some of the Grado models I do like better. The PM-3 was perfect for me as I was able to get a pair for about 40% off. Definitely no regrets though.

The 535s are pretty decent. What I do like is the mid bass to low end performance. What I think is lacking is the upper end of the mids to highs. These IEMs have a pretty laid back signature. I wouldn't describe them as being warm. Just laid back. On sonic signature alone if I where to pick between the 535s and the SR100, I'd pick the SR100 as it has a very balanced sound presentation. But carrying an SR100 around isn't practical. So my travel go to is the 535s.

I haven't heard the Klipsch. I would really like to hear the B&Ws (as I own B&W N804s and N805s) or Etymonics.

Am I sorry I bought the 535s, no. But I wish they had kept the design shape the same as the lower end 200s. You'll find when you first use the 535s that your ear canal my get irritated. Something changed that I can't put my finger on that made the 535s a bit challenging for my ears.