Oppo 83 SE Sound in Absolute Terms ?

The stock Oppo 83se is reported to sound pretty good for a $900 one-box-does-it-all solution. You may want to be more specific with your question regarding the price range of players (or specific players) you are trying to compare to. One place to start would be to look at the information out there about how the stock 83se compares with itself, after it has been modded.

There are several well regarded companies modding the Oppo 83 SE for the purpose of providing high quality two channel (or multi-channel) audio. Check out ModWright, EVS, and RAM. If you believe these companies are achieving significant performance improvements by modding the stock player, your answer to how the stock 83se compares with "truly stellar" players would have to be "not so great." However, the potential is apparently there by upgrading op-amps, power supplies, clock, and output stage. At the top of the heap (at least price-wise), Ayre's DX-5 at about $10K starts life as an Oppo 83.

the Ayre unit could very well be just a minor step up from the Oppo (as Mitch2 describes)

Cmalak, to clarify, "just a minor step up" is not at all what I was implying and not what I said. My intent was to point out that several well known modders are reportedly achieving "significant" improvements to the stock 83se, and that the Ayre (which I believe is based on the 83, not 83se) is likely at the "top of the heap," with even greater improvements compared to the other modified units. Charlie Hansen and his crew have reportedly added improvements to the DX-5 that place it's sonic performance at or above the level of the C-5xe MP. I wish I could afford one.

No problem Cmalak...I just wanted to be clear. Although I haven't always liked the sonic presentation of the Ayre gear I have owned, I have always respected the build quality, the value for the money, and especially their commitment to customers and service. What intrigues me is the sonic quality these modification guys (and Ayre) are reportedly getting from the 83/83se. Modwright is supposed to be coming up with a tube rectified power supply and tubed output mod for the Oppo, similar to his Sony mods. The ability of the 83/83se to play CD/DVD/SACD and R-versions is a huge plus and the blu-ray, video and multi channel capabilities are like the frosting and a cherry on top. If only someone could make the 83se sound as good as my Lector....for under $5K.