Add I2s to Oppo players?

I'm just going to repost this from a similar discussion last month, and will add my setup is still working perfectly and the I2s is very noticeably the best SACD sound for my ears:  (ps, the DSD light is ON on the Pontus 2)

old_ears

33 posts

11-22-2023 at 05:51pm 

Wow, some good info on this thread but mostly a lot of confusion and false information.

   For a couple of years now I've been enjoying my small collection, <12 SACDs via: a standalone headphone reference system..

OPPO 83-(with 2channel SACD layer output selected)-small HDMI breakout box ($50 E-bay Chinese order)- I2s (all HDMI cables) into a Pontus 2 DAC-balanced cables-Jot2 amp-Aria headphones.  No problem, the cheap box also sends full HDMI to a small monitor to easily access the player controls via remote.

I realize I'm skirting DRM but I don't record or copy anything.

Most SACD I see for sale are Hybrids with that 2nd or third layer of 2 ch PCM.  I think there Japanese DSD only versions, expensive.  Usually the SACD layers do sound notably better than PCM or regular Red Book cd versions...not always.  It does no good to remix a final PCM file to DSD, then back again for play.

Of course if the OPPO gives up I do have a 105 in my AV system that is going strong but doesn't do HDCD decoding like the 83.

I didn't discover this on my own here's a link to the article that got me started:

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/reviews/at-long-last-listen-to-your-physical-sacds-through-an-outboard-dac-r971/

click here:

OPPOMOD

    Thanks for the link Unsound., bookmarked.    My headphone stack is an OPPO 83 (not on the listed players).  It's using an HDMI external breakout box for I2s, and the Pontus DAC has a high end clock in it.  The nice power supplies are tempting but guess none for the 83.  I also have a 203 in my full HT system that might benefit from some of the mods...don't care about I2s out of it.

I read through the replies and hopefully I'm not replicating a post. The OP won't be using the HDMI out from the OPPO as it is setup from the factory. The Oppomod adds a card to the PCB which includes it's own seperate I2S output using the HDMI cable. I believe you have to cut an opening in the housing for the new port.

I'm thinking about this mod also myself.

HTH.