Belles Virtuoso or PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premium HP

If you want  to dabble in tubes, check out Modwright's website.. He can mod the Oppo with some tubes.. I have a 205 also.. I already began the fun of trying different tubes.. Well only 3 so far but still.. In my system the Oppo was so detailed I felt the need to soften it up a little.. I bought some NOS Mullards and that did the trick.. If you're just starting with tubes, I think that's the way to go for you.. Besides you have couple months to kill before the Belles comes out..

The Mldwright upgrade was one of the reasons I bought the Oppo. I like the idea of valves, and am also thinking the PL would be a good option to be be able to roll a little. I think it would be a good place to start. The Belles I’m thinking is going to sound a little relaxed in the middle, and still have punch on top and bottom. Besides, it’s got meters. Not another boring, black box.

If you buy the PL, then there's no turning back from tubes unless you replace it.. Getting the Oppo mod and the Belles you can switch back and forth (SS/tube sound).. Not saying don't get the PL, I've heard good things about it too.. Just saying there's flexibility with the Oppo mod.. I have a SS behind the modded Oppo and for fun change inputs to compare..

I have a Classe SSP800 processor.. to hear the tube sound, I switch to the 7.1 bypass, which is where I have the analogue output on the Oppo connected to.. To bypass the tube, I have the sound output from the Oppo via HDMI ... You can also output from the Oppo's other single ended outputs to bypass the tubes

jtweed, the Belles Virtuoso is going to be 6495.00 not 8500.00 to 9K.