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Classe SSP 800's DAC vs Oppo 105's DAC

Hello,
I am wondering which is a superior sounding DAC for listening to CD? The DAC in the Oppo 105 or the DAC in the Classe SSP 800 preamp processor? 

I have the Oppo 105 connected via Transparent Premium HDMI cable to my Classe SSP 800 in my dedicated home theater room. My power amps are : Classe CAM 600 monoblocks (pair) to power front speakers; Classe CAM 300 monoblock (single) to power a center speaker; Classe CA-5300 multi-channel amp to power the surround speakers. Doing 7.1 setup. 
My front speakers are B&W 800 D3, B&W HTM1 D3 center, B&W 804 D3 & 805 D3 used for surrounds. 

I'm using these gears strictly for home theater, bluray movies mostly but occasionally I wanted to spin some red book CD in this home theater room.
I do have a dedicated stereo setup in a separate dedicated 2ch listening room that consists of completely different equipments and speakers. And I use this 2ch room to listen to music (hi-rez PCM/DSD, SACD & CD. My 2ch equipments in this dedicated 2ch room are of much higher qualities than my Classe/B&W gears in my home theater room. 

So back to my dedicated home theater room setup....before I purchase a pair of xlr balanced analog interconnects to connect my Oppo 105 to my Classe SSP 800 I wanted to know which has superior sounding DAC for listening to CD, the DAC in the Oppo 105 or the DAC in the Classe SSP 800 preamp processor? So far I've only been using the Oppo 105 strictly as a bluray player for bluray disc playbacks only via HDMI to my Classe SSP 800. I never got to try the quality of the DAC in the Oppo 105.
Again this would be for occasional listening to cd.

Thanks in advance.


caphill
caphill OP
673 posts
 

People usually have their gears modified for the better, right? I've heard from a lot of people who have their Oppo 105 modded and they claimed that they sounded significantly better than the stock Oppo 105.

I've personally never experienced it myself. 

Ag insider logo xs@2x
dbphd
1,628 posts
 
Two comments:

(1)  After spending the money for a mod, isn't it likely the spender would feel compelled to think the mod improved the sound?

(2)  The sound with a 205 is superior to that with a 105, so that might be the place to spend money.

Stereo from my 105 is both HDMI and XLR to a Bryston SP3, and passed through a Parasound JC 2 BP to JC 1 monoblocks.  I'm not sure which sounds better, but I use an Esoteric SA-60 for music in that setup.

db


lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,377 posts
 
I agree with 'dbphd' 2nd comment, the newer Oppo's 203 and 205 have much better DAC's than any of the previous generation models. 

The Oppo 'Modwright' Mod is whole another level for 2 ch purist and I would not recommend this upgrade with SSP800/CAM600 unless you plan to use modded Oppo in a dedicated 2 ch setup. 

You have a very nice HT setup; If you plans to upgrade video to 4K, I would lean towards switching out 105 with 205. 

caphill OP
673 posts
 
First of all, my tv isn't 4k. I'm still using the Pioneer Kuro 1080p. 
I'm not going to mod my Oppo 105 as I'm only using this setup mostly for playing or watching bluray aka home theater. Occasionally I just need to spin CD through the Oppo 105 in my dedicated HT room. This room isn't for 2ch music listening sessions. So I'm not really compelled to have my Oppo 105 modded. 

I have a dedicated stereo setup in a separate 2ch listening room used for listening to 2ch music only. In this dedicated 2ch room I'm using the following equipments : 
* DCS Vivaldi stacks which consists of a master clock/streamer unit, upsampler unit, DAC unit, SACD/CD unit.
* Linn LP12 Klimax version turntable with all Klimax upgrades & accessories that includes : Linn Ekos SE tonearm, Linn Kandid mc cartridge, Linn Urika phonostage fitted internally, 2x Linn Radikal power supply units, one for the TT and the other one for the Urika phonostage preamp, Keel machined sub-chasis and armboard, Trampolin suspended aluminium base board integrated.
* Dan D'Agostino Momentum stereo analog linestage preamp.
* Dan D'Agostino Momentum M400 monoblock amps (2pairs) in bridge mode
* Wilson Audio Alexx speakers. 

Question for you guys regarding the subwoofer in my HT room. Currently I'm using a JL Audio Gotham sub. Do you think I should sell my Gotham and get 2 smaller sized JL subs for my HT system. My SSP 800 can be configured to use 3 subs. The HT room is rather large (40×60). 
caphill OP
673 posts
 
Btw, my DCS Vivaldi CD/SACD transport unit is based on Esoteric transport.
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