oppo 105d straightup

How about buying a Berkeley Alpha Dac for Cd? They're getting cheap.

Late to the question, but I am pretty happy with the 2 channel audio performance of my 105D without mods. I'm using it mostly as a dac fed by macmini / audirvana+ / Schitt Wyrd/ AQ Carbon USBs playing redbook and all formats of high rez including native DSD. The rest of my system(i.e. posted as "Silence of the Lamms") is fairly high end, though certainly not as expensive or trendy as many systems here.

After hearing the Oppo compared to many dacs up to $4k, the only one that I wish I could add to the system is the Schitt Audio Yggdrasil at $2300.

My understanding is that the Oppo is not truly balanced and thus the XLR outs shouldn't be offering any improvement vs. the RCA analog outs. Granted, the inputs of your linestage might make a difference. In my rig, which includes fully balanced linestage and balanced monoblock amps with balanced input, there is no difference between Oppo outputs XLR vs. RCA. YMMV. Cheers,
Spencer

My Oppo has many, many hours on it. I had not tried XLR connections until I read this thread. I have since purchased some moderately priced Audio Art XLR inter-connects here and the difference is nothing short of stunning. I can't believe I waited so long to try this. Better sound across the board and with the volume nob much lower than before. Great Tip 68pete.

Had the 105D for two days now and finding it sounds rather abrupt for lack of a better term. Leading and trailing edges are sharp, would like things rounded out a bit more (whether or not rounding makes the player more or less "accurate").
It's not terrible but am hoping a break in period will improve the sound.
Meant to get some XLR's before I ordered, better get on that before the 30 days is up.

Give it a few hundred hours on repeat with breakin tracks, and it will change for the better, for sure. Cheers,
Spencer