Reference disc player...UDP 205 or Marantz?

As far is I know, it functions like any other multi format/channel player--like my marantz UD7007. It allows me to adjust, on the fly, to either the multi channel or stereo layer. It will also keep the last choice you made as your default choice. If the last layer you listened to was stereo, than it will default to that the next time you play any disc. There is also a downmix option in the menu, but I don't enable that function. 

I would imagine the Oppo functions in much the same way. It certainly depends on whether our not the disc has more than one layer-stereo, multi, or cd.

....I am confused, I would not touch UDP-205 if it only down mixes the multi channel layer of SACD for stereo playback.

Yes, I think you may be confused.

I don't see (in the manual) any restriction about SACD, other than "Due to copyright restrictions and bandwidth limitations, SACD audio cannot be sent through the coaxial/optical audio output..." So if you use the analog or HDMI output I believe you can play the multi channel layer of SACD.  Call Oppo tech support and ask.

 Is there a way to program the player to read the hi-rez stereo layer of SACD rather than down mix the MC?

You are reading the manual out of context. 

In General...

SACD discs can have both a stereo layer and a multichannel layer on the same disc and you choose which to play. 

Most stereo players default to playing the stereo layer or can be set up to do so.

But, if the multichannel layer of the disc is selected, a stereo (2 channel) SACD player will down mix the multichannel program to stereo, if the player is capable of reading and playing the multichannel layer.

Thanks for the clarification.

So what I am hearing you say is that UDP-205 can in fact be set up to play the stereo hi-rez layer of typical SACD which has three layers, CD, stereo SACD and MC.

What I am still not clear but will try to find out, where in the owners manual one finds direction of how to setup the player so that it would play the stereo SACD layer.

Don’t laugh, I am learning and thanks again.

There MUST be a button, either on the remote or on the front of the player that allows you to do that on the fly. I can not imagine that you would have to go in the menu to find it, and then pick only ONE layer. How cumbersome. Sorry, it makes no sense, at least from a purely logical perspective. 

I'll go out on a limb and say I'm not simplifying it.