Reference disc player...UDP 205 or Marantz?


Hey guys....
I've decided to take the plunge, and get my last reference disc player--at least for a very long time--and I'm looking for opinions on the subject.
I really wanted to get the Marantz SA-14S1, it sounds fantastic for sure, but I started to read all the glowing reviews on the Oppo UDP-205. Is it just hype, or the real thing? Is the Oppo really that rare piece of equipment that punches that far above its price? Who here has listened to the oppo and/or the Marantz? How do they compare? 
Thanks! 
jonasandezekiel
@jonasandezekiel

I repeat - it doesn’t even have balanced output. Not being arrogant but just trying to warn you away from something that is absolutely NOT reference grade.

If you are open to other suggestions then check the Stereophile Class A and A+ list!!

Surprise surprise - the Oppo BDP 105D and the Oppo BDP-103 are both in Class A list but Marantz isn’t mentioned. Marantz was American then Japanese and now owned again by American private equity group that before owned Polk and DefTech speakers and have added Denon and Marantz recently - this brand is going Best Buy style. The brand name will be used to mass market.
Gdhal...great point. Another reason to avoid! 

If you go on their website, they talk about how clinical the Oppo sounds, and how much their mod makes it a different sounding player. 
A little suspension of belief I think is needed to make the leap of faith to buy it without first listening to it though.
Shadorne.....ok cool, thanks for that. Sorry, maybe I was a little defensive in my previous response to you. No offense.

Yes, it doesn't have balanced outs, you're right, but it's still considered part of their reference line. I would have definitely like to have balanced outputs, but, it doesn't stink, does it? It has a great dac for streaming. The next player up has the balanced outs, but doesn't give you a asynchronous dac.

So which is more important?

Shadorne, I also think that it made class A in stereophile because it really does punch WAY above its price. But does that make it a true reference player, or just a really good value? 
Frankly I wouldn't buy a disc player these days. I'd go PC to a Class A or A+ DAC. Burn your collection to a hardrive and get a Tidal subscription. 

For movies, I have an ultra UHD 4K bluray player but the number of available movies to buy are just a handful. It gathers dust!

I think discs are out and streaming is the future for digital music and movies.