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
I am considering purchase of UDP-205, do not have it yet, this will be strictly for SACD playback in two channel stereo mode using players RCA analog outputs, it will not for conventional CD's as I have a good CD player.
I have one question for those who are familiar with this player, I spent a good deal of time reading the on line owners manual where it states that for stereo the player downmixes multi channel layer, not a good idea. Is there a way to program the player to read the hi-rez stereo layer of SACD rather than down mix the MC?
Dumb question, but I am confused, I would not touch UDP-205 if it only down mixes the multi channel layer of SACD for stereo playback. 
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.