Using Oppo 205 instead of per amp processor

roy1919,

     You have some very specific requirements that I would recommend a good local a/v installer would be best able to solve for you.  Sorry, I don't have better answers for your particular situation.  

Tim

Noble, I have been considering a setup similar to yours, but was concerned about the difference in the Oppo’s outputs on XLR vs RCA. Doesn’t that create a mismatch? My plan due to limited funds right now is to use the 205 as the pre. The old AVR I have has 7.1 audio inputs so I can use that as the ‘multichannel amp’ for H/T, and my existing Odyssey amp for the mains. My only sources are CD, streaming, and DirecTV. I’ve never used XLR, but my local dealer says the Odyssey would be ideal to use them, but I didn’t know how the balance would work with the RCA into the AVR.

thanks 

Hi english210,

I don’t have any issues using the XLR cables for the stereo/l+r mains and the unbalanced rca for the surround outputs. I doubt you will either.
By ear, I can tell the XLR seem to have a slightly higher gain than the rca so the XLR sounds slightly louder.but not dramatically louder.
Even if the XLR does sound significantly louder to you, the audio configuration section of the Set Up menu allows you to adjust the relative volume levels of both the stereo/l+r mains and all of the surround channels to match the output volumes either by ear or with the assistance of a sound level meter.
So, you can relax. You should have no issues with mismatches using the XLR outputs to your Odyssey amp and rca outputs to your AVR.

Tim. 

If I were to get a used 105D, would it work in this configuration --

HDMI from PC to Oppo for future 4K passthrough (I don't have a 4K projector yet) and 7.1 audio decoding
USB from PC to Oppo for higher resolution stereo audio (advantage?)
HDMI out to my Benq W1070 projector
XLR out to my Levinson 333 dual mono amp/B&W N801 speakers
RCA outs for side and rear speakers through a 4-channel amp I have lying around.  I have a pair of CDM2 Signatures and I could easily get another pair.
RCA out to an old sub I have "lying around." (might just make my awesome bass muddy but I'd like to try it)
Can I use it without a center channel speaker?  I'd hate to have to try to get a good enough amp/center channel speaker to match the quality of what I have, but I'm really interested in experimenting with surround.  I guess I could get a Nautilus HTM2 used for around $600 and ponder what to do about a good amplifier for it.

I just bought a PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC and I like it, but now I'm wondering if I should have gotten a 7.1 system instead.  If the 2-channel implementation in this is really good, it has balanced outputs, and I gain the ability to play Bluray discs directly.  It seems like this might be a better choice.  I can still return the GCD if I decided this was better.

To be perfectly fair, I watch more TV than I listen to music.  And although 2-channel of this caliber is pretty awesome for watching television, I wonder what I am missing in side and rear speakers.

I'm afraid that it would just be one big coherence nightmare and sound terrible.  I've been looking for an inexpensive way to experiment and haven't found one.

It took me more than 30 minutes to read the OPPO 105D manual I found online.  Therefore, I can't edit my previous post and I answered some of my own questions.

It appears I can set the center channel speaker to "off."  Can someone confirm that this "phantom" center channel option sounds right/good?

It doesn't appear that the Oppo will pass through 4K, but it does look like I could put it in "audio only" mode, use one of the HDMI outputs from my PC for audio, a different one (maybe Displayport) for 4K in the future, and get sound and video that way.

USB seems like it may or may not be an advantage for 2-channel audio.  Anyone have opinions on this?  The manual says USB is 2-channel only.

The manual isn't really very clear on whether the XLR outputs are the same as the RCA surround outputs.  Can someone explain how this works, exactly?