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Using Oppo 205 instead of per amp processor

Anyone using their Oppo 205 as a pre amp processor? if so, what are the pros and cons? I am looking into replacing my NAD 758 receiver with separates for my HT and secondary system. I'm thinking i can save myself some money by purchasing the Oppo instead of a pre amp processor but, not sure if the Oppo was designed to be used like that without issue. I know the Oppo doesn't have room correction and was told by magnolia, the volume control is fixed only no variable? Unfortunately, no dealers in my area have one on display to audition. Any feed back is much appreciated. My current set up: Primaluna HP integrated, Sony HAP1ZES, Cambridge BD 752 player, Klispch Heresy 111 70th anniversary edition speakers, cables Tellurium Q ultra black SC and jumpers, FMS microwave IC's, and a Wadi 171i transport that i use with my iphone/ipad.

Thanks
Brian
brian27b
ron1319
57 posts
 
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.
ron1319
57 posts
 
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?


ron1319
57 posts
 
Now I'm considering a 103D and just running the left and right outputs through the PS Audio piece.  That lets me use the PS Audio DAC for music and the Oppo for movies/multichannel.  And the price point on eBay seems to be super low which is perfect for my experiment.
auxinput
2,921 posts
 

Correct, the 105D does not support 4K.  You would have to get the 205 to support 4K. 

In my opinion, the center channel is probably the most important speaker for tv/movie content.  About 80% of the audio is targeted for the center channel.  I think you should discard the idea of "rear surrounds" and use one of those speakers for a center channel.  Even though the Oppo will decode and distribute audio without a center channel, you will have significant improvement in movie dialogue if you actually use a center channel speaker.  I think the "rear surrounds" are a lot less important.  You will still have "side surrounds" which gives you most of the surround effect anyways. 

The XLR left/right outputs will send the same audio signal as the FR and FL RCA channels in the 7.1 surround output section.  The XLR left/right is generated from a much better audio board, so it is better to use those for the front left/right speakers.

As far as the Stellar Gain, it is an excellent DAC and preamp, hugely better than the Oppo.  You can actually connect it in between the Oppo and Levinson amp to make a "hybrid" system.  Just connect the XLR outputs of the Oppo to the XLR inputs of the Steller Gain.  Then connect XLR outputs of Stellar Gain to Levinson amp.  You can actually configure the XLR inputs of the Steller Gain to be a HT input.  This means that the input will be played at a fixed volume regardless of the volume knob on the Stellar Gain.  This allows you to continue to use the digital volume in the Oppo for overall tv/movie sound.

At this point, I would connect digital coax output from the Oppo to a digital coax input on the Stellar Gain so that you can use the Oppo to play 2-channel CD or streaming such as Pandora, etc.

Then connect your PC to Stellar Gain using USB for other 2-channel audio.

You will not be able to get a 7.1 HT processor that will do 2-channel audio as good as the Stellar Gain.  It's just not possible because the Stellar Gain has digital clocks that sync to exact audio formats (such as 44.1, 48, 96, etc.).  A HT processor will also have a clock centered around 48khz, which is the primary format movie audio is produced in.  Also, the audio stages in HT processors will not be as good as STellar Gain, unless you spend many thousands.

If movies are priority, you could go for a HT processor, but it will suffer in 2-channel audio.  It would be better 7.1 sound than the Oppo, if you spend enough (Marantz 8802a, Krell Foundation, etc.).

As far as the sub, I would not even try to hook it up.  The huge Levinson 333 and the B&W 801 will have enormous amount of bass strength.  The sub will just "muddy the water".

auxinput
2,921 posts
 
You could try a 103D if you wanted to experiment, but keep in mind that the audio quality will not be as good as the 105D.  The 103 and 105 both use the same digital platform for playing discs and decoding digital audio.  However, the 105 has much better DAC and audio output stages for both the XLR and the 7.1 surround outputs.
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