2. digital
  3. 136954-104219

OPPO or Something Else?

I am very ignorant in the latest and greatest in digital audio. My current setup is all analog with the exception of a CD player. Before OPPO announced their cease of production I read a lot of reviews and opinions from what a wonderful product it is. My main interest is in the quality of audio it can produce and not so much with the video capabilities. However, it is probably more capable than my current Blu Ray player (3D is not a concern).
Getting back to audio quality my sources are CD's and SACD's. I know that DAC's are all the rage with digital media. While researching the history of the various OPPO models that came out over the years, and paying close attention to user experiences with audio performance, it seems that with each model the audio quality improved with each release of a new model. Such as.....the 95 over the 93, the 105 over the 103, and the 205 over the 203.
Since the close of OPPO production it makes sense that the price of existing units in good condition would bring a premium price in the used market to those determined to purchase one. There are also many opinions that some of the upgrades to those units elevate them to a supreme product (those upgrades/modifications appear to cost almost as much as the units themselves).
Given that info on what my listening media is, would purchasing a used OPPO whether modded or not offer very good audio performance versus buying a different piece of equipment in the $1k to $1.5 range? I know that there are many OPPO users out there that are satisfied with their purchases. But I am mostly interested in opinions that have strolled down the OPPO path and have been disappointed with the audio performance.

jrpnde
whart's avatar
whart
3,047 posts
 
@mahler123--I appreciate your different viewpoint, given my admittedly limited experience on the digital side. I’m trying to understand where we differ.
Are you saying that the Oppo worked fine as a transport, and using other external DACS revealed their potential? (My impression, as mentioned, was that the Oppo transport was a choke point for Redbook).
The 95 doesn’t permit me to access the internal DAC directly as i understand it; i can attach a thumb drive or hard drive, but that is going through the internal player as well as the internal DAC of the Oppo. So, I was not able to assess the sonics of the Oppo DAC standing alone. By contrast, I gather the 105 has inputs to enable you to use its internal DAC directly and use computer based software players, rather than just plugging in external ’memory’ and relying on the Oppo as a player and DAC.
Overall, I thought the sound of the 95 from its analog outputs was pretty good. The product(s) deliver a lot of performance for the money, and are built to a standard far higher than most of the cheapie Blu-Ray players I once had.
I also agree that it is unfortunate that Oppo chose to discontinue making these universal players altogether.
junzhang10
252 posts
 
Best your money can buy.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Possibly best your money can buy at OPPO factory price of $1295 IF you want an all rounder.
Definitely not best buy at over inflated prices seen now.
Definitely not best buy if all you want is a CD or SACD player.
Just my opinion.

For SACD and CD playback my old Pioneer dv79 through its analog outputs sounds nicer to my ears than my OPPO205 through its analog outputs.

Again, my ears,my system

Worth doing your research if you only want//need audio playback.
audiovideonirvana's avatar
audiovideonirvana
56 posts
 
Rdudley2, that model number corresponds to a McIntosh player. What is the model number of the relocker and where is it available? I use my 105 COAX out to my DirectStream DAC. 
mahler123
3,362 posts
 
@whart 
  I think you nailed the point of our differences.  My intro to Oppo was the 105, which has several digital inputs and therefore be used as a DAC with other digital sources (which is how I used it for a while, in addition to SACD and Red Book CD.  I never investigated the 95, which apparently per your question, does not have the same inputs.  For me, the 105 was upgrade over my previous DAC, but it clearly can be bested as a DAC.  It is an excellent transport 
More to discover