Should I sell my DAC

I used the Oppo 105 as my DAC in my 2 channel system for about a year, including the usb with my MacAir.  I then upgraded to a Mytek Manhatten, and now use a Bryston DAC3.  I still use the 105 as a transport.  Interestingly, the Manhattan used the Sam ESS Sabre Chip as the 105 but sounded much better.  This isn’t a criticism of the Oppo, which at its price is a fantastically versatile machine.

For a good while now I've been using a Oppo 105, for audio only. It's well known that the weak link in the 105 is it's power supply

I found aftermarket LPM (Linear Power Module) and IEC upgrade combining Furutech Rhodium IEC and heavy gauge pure silver wire to board (~ $300) on Ebay. They are straight forward DIYs, and magical additions, along with Machina Dynamica New DARK Matter to the CD tray.

The 105 has built in VVC (variable volume control). I run it direct via Wire World Series 8 XLRs to my Ric Schultz EVS 1200 (see my thread). Combined, it's quite a bargain, playing many times above it's price


hth

Selling the OPPO is a sideways move at best! There is nothing, repeat nothing, wrong with the DAC in the OPPO! The proliferation of DACs is driven by business profit motive capitalizing on the insecurity and gullibility of neurotic hobbyists.

DACs do sound different from one another. Surely you are not saying they all sound the same?

Oz

If all you're using the Oppo for is the DAC and your budget is around $1000, you could definitely upgrade sound quality.  I have owned Oppo 103, 203, 105D, and HA-1.  I still have the 105D in my bedroom system, but rarely use it.  I use the DAC in my Sony headphone amp in that system, which is much better than the DAC in the Oppo and I have a Bluesound Node 2 streaming into the Sony, giving me a lot more streaming options than the Oppo does.

You might consider using the computer in your office to stream Tidal to a DAC via USB.  Setting up your system this way would give you access to other streaming services like Qobuz, Radio Paradise, etc.

The MHDT Orchid is in your price range, but does not do MQA (neither does the Oppo) if that matters to you.  I've found that it doesn't matter to me, but I know some want MQA.  There are other options in that price range and I'm sure you'll get some other recommendations.

MHDT is a good recommendation. I have a heavily modified Pagoda that does a wonderful job. Before I sold my Node 2i, I compared MQA tracks from it's DAC to the Pagoda. Even though the Pagoda won't do the last MQA unfold, it still sounded better than the Node DAC.

Shakey