Recommendations for Blu-ray Player

I think my comments are more regarding video streaming various video apps, such as Amazon .

Here is a review of the Oppo 205 regarding streaming:

STREAMING

The UDP-205 is also an asynchronous USB DAC but unfortunately I couldn’t give it a try. If you have a Mac you’re good to go, but Windows operating systems will need the appropriate file from OPPO’s website to get it working. My laptop has never behaved correctly since the Windows 10 update, and even after the download, my laptop wouldn’t make the match without problems. Boo to that. This isn’t an OPPO issue, it’s a Samsung laptop issue since Samsung no longer supports their older laptops. The OPPO UDP-205 can stream content from mass storage devices through the dual USB 3.0 inputs, as well as your home network. Unfortunately, there are no built-in apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or YouTube. Since I have a projector and not a SmartTV, I need an external device that’s 4K-HDR capable for these apps. I’d like the OPPO to be the solution, but it isn’t. You’ll need to connect that other device through the OPPO’s HDMI 2.0 input, your AVR, or directly to the display. Streaming quality is a mixed bag though, even from 4K HDR Netflix and Amazon Prime offerings. The high compression just destroys the image. I’d like to have these services within the player to reduce signal path and the number of boxes I have in my system. It’s a bit of a bummer if you use these services, but this is only one shortcoming of an otherwise excellent player.

Or this one:

And by "the latest in video wizardy," I mean that the UDP-205 is built on the same platform as OPPO’s UDP-203, which Adrienne Maxwell reviewed back in January. As with that player, the UDP-205 shares quite a lot in common with OPPO’s previous universal disc players, and it features a number of noteworthy differences. Gone, for example, are streaming services like Netflix and YouTube. That’s not a major loss, given that most of us have probably moved on to dedicated streaming media players for accessing such services. But gone, too, is the front-panel MHL HDMI input, which is a major bummer for me, since I use said input on my BDP-103 to connect my MHL Roku Stick.

Im not dissing the Oppo, I almost purchased one before buying my Yamaha (but steaming was not a factor as I was always going to use a separate device for that), but in terms of a ’one box’ solution to use video streaming services directly within it, I’m not sure it’s the answer. A Roku played can provide UHD if available by the service (you have to purchase the correct model that has that capability), and can send full surround sound to the receiver as well via the TV>receiver. I don’t know much about the details of the Amazon Firestick as I’ve never owned one.

As the OP seems to want High Def video streaming service (which a video steaming device can offer), but is attempting to also use a 2-channel set-up for sound, I’m not sure HT sound is important.

An Oppo BDP-105 is not a " high end digital source".  It's a little above entry level, and a great multi-purpose unit in its time, but it's long in the tooth.  The DAC is easily surpassed, your streaming options are limited, it's not a great CD player, doesn't support 4K, doesn't do Atmos, not to mention, good luck getting support on one.  Add to that, people are asking ridiculous prices for them, and it just isn't a good recommendation.  I still have one in my bedroom, but I rarely ever use it and I only use the BDP-203 in my main system for movies.

I thought this was Audiogon not Videogon bkeske....???

Think I can find what I'm looking for if I relent on the coax output, and use the optical input to miniDSP4x10HD instead.

I don't remember precisely why SPDIF optical is not as good as SPDIF coax - I just remember reading several comments where AES and optical were shunned when compared to coax digital signal quality.

Is there an inherent digital limitation with optical, or is it a conversion/generation loss issue?

The problem with optical toslink is that the light emitting diodes (LED) cannot light up fast enough to produce a perfect square wave.  The wave comes out almost curvy (almost like an analog sine wave).  You also have potential problems with the light receiver.  As far as how this affects sound quality, I can't really say. But I have compared toslink to COAX and COAX is always better as long as you have a good digital cable.