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Thoughts on using the DAC in my oppo 205 with a CD Transport.

Hello,

I have been somewhat disappointed with the Redbook CD playback using my oppo 205. It's not that it always sounds bad, sometimes it actually sounds quite nice. I would say my biggest complaint is the lack of micro details, the light cymbal taps and other fine background sounds that make music so enjoyable. 

Since I can input a digital source to the oppo (Optical, Coaxial, or USB) and use the SABRE 32 DAC inside, I've been thinking of trying a CD Transport. Possibly the Audiolab 7000CDT. My system consists of the Simaudio Moon 600i integrated amp driving Focal L&R Utopia Be loudspeakers. 

My question is, would this arrangement provide me improved (and or) more detailed sound than I'm currently getting?

Thank you for your thoughts and knowledge!

Gary

gakman
big_greg
6,722 posts
 

It's the DAC in your Oppo that's holding things back, not the transport.  I use my Oppo as a transport, sending the HDMI out signal to a much better DAC.  It sounds like you've figured out that is the route to take.  

With those beryllium tweeters, you might want to look at R2R or FPGA DACs.  Sorry, I don't have a specific recommendation, my last DAC in that price range was the MHDT Labs Orchid, which is very good, but probably a little outdated compared to some of the newer offerings.

zlone
921 posts
 

I used to have a Gungnir multibit and it was quite good. They have recently updated this unit to v2. This checks most of your boxes, and is made in the U.S.

https://www.schiit.com/products/gungnir-2

larsman's avatar
larsman
2,384 posts
 

MSB, which is no slouch of a company, used to base their universal disc transports around the Oppo 103; they kept the loading tray and transport mechanism but took out the Oppo DAC and changed everything else, including a separate matched power supply. So yes, you'd likely want to keep the Oppo as a transport and upgrade yer DAC. 

jl35
4,222 posts
 

I never particularly liked various Oppo as either CD player or transport, loved them for DVD...

loomisjohnson
1,987 posts
 

it would be interesting to try. i'm not that familiar with the 205, but the 105 and esp. the 95 have good internal dacs + imo transports definitely and audibly affect the sound--whether a separate audiolab transport sounds better to you is an open question, but it will sound different. report back if you do go that route.

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