Oppo BDP-95 Versus Bel Canto DAC 3.5

Thanks for your inputs.

I currently have the Oppo which is a great product and one of the best values in highend. I was wandering if I would realize a significant sonic upgrade with the DAC 3.5.

I was aware that the Oppo does not have a digital input. I have used the usb input for music from a flash drive. It sounds good however, I think the user interface could be improved.

As far as what would be feeding the DAC 3.5, it would be either the Oppo thru SPDIF or a Mac Mini USB (configured wtih Pure Misic)--> Empirical Audio Off-Ramp USB Converter.

Savjam

The Oppo 95 does not have a direct PC connection.

The USB ports are USB-host, i.e. designed to connect the Oppo to HDD or flash drives, just like the eSATA.

I've found that playing a CD rip on AIFF vs the same CD on the Oppo is vastly different. The spun disc is clearly superior.

I also have the Bel Canto DAC3.5VB which I recently upgraded to MkII.

Even in MkI form, it's a better DAC (to me) than the Oppo's Sabre32. The Sabre32 sounds sweet at first but seems to mask some details.

With Pure Music, SSD, 8GB of RAM and memory play, it's still not quite as good as the same disc spun on my Bel Canto CD2 but it is very close.

I've found the Sabre32 designs have a very close familial trait. They are a bit mellow, a bit less detailed in transients but easy to listen to.

The Bel Canto has that bit better resolution and detail. The last mile, I guess.

The MkII upgrade lowers the noise floor further and is more resolving in more complex pieces. Not as close as the EMM Labs XDS1 in terms of resolution but like with most hifi components, the law of diminishing returns applies.

Thanks Doggiehowser. Your responses have been helpful.

Savjam