Oppo BDP-95 Versus Bel Canto DAC 3.5

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.

Doggiehowser, thanks for your response. A couple of questions. I gather from your post that the bel canto is more revealing. In what other areas (e.g., transparency, imaging, soundstaging, high frenquency, bass,...etc) do you think the bel canto improves on the 95 and to what extent? Second, would you consider the upgrade to mark ii status significant? And, in what areas?

Thanks,

Savjam

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

BTW I am using the DAC3.5VB with the VBS1 power supply and the VB REF cables and I found it still sounds better with good power, courtesy of a Sound Application RLS240 and ASI Liveline power cords.