New Oppo 103 & 105 Q&A Interview

I don't get your point. If they have a nice 2 channel DAC that they like, why bother with async USB on the 103? Just get a good USB-SPDIF device that's also async.

If the async USB dac is built into the 103, then then you would not have to buy a separate coverter. I think a lot of people are just getting into computer music and the availability of a usb converter would be a help for them. Rather than buy an $200 converter and an ordinary $200 Blu-Ray, you could just buy a superior Blu-Ray/CD/SACD player with a built in converter from a company you trust. And, some people are content with the DAC in the 93/103. For them, $500 is a lot of money and will give them better Blu-Ray and a better DAC than they could ever get for $500 as separates.

It's a mute point since they are not doing it.

Why waste a good USB async with a crappy DAC?

Because some people do not have infinite money. The DAC is the 103 might be better than many people might have separately. I guess I would ask why have the 105 when you could get a dcs setup?

Why 105? Because the dCS doesn't play multi channel SACDs, nor DVDA nor Blurays.

The 103 is primarily designed as a digital transport so the DACs used in the design (and the analog subsystem) aren't great to start with.

It does have the HDMI inputs so it can upscale lower quality video sources to 4k using it's good 4k video subsystem. That IMHO makes sense if you have a good 4K chipset and a 4K display (which I expect is the only reason you'd upgrade from a 93 to 103.

Adding async USB to the 103 is a superfluous component that adds to the cost of materials but isn't particularly useful for what it is used for.