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How good is the Oppo 105 as a DAC?

I'm in the market for a good DAC and always heard good things about the DAC in the Oppo 105. I already have the 103 Darbee edition for my home theater setup but was wondering about using the Oppo 105 for my 2 channel setup.

My 2 channel system (will) consist of a Cary Audio SLP 98L tube pre and Cary Cinema 5 solid state amp with Verity Parsifal (or other) speakers. Would I be better served with a more expensive dedicated DAC for a system of this calibre, or would there be only slight improvements over the DAC in the Oppo 105? It would be nice to have the transport as well.
larrybou
mgattmch
576 posts
 
Beewax; I agree entirely with your comments concerning computer audio and DACs (newer is often better). However, this to my ears is not universally true; have you ever heard a McIntosh MC275 or Krell KSA-250 power amp? Similarly something like restored Apogee Diva or K-Horn speakers? Better still a pair of older Avantgarde Duo horns, or K-Horns driven by an old SET amp; spectacular and close to dynamic reality IMHO. All old stuff, but what a sound!
richardfinegold
196 posts
 
I use the 105 as a DAC in my two channel system and am pretty happy with it.
My only quibble is that the usb is ever so slightly less pristine and the other inputs. Judging from what I've read in the audiophile press, this is not unique to the Oppo. I am considering adding a usb converter.
The difference isn't that significant. Sometimes I try to do comaprisons playing the disc on the oppo vs playing the ripped version from my computer to see if I can tell a difference. It may be more ofa case of Audiophila Nervosa on my part than any deficiency of the dac.
pokey77
1,269 posts
 
Dkarmeli
I have a 105 and have had for 16 months. It replaced a Marantz BD player that is better than the $300 players you mentioned in your post. And I can tell you the 105 is significantly better in both SQ and PQ than the superior Marantz. It is easy to both see and hear the much better quality of picture and sound the 105 provides. So, I'm not sure how you arrived at your conclusion, but it was not mine at all. Another reason so many love Oppo is that they have amazing customer service.

The 105 also replaced my redbook player, a Cambridge Audio 840C. The 105 was no worse on any discs I compared and in many cases was much better, really in almost every disc I compared on the two players. A player that costs a modest $1,200 that can do bluray at a whole new level and that can also play SACD in addition to a host of other formats including redbook really is a stand out. The 105 just did everything better than the Marantz/Cambridge duo I was using before. And for nearly half the price. I think these are some of the reasons that "infatuation" is noted among many.
dkarmeli
334 posts
 
Hi Pokey77, I arrived at my conclusions during the custom installations I've done over the past few years. Most of the time I'm comparing the Oppo to Denon players and prefer the latter in every case. I don't sell either product and don't have a horse in this race. I'm not saying that Oppo's a bad product but it's not high end, just a slightly enhanced flavor of a mass market product.
dover
2,299 posts
 
I have compared the Oppo 105 to the Cambridge 840 in a system comprising Air Tight ATC2/ATM3 mono's/Tannoy Canterbury HE, all wired with Oracle/Ref MIT.

The Oppo is very smooth and pleasant to listen to but the Cambridge 840 is far more resolving and transparent. The 840 has been replaced with the new Cambridge 851 and this is a significant step up from the 840. I've also had the DCS Debussy in the system and it was equalled by the Cambridge.

For me the Cambridge 851 is a no brainer, and includes USB & transport.

Other DACs listened to Eximus - quite resolving but perhaps a little dry, Zodiac plus - very good, very analog sounding with good resolution.
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