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Oppo BD 105, stand alone DAC, or music streamer

I am trying to improve the resolution of two channel digital files played on my Home Theater system. I have an Arcam AVR400, an older Yamaha cdp and a Panasonic bdp. I have tried various configurations (HDMI, S/PDIF and analogue) for two channel play back, and the best so far is analogue out of the Yamaha to the Arcam. The DACs in the Panasonic and the Arcam are less musical than the Yamaha for two channel, but do a little better with the bass (except flac files streamed through the network connection on the Arcam, which have weak bass - go figure). The Panasonic/Arcam combo is terrific for both multichannel sound and picture on Bluray disks. The Arcam's amp section is the best for an AVR I have heard at this price point for two or multi channel playback.

My current ideas to improve 2 channel reproduction include adding a $1,000 or less stand alone DAC (say an Arcam irDAC, MyDac or similar well-reviewed modest priced dac), using the Panasonic bdp as a transport, and ditching the older Yamaha; or, getting a Oppo BD105 to replace both transports.

Question - how good is the Oppo for two channel? Is it better than a good but not reference level stand alone dac in your opinion? Absolute resolution and accuracy at frequency extremes are good in my opinion but should not come at the expense of tone, air and musical flow.

All ideas and opinions within Oppo BD105 price envelope appreciated. Speakers for this system are Monitor Audio Apex A40 in the front and A10 in the back. Sub is a B&W PVD1. Solutions that simplify streaming from iDevice or wireless hub welcome.

Thanks for your suggestions,

kn
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dbphd
1,631 posts
 
Knownothing,

Your post doesn't make much sense. You write that your $149 Samsung is a better transport than a Sony ES and that S&V compared it to an Oppo 103D rather than the 105, the Oppo with the superior DACs. I assume you are aware that Stereophile rated the Sony XA5400ES A+ and the Oppo 105 A in their recommended components list. Since I wrote my original reply, I've added an Ayre C-5xeMP that I suspect also wouldn't match the $149 Samsung in your view.

But if you're happy, so be it.
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knownothing OP
1,611 posts
 
The optical Toslink connection from the Samsung as described here is set up to bypass it's DACs, so I was comparing it to CDPs, BDs and DVD players used as transports only in my system, IE unprocessed digital out to AVR. Not comparing with all CDPs listed above used as full-on CD players, IE analog out. For comparison with full CDP performance envelope, I only carefully compared Samsung digital to Arcam DACs versus the Yamaha CDC-715 analog out to Arcam AVR. I was making the point that the Samsung sounds good used as a transport sending bitstream data to external (to the BDP) DAC, and that the Arcam AVR400 internal DACs can sound very good in two channel when fed by an effective (raw bit for bit) transport. Good enough that I have lost the immediate urge to upgrade anything, and am now content to focus on listening to and increasing my collection of music.

In my system, it would be reasonable to expect that the Oppo 105 would sound better than the Samsung when both are compared as transports only, and might have better quality and implemented DACs and analog circuits compared with the Arcam AVR's internal DACs and circuits when the Oppo is used as a stand alone CD player with analog out and good cables. I haven't compared that in my system and have not critically listened to the Oppo 105 at a dealer, so don't want to say. I have heard the Ayre you mention at a dealer, and it is terrific. I would expect it to sound as good or better than the Samsung used purely as a transport with the Arcam AVR, and to be a clear step up over the Samsung transport/Arcam internal DAC combination when the Arye is used as a full-on CD player with analog out and good cables played through the Arcam AVR amps.

I should be sure to qualify my previous post as the best I have heard in my system, with the gear I currently have on hand. Not trying to make ridiculous claims here, just saying the Samsung BD-H6500 is surprisingly good used purely as a transport for CDs given that it is a relatively cheap mass produced box. If I could afford one of the Arye players right now, I would probably buy it. But yes, all things considered, I am happy for now.

Hope that helps put my points in perspective.
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dbphd
1,631 posts
 
It does.
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