OPPO 105; how to beat it and at what price?

I guess there are a lot of questions that need to be answered first.

Is it used for a stereo system only or for multichannel?

Is it to be used for music or movies?

What will the Oppo be hooked up to?

What formats do you play? DVDA? SACDs? CDs? BDs?

etc

If you are looking for an all in one system that can play BluRays (PureAudio music), SACDs in multi channels, DVDA in multi channels, movies on Bluray and DVDs, it's going to be hard to replace the Oppo.

You can get it upgraded - I'd consider the Modwright tube based output if you can ship your unit across to Dan.

Or for a sideways step, Electrocompaniet and Cambridge Audio use the same Oppo chipsets but have their own analog/DAC stages. I say sideways because they use different chipsets but some may prefer the Oppo's Sabre32 to these versions.

If you are willing to lose 3D and 4K capability, try to see if you can pick up the Ayre DX5. It is based off the Oppo 83 which is still a very capable Bluray player (and SACD/DVDA) but Ayre has a very very good analog stage and DACs that outclasses the Oppo 105, the CA and the Electrocompaniet. Plus it also works like a USB DAC (like the 105's USB input). There is an upgrade for the DX5 that adds DSD over USB (vs PCM only in the original spec).

If you don't care about Bluray playback or DVDA playback, and only play CDs and SACDs, I would look at something from EMM Labs (XDS1 v2) or Playback Designs (MPS5). Both IMHO outperform the 105 - including the modded ones because the custom built DACs are really really quite special.

If you don't care about BD/SACD/DVDA and only care about PC audio or just use CDs, I'd look at the PS Audio Directstream DAC. Just add a PC (or Mac) music server or a CD transport to play CDs.

How about $800. That is what I charge for my basic mod plus the zero feedback fully balanced fet output stage for the 105 or 105D. Just had a customer get one and he loves it. Another $1000 in other advanced mods (linear power supply, low jitter clock, Audio Magic Pulse Gen ZX and more WA Quantum dots, etc.) brings even more to the table. Serious high end sound.

Thanks for the comments. I will be using as two channel audio only. I spin 2 channel SACD and CD only. I am trying to educate myself on the alternative of a computer based server. Seems like many pros to this approach in sound and convenience. Also seems to be the future. I can say that in my new system SACD has never sounded better vs CD thus high res formats are very appealing.

Ricevs, Can you mod Musical Fidelity X-LPS phono to balanced in/out?

" .... I will be using as two channel audio only. I spin 2 channel SACD and CD only ..."

IMO go look at a quality hi-end 2 channel unit assuming the budget permits it -- e.g. REGA ISIS valve, NAIM, DCS, SIMAUDIO ... there are many great hi-end players out there that also have USB inputs to permit the use of their hi-end internal DAC for plug-in digital media playback, in addition to their world class disc playback.

Any one of these will significantly best the OPPO or Cambridge and other like players. I had the CAMBRIDGE before I moved up to the ARCAM BDP and it does its great job for Multi-channel music on Blu-Ray.

The performance level in 2 channel with my hi-end CDP is a quantum leap better; and it resides as the cd and digital source player reserved strictly for 2 channel. The improvement over an OPPO/CAMBRIDGE/ARCAM/U PICK 'EM multi-channel player is not subtle.