What is This Noise?

Loved the Soup suggestion. Although static is never good for digital, I suspect the first answer is correct and the laser just needs to be cleaned. Didn't you just have a monster dust storm? Well, it's probably dusty enough there just normally. So try that, else the laser assembly needs to be aligned - more likely if this were an older unit. You didn't drop it did you?

Ivan: I think you've heard what I'm hearing.
It's almost like my system is so resolving now that it is passing artifacts from the equipment used to record the event (microphone head amps with noisy components, etc.).
It's like low-level static riding on the hall ambient noise.
I'm just worried that it may be something in my crossovers.
I'll have to focus and try your "replay" test to see if it can be duplicated on a given musical passage.
It's encouraging to learn that it may go away in time!

Bill: Haven't checked the voltage. Why would this matter?

Truman: It's always dusty in the desert. Also, we just had a "monster" fire on Mt. Charleston that put tons of junk in the air. The Oppo 105 is mere months old but I'll try to find a lens cleaning CD.

BTW, My system is configured in XLR "balanced" mode which should filter out the more typical junk noise.
This wouldn't help if the noise is actually in the source program or coming from my speakers crossovers.

1) yes to humidity..even if its not the cause, you don't want a static charge problem to damage your gear
2) I have heard static pops at higher volume when RCA connection points were not clean, almost like arcing over the contaminants. So cleaning and preserving connection points can help
3) new gear does have a break in period. That "new gear" smell may be your pop's slowly aerosoling away.

Are the noises repeatable? Next time, write down the exact track/time details, rewind and try part of the track again to see if it appears at the same time.

I haven't heard the "tracing" form of static distortion lately (like it's riding (surfing?) the waveform).

I've only heard the intermittent "tick" now and then.

My gut tells me it's coming from my (new) speakers and will fix itself in time.