Oppo BDP-105 thoughts

AsSiMiLaTeD

I picked one of these up last Friday along with a couple other DACs and feel like I've spent enough time with them to offer an some thoughts. I ended up comparing this player and a couple DACs over the last few days. I had this player and borrowed the TEAC DAC and a Wyred4Sound W4S DAC1. I also threw the Peachtree DAC-IT into the mix.

The Oppo is the best sounding source and/or DAC I've ever owned, period. Out of the box it was great, if maybe a tad harsh on the top end. Any harshness is long since gone now, the sound is very smooth and detailed with a great soundstage and air around the instruments. By comparison, the 83 that it replaced sounded a little congested and thin.

I"m not going to do a full comparison with the other DACs here, but will offer a summary. I found that the Oppo and W4S1 sound very similar, enough such that I can barely hear a difference between the two playing the same material. I don't know much about the W4S2 so can't comment how it would compare, but the Oppo and DAC1 sound very similar. If I had more time (The W4S is already now gone and I only had a day to play with those together) I'd probably be able to dig and find some differences, but in my given time didn't really hear any. Compared to the Peachtree DAC-IT the Oppo is more neutral sounding. The Peachtree still sounds great, but compared to the Oppo there's more air and resolution, like a very slight veil has been lifted from the sound. In comparison to all of the above the Teac sounded kinda lifeless to me, probably very accurate but sounds sorta flat.

So the comparison really is to the W4S and if all I needed was a DAC then the W4S would probably be good enough and would be my choice since it's cheaper. But given the extra functionality in the Oppo, if you want that extra stuff then it's a no brainer. The fact that it plays BluRays, SACDs, is a great CD player, is a great upscaler for DVDs and for video from other devices using the HDMI inputs, has inputs including USB to act as a standalone DAC, and finally as I discovered this morning is also a network player.

I got it set up this morning so that it streams music directly from JRiver, using the JRemote app on the iPad. So now I have the same functionality and convenience that I had before with the Squeezebox and then the Airport, but with a direct link into the Oppo and with yet another component removed from the mix. I confirmed with Oppo that music streamed over the network goes through the same DAC and gets handled in the same way as something via the other inputs, and my ears are telling me the same thing.

This thing is awesome, to have all this functionality and sound this good in a single box is unreal. In case you can't tell, I like it.

Habanero Monk

I've never heard a single bad where it comes to the 105. AH has a good thread on the fact that if you used this as your only source you would only need enough channels of amplification and you could actually lose the receiver.

This is probably the single best piece of AV gear out there for people that want to consolidate and simplify. That they aren't putting a fancy plate on it and charging $5000 is a bonus

polkfarmboy

Thats a great player and there are some mods that can make it compete with the 5k bracket

dkg999

I'm about to order a 105 to basically be the HDMI upgrade to my B&K AVR507s2 that B&K never released. I believe they are going release some firmware updates that will make the 105 more ready to replace your HTR AVR and feed directly into a multi-channel amplification setup. It was on the internet, so it has to be true!

Erik Tracy

dkg999 wrote: »

I'm about to order a 105 to basically be the HDMI upgrade to my B&K AVR507s2 that B&K never released. I believe they are going release some firmware updates that will make the 105 more ready to replace your HTR AVR and feed directly into a multi-channel amplification setup. It was on the internet, so it has to be true!

You aren't going to use the analog outs for audio?

pitdogg2

polkfarmboy wrote: »

Thats a great player and there are some mods that can make it compete with the 5k bracket

Just wait till Ayre gets a hold of it and turns it up 10 notches. If I remember right they took another OPPO unit built it to the hilt. Of course I couldn't afford either one especially the Ayre believe it was 5 figures.

dkg999

Erik Tracy wrote: »

You aren't going to use the analog outs for audio?

As long as the HT and 2 channel rigs are in the same room I would sneak a set of cables over to the ARC pre, especially for SACD 2 ch listening. Yet to be determined if the Oppo would best the Jolida CDP with really good tubes in it.

Habanero Monk

polkfarmboy wrote: »

Thats a great player and there are some mods that can make it compete with the 5k bracket

Hopefully it will involve more than plunking it down in a Lexicon chassis.

polkfarmboy

Habanero Monk wrote: »

Hopefully it will involve more than plunking it down in a Lexicon chassis.

Actually is a very extensive tube mod and external power supply upgrade that costs $2500 on top of the price for the 105

AsSiMiLaTeD

DSkip wrote: »

What are the options for streaming Danny? I might look more seriously at this if there is a way to setup a computer and bypass the USB DAC.

First off, don't sell the USB section on the Oppo short. The USB section is very good, I don't know all the specs but I believe it does ultimately use the same Sabre DACs (I've got an email in to Oppo to clarify that). On the listening I've done it sounds very good, but I've not yet done extensive comparisons.

That being said, I've no intentions of using the USB at least in the near future. As for streaming, you have several options. First off, the player ships with a wireless N adapter, so you can use ethernet or wireless. Once you get it on your network, you have a couple ways to stream:

Option 1 is to use the Oppo as a Media Renderer. So you basically set up DLNA server software on your computer, make sure your computer is on the same network as the Oppo, then use that software to 'push' the media to the Oppo. When it's all said and done, you select a file on the computer and it plays on the Oppo. I use JRiver for everything (there are versions for Windows and Mac) and it works great.

Option 2 is really the same as option 1 but with a media controller also in the mix. This is the exact setup I'm using, I'm using JRemote on my iPad the control JRiver, which then pushes to the Oppo. So I'm streaming from a computer in another room while sitting on the couch using my iPad, so it's the exact setup I want and works just like the setups I've had with the Squeezebox and Airport.

Option 3 is still running a DLNA server, but using the Oppo interface to browse the server once it's set up. I tried this earlier as well and it works great, and if you'd rather use the interface on the Oppo and your TV it's a great option. Oppo also just released an app for the iPad that lets you control the Oppo directly thru wifi without needing the TV on.

Option 4 is the simplest option, and involves just loading your files up on a computer or NAS that uses regular SMB network functionality. The Oppo then just connects to that player like any other drive on the network and you browse through the folder structure, select your file and it plays. This is the simplest to set up, but not the simplest to use and you lose the 'library' approach, so all the tags like artist and album don't really get used unless you're like me and that also happens to be how you physically organize the files in the hard drives. Honestly this is my least favorite option, but it works on basically any computer with little or no setup.

Option 5 is basically the same as option 4 except over a USB connection. I can have my music files on a USB drive and the Oppo will play from that. Note that this does NOT use the asynchronous USB input on the player, so it has the same effect as using any of the streaming options above.

All of these streaming options above completely bypass the digital inputs on the player and would rule out any clock synchronization issues on the USB input, and should therefore in theory sound better. But again, to these ears they all sound the same to me, I'd have to do more extensive listening to make a final verdict though.

I'll also report back with what I hear from Oppo on the asynch USB input.

polkfarmboy

I am curious if you used the electra ac cord with the the oppo as it would be the best place for it in the chain me thinks

AsSiMiLaTeD

I've got the Electra on the Parasound actually, you think the Oppo would benefit from it more than the amp?

AsSiMiLaTeD

I'll give it a try then, I just assumed the component drawing the most current from the wall would benefit most from the better cable.

polkfarmboy

I thought the ac's were mostly for power amps but when I put that first Stratus cord on my anthem D2 I noticed everything sounded a little better. I then got electras all round but found with the tube amps they did not really give me the same improvement like the DAC and the D2 received. I am happy with the Stratus powering the tubes. I tried using wireworld aurora's with the tube amps but went back to the stratus, I felt the aurora ac cable did do better paired up with an electra on my Anthem pre and amp though

polkfarmboy

What USB cord are you using for with those DAC's?

AsSiMiLaTeD

Audioquest Carbon and Forest

pglbook

Congrats, assimilated. I have heard a lot of great things about Oppo.
I am curious, what can one expect to pay for an Oppo BDP 105? New price? Used price?

I have a Rotel RCC 1055 CD player and love the sound. I do not know if an Oppo would be an upgrade in the future but I have only read great things about them.

Thanks.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Retail price on the 105 is 1200, don't know what used price would be but you're probably not going to find many of them around.

Toolfan66

The 105 is the best player I have owned to date. It's been so good with everything I play, I have yet had the desire to try anything else..

Sal, the kw is an expensive door stop... ;-)

pglbook

Thanks for the info. It gets rave reviews from all. And it also looks wonderful. I really like the design and looks of it.

adb3da

I have a buddy who is looking for a new audio player and is thinking od the Oppo or the Cambridge 851c. Anyone have experience with both? Forget about the Blu Ray and streaming functionality because he has another player for that. For CD playback and the DAC, which is better?

AsSiMiLaTeD

I have not compared them directly, but the Cambridge is supposed to be a good player

AsSiMiLaTeD

I did some extensive comparison of the USB input (from a Mac running Amarra) against the network streaming last night, and heard very little difference between the two. I did the comparison on both rigs (the Maggies and the ultra-revealing headphone setup) and the outcome was basically the same. The little bit of difference that I did hear I attribute to the processing done by Amarra, as the difference between the two inputs changed when I swapped Amarra out with JRiver. We're talking VERY subtle differences here, nothing even remotely close to jumping out at you.

I couldn't even say which I preferred, just that when I really strained I could hear some difference. I'm still sticking with the network streaming just because it's more convenient than having a computer in the room with the Oppo, but if the ergonomics work better for you I'd have no hesitation recommending the USB input.

bobsauto49

U got me scrachting my head over that Oppo :idea:

pdxfj

Nice review. Thanks for taking the time to post it up. The 105 would be way overkill for me.

I've been toying with the idea of sending my 83 back to Oppo for the SE upgrade. Not that I really need it, but just because I can. Wonder how a 83se would sound in a setup like yours.

Toolfan66

pdxfj wrote: »

Nice review. Thanks for taking the time to post it up. The 105 would be way overkill for me.

I've been toying with the idea of sending my 83 back to Oppo for the SE upgrade. Not that I really need it, but just because I can. Wonder how a 83se would sound in a setup like yours.

What would make it overkill??

ZLTFUL

Me: Wife, I need me an Oppo 105!

Wife: No...we have a Blu-Ray player...and it even does SACD and DVD-A so no.

Me: BUT Assimilated got one and swears by it now!

Wife: If Assimilated jumped off a bridge would...nevermind...I know you would. But still no. If you want one, sell the extra speakers and buy one.

Me: But...

AsSiMiLaTeD

pdxfj wrote: »

Nice review. Thanks for taking the time to post it up. The 105 would be way overkill for me.

I've been toying with the idea of sending my 83 back to Oppo for the SE upgrade. Not that I really need it, but just because I can. Wonder how a 83se would sound in a setup like yours.

I've had the 83SE in my system for a few years, and up until now it's been my go to player. It's a very good player for sure, but the 105 is really better in every way, and that's before you take into account all the extra features.

hochpt21

^^^lol

AsSiMiLaTeD

ZLTFUL wrote: »

Me: Wife, I need me an Oppo 105!

Wife: No...we have a Blu-Ray player...and it even does SACD and DVD-A so no.

Me: BUT Assimilated got one and swears by it now!

Wife: If Assimilated jumped off a bridge would...nevermind...I know you would. But still no. If you want one, sell the extra speakers and buy one.

Me: But...

That's an easy one, just sell your current player then you'll have a void that the Oppo will fill

hochpt21

Oops... that lol was meant for zltful. Cant edit from mobile.