The Oppo BDP-105 has two ESS Sabre32 Reference DACs, toroidal linear power supply, dedicated stereo outputs with both RCA and XLR balanced connections and a headphone amplifier. It will now take asynchronous USB input and do 24-bit/192kHz.

While many players might have the same DAC, it is really the implementation of that DAC which makes the most difference. Complementary circuitry and the analog stage can be improved which in turn improve the sound quality.

In short, the implementation of the BDP-103 is an improvement over the BDP-93, and the BDP-105 is an improvement over the BDP-95.

Given the shortcomings of my system (no DAC and no headphone output) and the widespread consensus that Oppo products are extraordinarily good at their price point, I am pretty excited to hear about release of the BDP-105!  So, a few questions for you all:

1. Due to space, layout, and WAF restraints, I currently stream ripped CDs from my iMac (almost all are redbook AIFF files in iTunes, but a few of those are 24/44.1 and 24/96 high-resolution AIFFs) via an Airport Express into my Rega Mira 3 integrated amp.  To the best of my research abilities, the AE only streams redbook level, right?  In other words, I am still not taking advantage of some of my hi-rez files due to the AE limitations.  To take full advantage of those high-rez files and the DAC section of the Oppo BDP-105, I'm going to have to forgo the AE and use either the USB or optical outputs of the iMac straight into the Oppo, right?

2. I also listen to plenty of vinyl, but the headphone output of the Oppo won't help me there, will it?  In other words, is there somehow a way to run my turntable into the Oppo to take advantage of the headphone stage, but then also pass the singal through the Oppo and into the phono stage of my Rega integrated when I want to listen to my Magnepan 1.7s?

3. While video processing and all the disc-playing options are of secondary concern (I only have a couple dozen DVDs, and only a handful of SACDs and HDCDs), I still like having a DAC, a headphone output, and the disc-playing abilities all in one box.  My question is: Let's pretend this is JUST a DAC and a headphone output.  AT THIS PRICE ($1199), could I do better in terms of sound quality?  The only other DAC/headphone combo in this price range is the Benchmark one, and I honestly was not blown away by its sound.  Rega and Peachtree both have DACs that sound GREAT for $1K, but don't include a headphone output.  With a toddler in the house, headphones are becoming necessary, and I don't have a headphone output other than the so-so one on my iMac.

Thanks, all.  I'm almost certain to buy this no matter what.  I heard a previous Oppo product on a tour of the Magnepan factory, and was blown away by the sound.  Then again, that was on 20.7s with ARC amplification, so, you know, pretty amazing stuff.  But just the fact that they'd show off their flagship speakers with a very (relatively) cheap source speaks volumes.

4. The newly released specs for the BDP-105 (here: http://www.oppodigital.com/blu-ray-bdp-105/) do not list AIFF (or ALAC, for that matter) in the list of supported formats.  Does that mean I can't play AIFF at all?  Or does that mean it just won't read them via a USB stick or something like that, but will read them if I've got my iMac hooked up to it via Airplay, via USB, or via optical?  And if it's the latter, will my iMac's sound card come back into play?  If that's the case, then that might be a dealbreaker, as it wouldn't be much of a standalone DAC, right?

All I want this thing to do is play my SACDs, HDCDs, and CDs while also being able to act as a standalone DAC for my AIFF redbook AND high-rez files without my iMac's sound card getting in the way.

as your computer sends the Oppo BDP-105 DAC the signal as 2 channel PCM (up to 192kHz from USB and up to 96kHz from digital coax or optical). For streaming from a USB thumb drive it looks like its internal player will read WAV and FLAC files.

As always, your input is much appreciated.  So, my best bet is to hook my iMac to the DAC section either via USB, then via optical, then via Airport Express via its optical out, right?  Streaming or USB thumb drives are not an option because my files are in AIFF.

Ideally, I'd stream from my iMac to the Airpot Express, and hook the Airport Express into the DAC section via the AE's optical out.  But I've read some posts in other forums that the AE automatically downsamples everything to redbook, and so I would get no benefit from my 24/96 files unless I go straight from my iMac to the Oppo.  Does anyone know if that's true?

downsampling is done by iTunes or whatever other player is used. iTunes will always send 16-bit/44.1kHz when employing AirPlay. If a 24-bit/96kHz stream is fed directly to the AE it cannot decode it and one will just get a bunch of noise.

Hence, the best option is to feed the Oppo BDP-105 DAC directly with USB or S/PDIF from the iMac. One can always try listening through the AE and then compare with a direct USB or S/PDIF stream. I'm satisfied with 16-bit/44.1kHz. I will not pay the exorbitant price for hirez music. 

Ah, that is what I expected, unfortunately. Well, that'll either slow my purchases of hi-rez files, or have me rearranging furniture. 

Thanks, as always, jackfish. I am in Minneapolis; perhaps we ought to set up a listening party. 

Well, the BDP-105 has been out for a few weeks now.  Any of you fine-eared folk have a go at it yet?  I've been intently reading the AVS forum on the piece (holy cow, that's a lot of info), but I'm always interested to hear y'all's opinions.  

192 via usb but only up to 96 via coax or digital? Also, I must have mis read the price (or model number) at audio advisor relative to other vendors.

You can buy the BDP-105 direct from OPPO at their website for $1199 now.

corrective_unconscious wrote:

192 via usb but only up to 96 via coax or digital? Also, I must have mis read the price (or model number) at audio advisor relative to other vendors.

So, I went ahead and purchased the Oppo BDP-105.  It's fantastic!  Reminds of the sound of some of the Peachtree products, though with better resolution and soundstage.  It's not quite as warm-sounding as the Peachtree stuff (the iNova is the one I'm most familiar with), but still a touch warm-sounding while still being very accurate.

Now for my question: Since the BDP-105 can function as a preamp, I'm now considering upgrading from my Rega Mira3 integrated amp to a good power amp.  I feel like eliminating the preamp section of the Mira3 would be best.  Lessen the processing, if you will.  However, since the BDP-105 does not have a phono stage, I'm wondering if a power amp exists that could accept the BDP-105 via XLR inputs AND an external phono stage via RCA inputs.  Lastly, I'd also like to be able to hook up a subwoofer (maybe two) to the power amp.  Does such a power amp exist that can have that sort of versatility?  And, if so, is there one that would be a particularly good match with my Magnepan 1.7 speakers and Vandersteen 2qw subwoofer?

Slee ZZ wrote:

However, since the BDP-105 does not have a phono stage, I'm wondering if a power amp exists that could accept the BDP-105 via XLR inputs AND an external phono stage via RCA inputs.

 No.

Slee ZZ wrote:

Lastly, I'd also like to be able to hook up a subwoofer (maybe two) to the power amp.  Does such a power amp exist that can have that sort of versatility?

No.

Slee ZZ wrote:

 And, if so, is there one that would be a particularly good match with my Magnepan 1.7 speakers and Vandersteen 2qw subwoofer?

You are probably looking at an integrated amp upgrade. Or a preamp and power amp. Your desire to eliminate preamp circuitry by relying on the Oppo as a preamp should be tempered with the understanding that the Oppo is not a preamp. It is a universal disc and media player with volume control and processing.

The Rega Mira is a very good-sounding integrated amplifier.

I use a similar ampifier at one house and use an Audio Research LS-26 preamp with a Bryston 3B-SST2 power amplifier at the other one. i also have the BDP-95 and the Ayre C5xe/MP with Vandersteen 3A speakers in one system and Gallo CL-3 speakers in the other.

To get much of a performance increase over the Rega, you will have to spend some serious money, IMO.

On the other hand, you could try using your Rega's preamp with a good power amplifier and see what you think. I don't think trying to use the 105 as a "preamp" is a very good idea.

A power amplifier that I can recommend is the Vincent Audio SP-331, which is only $1400. Putting that togeather with the Rega should be a significant quality improvement.

If that combination does not improve things enough, the next step would be to go to an Audio Research LS-17 or LS-27 preamp.

Slee ZZ wrote:

So, I went ahead and purchased the Oppo BDP-105.  It's fantastic!  Reminds of the sound of some of the Peachtree products, though with better resolution and soundstage.  It's not quite as warm-sounding as the Peachtree stuff (the iNova is the one I'm most familiar with), but still a touch warm-sounding while still being very accurate.

Now for my question: Since the BDP-105 can function as a preamp, I'm now considering upgrading from my Rega Mira3 integrated amp to a good power amp.  I feel like eliminating the preamp section of the Mira3 would be best.  Lessen the processing, if you will.  However, since the BDP-105 does not have a phono stage, I'm wondering if a power amp exists that could accept the BDP-105 via XLR inputs AND an external phono stage via RCA inputs.  Lastly, I'd also like to be able to hook up a subwoofer (maybe two) to the power amp.  Does such a power amp exist that can have that sort of versatility?  And, if so, is there one that would be a particularly good match with my Magnepan 1.7 speakers and Vandersteen 2qw subwoofer?

As always, your advice and recommendations are much appreciated.  However, you both state that the Oppo should not or cannot be used as a pre-amp.  I'm curious why.  It can switch between inputs and has volume control, so what would a normal pre-amp provide that the Oppo doesn't?  I'm asking out of ignorance.

You need an analog input for your phono setup. So, beyond its universal disc playing capability, it really can function like a DAC that has digital inputs and a volume control. It has analog stereo output but no facility to handle subwoofer output in a 2.1 configuration as I can see.

For those interested, here are a few measurements I obtained...

http://archimago.blogspot.ca/2013/02/measurements-oppo-bdp-105.html

If I output HDMI from the blu-ray to the TV, can I simultaneously use the blu-ray stereo outputs into my preamp, AND use low volume on the tv fed by HDMI to be a sort of center channel?  And is there likely to be a time lag or delay between the audio coming via stereo and the audio via the tv?

You can do this and there should be no significant time differential between the two.

According to a knowledgable source in the OPPO Technical Support department, there is ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE, between the DAC or any other circuits that could have an effect on the sound quality of the 95 Vs the 105.

Everything is Identical!

The 105 has added features. The sound quality is unchanged.

quote=jackfish]

In short, the implementation of the BDP-103 is an improvement over the BDP-93, and the BDP-105 is an improvement over the BDP-95.

[/quote]