Musicdirect.com has converted UK Oppo BDP-95s on sale for $900 right now. The newer replacement Oppo BDP-105 is $300 more, but it gets you a better USB input (useful if you will be using a computer as source), and is of course "improved" all around, as most replacement products tend to be. I think it may be hard to tell them apart by sound when playing CDs.

The Oppo BDP-103 has less capable audio circuitry, so I wouldn't use that one unless used with hdmi connection exclusively.

"less capable".

Capable. Able to achieve efficiently whatever one has to do; competent. Less Capable = less competent.

I purposely used the non-specific term "less capable" so I wouldn't have to list the differences between the two models, but I'll go as far as to say the BDP-105's USB input supporting USB Audio 2.0 is enough added capability to make it my choice.

And if you haven't read the initial Oppo press release, it contains this statement for what it's worth.

"The BDP-105 adds audiophile-grade components including an analog output section sporting two ESS Sabre32 Reference DACs, a newly designed Toroidal linear power supply, dedicated stereo outputs with both RCA and XLR balanced connections, and a headphone amplifier connected directly to the DAC."
 

I am very pleased with the audio performance  of my Oppo bdp-103. Even better than I thought it would be. Read recent positive review by Kal R in stereophile. I didn't want to spend $1000 for the 105; glad to have the quality of the 103 for $500.  Got mine thru a Magnolia HT store inside a best buy. 

I bought my OPPO BDP-95 from....OPPO.

Just go to their website and buy from them direct. They are selling the 103 and 105 direct at this time.

The 95 is discontinued, but is still for sale new at Audio Advisor for $1009.

IMO there is no difference in audio quality between the 95 and the 105, but the 105 does have several added features that some will consider worthwhile. For me there is no useful difference. The 95 and 105 both sound better to me than the $6000 Ayre C5xe/MP (and almost any other player you can buy for under $8000). It IS the state-of -the-art player for audio...and video also.

The 103 has audio circuits that are not quite as good, but for someone who wants a very good audio player for CD and SACD, there is nothing else at its $500 price that will equal it.

poconnor wrote:

Reputable on-line retailer..free shipping?

what are some of the added features that the 105 has that the 95 doesn't?

the Oppo website has a full description oppodigital.com

The big difference is that the 105 has a headphone amplifier and output jack, which the 95 did not have. There are some other differences, but they are relatively minor.

What's big to you is inconsequential to me. My reasons for preferring the 105 are the additional inputs (optical, coax, USB) and superior DAC/analog stages! Kal

Kal:

Please tell me the details of how the DAC and analog stages are better in the BDP-105 .I was under the impression that they are identical to the BDP-95, since OPPO quite clearly states that they are.

The OPPO product literature for the BDP-95 says the DAC is the SABRE 32 REFERENCE ES 9018; the OPPO BDP-105 DAC description IS THE SAME: WORD FOR WORD. Apparently OPPO thinks they are the same, so why don't you? Did I read this incorrectly? I see not one word of difference. THE OPPO DAC DESCRIPTION FOR BOTH UNITS CONSISTS OF THE EXACT SAME 133 WORDS!!! 

You say that the 105 DAC is "superior"; they say they are IDENTICAL in both units! I think you are obviously mistaken here. A retraction may be in order.

The description of the balanced stereo outputs, which are what I primarily use, also seems to be essentially the same. If there is a difference, OPPO does not give a clue about it in their description. Perhaps this is something OPPO is keeping secret but you managed to dig it out of a secret source?

I would buy the 105 if I actually believed it SOUNDS better, but reliable information to that effect seems to be lacking.

I got rid of my Ayre C5xe/MP because the 95 sounded better. There was no question about that from direct A/B comparisons of a wide variety of SACD and CD listening material. I did this over a period of months to make absolutely certain before i sold the Ayre.

Do you hear a sonic improvement when you do an A/B comparison between the 105 and 95, and how would you describe it?

You certainly MUST have done a thorough direct A/B comparison, or you would not make the following statement (that would be irresponsible, eh?).

Kal Rubinson wrote:

What's big to you is inconsequential to me. My reasons for preferring the 105 are the additional inputs (optical, coax, USB) and superior DAC/analog stages! Kal

The BDP-105 does have 3 USB inputs, though; the 95 only has 2. I don't use any.

Although both units use the same dacs, I've run into several (seemingly) informed user comments opining that, based on hearing both units, the 95 has better analog sonics.This is the Amazon thread that started me searching for more similar comparisons:

http://www.amazon.com/OPPO-BDP-105-Universal-Audiophile-Blu-ray/product-reviews/B00AFKBIYW/ref=cm_cr_dp_synop?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending#R9ITGWF9KQ3SE

or tinyurl shortcut:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/buj2ewj

Which led me to another thread on avsforum:

http://www.avsforum.com/t/1471544/linited-to-oppo-bdp-95-analogue-audio-sound-quality-vs-bdp-105-analogue-audio-sound-quality

or tinyurl shortcut:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/d7m42fx

The advantage (to me, at least) of the BDP-105 is that it's much better than the BDP-95 for streaming audio from one's PC -- which is what I've been seeking. But if the sound of the 105 is "brighter, thinner, more forward", what's the point?

Guess I'll have to wait for thorough audio reviews of the comparison before committing to either model.

a single individual. It is far more important what you think. Quit fretting and get the Oppo BDP-105 direct from Oppo, leave it on continuously, listen to it a lot for 29 days, and if it doesn't do it for you send it back for a refund. You could think of it as a $15 in home audition if it goes back. I doubt it will.

before shelling out over $1100 for a BDP-105, would like to get as many discerning listeners' opinions as I can -- especially those who have spent quality time listening to both models I'm considering. If streaming audio wasn't a primary concern of mine, I'd go with the BDP-95 due to countless steller reviews of its audio performance.

I'm tempted by your suggestion to audition the 105 after several hundred hours of burn-in, it's a good idea...but then I'd also have get a 95 for comparison.

Such is the life of an audio tweak :)

Since OPPO's literature states quite clearly that the identical  DAC is used in both units, and the analog output circuits are apparently the same (not enough details given to be CERTAIN, but they do not imply any difference or improvement), it seems reasonable to assume that the audio performance is going to be identical for both the 95 and 105.

I talked directly to someone I know in the tech department at OPPO and they say that there is no difference in the analog output circuitry, the DAC, or the sound quality; there couldn't be! Nothing has changed in the circuitry.The power supply is also unchanged.

The physical layout has changed in one way; the 7.1-channel analog output circuits were relocated to a new circuit board, in order to repackage things and make room for the new circuit board with the added USB and digital coaxial inputs that the 105 has. That's really the extent of the changes. The actual circuitry has not changed, just its physical location. The stereo outputs, both balanced and unbalanced, remain in their original location.

You can call their tech guys at 650-961-1118 (key 2) and ask them for yourself. They are very knowledgeable and helpful.

vanpelten wrote:

before shelling out over $1100 for a BDP-105, would like to get as many discerning listeners' opinions as I can -- especially those who have spent quality time listening to both models I'm considering. If streaming audio wasn't a primary concern of mine, I'd go with the BDP-95 due to countless steller reviews of its audio performance.

I'm tempted by your suggestion to audition the 105 after several hundred hours of burn-in, it's a good idea...but then I'd also have get a 95 for comparison.

Such is the life of an audio tweak :)

Both the 95 and 105 sound great. The 105 has the streaming capability desired. It's a no brainer except for the anally retentive.