Laen wrote:

I just upgraded from a Oppo 103D to the 105D. I was connecting the 103D via HDMI cable. From the owners manual--

The BDP-105D features a dedicated 2-channel analog output with specially optimized ES9018 DAC and output driving stages. The stereo output offers both XLR balanced and RCA single-ended connectors. The balanced output features a true differential signal path all the way from the DAC to the 3-pin XLR connector. By transmitting a pair of differential signals, the balanced output provides better common-mode noise rejection and improves signal quality.

So should I go the XLR route, What is a affordable cable(Kimber , Audioquest)

Thanks

XLR is very much the superior technology; it gives 1000 times better signal-to-noise performance compared to unbalanced cables die to its differential circuit and complete shielding.

Balanced (XLR) cables ALL offer perfect performance every time and buying expensive "premium" cables is a total waste of money. If you can solder, you can make you own from standard cabling at about $1 per foot and gold-pin XLR connectors, which go for less than $3 each.

My $20K system has only cables I put together; perfect performance.

Balanced cables are also sold as "microphone" cables by pro audio stores for $20-30 each in most lengths, and are every bit as good as some cables that might sell for hundreds of dollars.

Have you guys taken the time to listen to the Oppo hard-wired, passing the connectors?

major difference!

If your going to make your own cables, you should consider by-passing the connection problem altogether.

michael green
MGA/RoomTune
http://tuneland.techno-zone.net/

I was the proud owner of one of the very first Oppo 103 units modded by EVS, plus some of my own mods, including all digital and analog mods, linear power supply, isolated circuit boards and transformer, Audio Magic Pulse Gen ZX, mu metal housing for big honking toroidal transformer, plexiglass cover, constrained layer damping for CD transport mechanism, Marigo VTS dots on circuit boards and most caps, 3M 5100S RFI/EMI absorbing material on semiconductor chips, constrained layer damping for transformer, Super DH Cones (NASA grade ceramics) and DH Squares interfacing the Oppo to the isolation platform, 2 Hz vibration isolation of the Oppo, suspended cabling, WA quantum chips up the wazoo. To be honest, getting rid of all of the cabling, big toroidal transformer, capacitors! the entire system as going to a much simpler portable system was like seeing God. Clearer and less distortion and sounds more like real music. It's make you turn around and look to see if someone is Behind you. Honest Injun.

Geoff Kait
Machina Dynamica

If you've been reading the pages of this forum over the past year (maybe closer to two now) you will see that Geoff and I take different approaches when dealing with tweaking units, however the one area where we do agree is, simple is better. The whole boat anchor idea is something I have thought for a long time now as being the wrong direction. People who are saying the heavier and more complex is the way to go haven't had the same experience as those of us who have gone the way of simple.

If you take the time to read through some of Geoff's threads you will see when he went from complex to simple. This is a trend we on TuneLand have been experiencing for a few years now. I'm not suggesting those of you who enjoy in-room systems throw them away for portables, but I am saying take the time to follow the trend of low mass and simple, and talk to those who have changed directions 180 and why. What you will find are two camps. One that is based on shuting down the stage and the other about opening it up. You'll also notice that the low mass camp is able to play a lot more music choices than the high mass camp in the majority of cases.

michael green
MGA/RoomTune
http://tuneland.techno-zone.net/

It really does depend on your pre-amp or amplifier... is it balanced? (XLR)...If it has fully balanced circuitry inside, then XLR all the way. I can recommend AudioQuest King Cobra on clearance at Music Direct.(I have no affiliation with them) If they are out of stock, go with similar AudioQuest XLR... but you don't need to splurge more than a few hundred on cabling... I think law of diminishing returns rapidly kicks in after that.

Even if your amp does not have fully balanced internals, you may still want to consider the XLR route; you can still take advantage of the noise canceling characteristics of XLR.

Just my advice.. based on the information given and the level of hardware.