Better upgrade? XPA-5 or Oppo Blu ray player 103

Well the Oppo will give you better picture quality on SD-DVDs, and the Emotiva will take your sound system to a new level, Emotiva easily(I have both ).

I too have both... Don't know how much you'll notice from either. Given the choice, I'd probably go with the amp, and any relatively inexpensive BD player. The Oppo is great, and has some unique features which is why I have one in my theater, but if you're not using those features, you'll get good results from any player. The PS3 is certainly still a very capable player - I'd upgrade only if you'd like to more easily use a universal remote, or want to access some Internet content apps that aren't available on the PS3 (are there any?).

I upgraded an old, well-respected B&K amp to an Emotiva UPA5 and was surprised by the sound quality "difference". Whether you'd see a dramatic difference or not is hard to say. Although if you're going to spend $500 on an amp, that's the best bang for your buck, and well, you'll hear a difference whether there is one or not.

Jeff

I gotta say, there is a LOT of placebo effect in audio, but the Emotiva amps at least yield a major upgrade in audio, I run the Klipsch RF-7 speakers with mine, I thought they sounded amazing through my old Denon 3806, I was skeptical and only tried the Emotiva with the return policy in mind. However with the Emotiva, the sound became more forceful and transparent. I can't recommend it highly enough.

THAT is a very good, important point to consider!

I had the same experience.

Jeff

Awesome! You have just stepped into a larger world my friend.

Hehe I know the feeling, now you have to watch everything again right? Soon you'll be looking into better speakers.

It's a sickness. American Express is a treatment, but not a cure...

Same here. It's like I have a whole new movie collection after adding an Emotiva amp. At 1900 titles though, it might take me a while to watch them all again.