Oppo BDP-105 "Sound Quality" Check Thread for Audiophiles - Page 8

Ah Via Musicom is an excellent, quality recording. I'm curious though as to how the 24/192 can sound better than the original CD unless they've remastered specially for the 24/192 format from the original studio recordings.

If such is the case I might have to get up off my duff and start exploring what this computer audio hoopla is all about.

As I said I the HDCD's give the best sound I have heard on the Oppo 105....the Van Halen debut always sounded great and I am going to give that a spin sometime today...

Thanks to decooney for starting this useful thread and for the input I have gotten from other posters. Here are my impressions of the Oppo 105 with regard to sound and the questions posted by the OP in the first page.

Question 1-My Oppo 105 sounds amazing in the few days since I have had it. My previous Oppo was the 93 and it sounded very good but the 105 is something else.

Question 2- I am connected through a prepro, the new Emotiva UMC-200 via the 7.1 inputs which are set in direct mode. I have not tried hooking the 105 directly to my amps which are the Emotiva XPA-5 and ATI 1502.

Question 3-Compared to my old Oppo 93, I would say this sounds definitely better to me and I feel like I am somewhat of an audiophile but not the expert that some may on this forum are. I just what what sounds good to me with my modest system. My speakers are Paradigm Ref. Studio 20's(v2) and they still sound great after 12-13 years of ownership.

Question 4-Sound quality using the RCA stereo outs is very nice. I have them going to the front mc inputs of the UMC-200 with the stereo signal set Front Left/Right as suggested by other posters.

Question 5-Not using the XLR stereo outs but I may try it sometime. I am using the XLR sub out on my UMC-200 though. It works great.

Question 6-I definitely prefer the sound of the 7.1 analog outputs for music compared to hdmi for mc music with SACD , Dvd Audio and CDs. It just simply sounds better to me-much more open sound.

Question 7-I have not tried any USB inputs yet but I will probably this weekend.

Question 8-I don't have any hdmi input sources yet but I may go back to cable again.

Question 9-I am streaming using my network and the sound files I have sound very good to me so far. I downloaded a sampler from HDTracks and it sounds excellent.

My favorite format for music is SACD and DVD Audio. I also like good quality cds. I have listened to the following so far.

Steely Dan-Gaucho-sacd
Donald Fagen-The Nightfly, Kamakiriad and Morph the Cat-all DVD Audio
Alison Krauss and US-Live-sacd
James Taylor-Hourglass-sacd-very nice indeed.
Marianne Thorsen-Mozart:Violin Concertos-sacd
The Nordic Sound - 2l Audiophile Reference Recordings
Steely Dan-Aja(remastered)-cd
Yes-Tales From Topographic Oceans(remastered)-cd

I am really loving the soundstage and detail of the Oppo 105 with the Sabre dacs. They do make a difference to me even with my modest system. I look forward to trying more of the 105's features and hearing from others on their impressions.

Hello everybody!

I know this is not the right topic for my question but it`s important for me.
I would like to know if is there any quality difference if I play the movies from a blu ray disc or from an external HDD?
Thank you!

PetreZ

It was remastered from the original recordings for 24/192... "new 2012 transfers from the original analogue tapes" according to HD Tracks. The difference from the original CD is a subtle removal of a layer between listener and music. I used to laugh when people said in reviews that they could "hear more harmonics" from this recording or that, or from a new piece of equipment, but after spending some time with this 24/192 transfer, I'm beginning to see what they mean. There's more texture overall, the snare drum in particular exhibits a much more discernable "quality of the hit", meaning you can hear when he hits the snare a little off-center, which I had never really heard before on the CD (and I've played drums for 20 years). The extreme upper ranges are much smoother too.

Most records have such processed drum tracks these days, it's refreshing to hear that bit of "clank" on an off-center hit.

FWIW, I'm very happy with Audirvana. It plays every format I've thrown at it, including ISO SACD rips. It's also a touch warmer sounding than Pure Music, without losing any detail. The ease of use and the GUI are also much better, and it was cheaper.

What is the format of the movie on the hard drive? If it is a BDMV folder or a container like MKV where the video has not been recompressed then the results should be identical.

-Bill

Thank you for your answer! The video file isn`t compressed, it`s a BDMV folder or a BDMV .iso file. Thats mean I will get the same video and sound quality like the blu ray disc?
Thanks.

Yes, from the BDMV folder. The OPPO does not support ISO files directly.

Please be aware that support for video copies will be allowed only so long as the studios permit it.

-Bill

Ok, thx. I understood.

I am also impressed by HDCD discs thru the Oppo. I never knew they did sound this good. I am off to sit down and listen to some Thomas Dolby on my Oppo. I also like the detail of the bass in the song "I live in a suitcase". "I love you goodbye" has great lyrics as most of his songs do! I am a huge Thomas Dolby fan. I am still of the opinion that "Flat Earth is better recorded than "Astronauts and Heretics"! Aliens ate my Buick is in a different class than either of the latter releases. If you listen to "Brain is like a seive" from that release you can hear the horn solo float in space between your speakers, it's located slightly off left center and above. I have heard it on different systems I have owned. I had one tubed front end ARC SP-14 Classic 120 combo and the other tube ARC LS25 MKII with Levinson 335 stereo amp. I've also heard it on my present system which is the SSP-800 being fed from the BDP-105 into the same SS Mark Levinson amplifier. They both have their strong points. I will listen to Astronauts and Hertics tonight on the BDP-105 for comparison. Glad you are enjoying your Oppo BDP-105!

Thanks Sharp! I don't have Flat Earth, but I'm listing to Sieve right now and you're right, the horn sits pretty elevated vertically in the mix. Pretty cool!

Another one to check out that's recorded well, and has interesting lyrics is Michael Penn. I like both "March" and "Resigned". His lyrics are pretty interesting, with lots of double meanings. And the recordings have a lot of "space" if you know what I mean.
Edited by boyce89976 - 2/16/13 at 5:26pm

Has anyone compared the internal DAC performance of the Oppo 105 vs the NAD M51? I liked the 105 but it still sounds a bit flat to me. Dynamics dont seem to quite be there compared to my Classe CDP102.

I replaced a 93 with the 105 - no comparison on the analog outs

havent bothered with a blu ray...

I could remove my denon 4311 i guess...but i like Audxt32 for movies

I run music with everything on pure audio

I have heard a few 95s...I think the 105 is worth it for the difference (ie sell the 95) but I didnt hear a fresh $1200 jump over the 95.

The screen layouts, menu speed, network/usb music interfaces are all improved.

I have bass traps + 1st reflections treated...im not even sure where to go with my room next...probably ceiling traps and more bass traps...stupid second floor room.

howdy everyone,

forgive me for asking perhaps a stupid question, but the 105 generates test tones and uses audessy? what is the purpose of this? most avr's and avp's have these features. I could understand if the 105 was a line pre, but it is not. perhaps I am missing something here? does have variable output? if so, can anyone state what it's preamp section is all about?

thank you

The 105 is capable of driving power amps directly negating the need for a pre/pro, but when used with one, using its 7.1 inputs and setting it to bypass its internal dac's etc.. you would need to level match the Oppo's 7.1 outs set its distance, speaker configuration and trims to take full advantage of its fine Sabre dac's.

The 105 doesn't have Audyssey or any form of auto calibration. It does have built in test tones, distance and level adjustments, crossover configuration, and a variable volume control for the analog outputs. Some have found that to be sufficient to replace their existing pre/pro or AVR and connect the 105 directly to an amp, while others have kept them for Audyssey, more flexible speaker configuration, or to handle more complex systems where the 105 doesn't have enough inputs to handle their system.

probably the wrong forum for this, i am looking at the oppo 105, and considering either a modwright or evs package, anyone have experience with either? pros/cons, or not necessary?

Ric at EVS is finishing my 105 mod today! I should have it back next week and will report.

A quick question....is there a consensus as to where to put the 105's output volume level for optimum SQ? I was using the fixed volume level.
KP

If attached to a pre-amp (which of course does your Volume control) the OPPO should be left at Analog Volume 100 (or Volume Fixed, which does the same thing). The only reason to lower the Analog Volume would be if you are detecting clipping distortion, meaning your pre-amp is having a problem with headroom on its Analog input. Lowering output volume from the OPPO will then be needed to keep the pre-amp from clipping. No decent pre-amp should be clipping with the OPPO set at Volume 100, unless it has a fault or you have used positive dB values for individual speaker output volume trims in the OPPO.
--Bob

when we are referring to "fixed" volume here are we implying fixed literally- ie. listening at same volume level permanently?

It means the output level on the Oppo is not being used to adjust the volume - in this case, the volume control on the preamp should be used.

That is why I went with the Modwright Oppo 105 tube mod with Bybee music rails.

I love my 105 but I must admit I was a little confused reading the review. On one side it lifts the machine to the sky - but on the other hand it says
"The sound won't be as good as from a CD player for 6.000 or even 5.000 PLN."
5000 PLN is equivalent to 1 600 USD.
IMHO the Oppo sounds better than most 1600 dollar CD-players.

Yes, you are correct.

Heck my Denon BD-3800 player sounded better when playing cd's than my Arcam CD-192 cd player which was around that price and than my Denon A1 sounded better than the 3800 each running thru at the time a Parasound Halo P7 preamp. I got to think that would also be the case for the 105.

 

Since you have the SSP-800 and so do I, I am curious do you like the DACs in the Oppo BDP-105 better than the Classé?

 

Also did you upgrade from the BDP-95 and if so do you think the 105 sounds better?

So then it is a line level pre in a blu ray box then? Interesting. This means then that Any digital source played thru this unit is either oppo dac or direct out? This would seriously solve a few problems for me if the Surround out-puts meet say Dolby HD/True, THx, ect standards. Would make it very very easy to integrate into my set up w/o changing anything. My Intergra RDV-1.1, as well the RDC 7.1- prehaps I have found new life yet for these units (which I do love so much) has it own ability to in/out its very very HQ Dac's. Please advise.