Revisiting the OPPO-205

  • Thread starter sterling shoote
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S

sterling shoote

Audioholic Field Marshall
It's been 2 years and 10 months since I posted my initial thoughts about the OPPO-205. I purchased it specifically to enjoy multi-channel SACD via analog output to a then 17 year old non-HDMI Sony TA-P9000ES Multi-Channel Preamplifier. My initial impressions have been somewhat tempered since my purchase since discovery and exploration of the unit's other means to deliver digital music have now been engaged. The first revelation, Network play is not multi-channel, is not gapless, and re-arranges album songs to alphabetical order, not good for enjoyment of The Firebird. Second, and most recent discovery, is the stereo only usb B input sends the digital stream directly to the DAC and thus the analog output is only sent to front left and right channels. What this means is mains get no subwoofer support. That's a big disappointment, since I want to hear and feel the bass from dance music in my iTunes Library. Good thing I can enjoy iTunes via an Airport Express connected the OPPO's optical input which does deliver managed bass to my sub.

Now, the highlights, although I purchased the OPPO for multi-channel SACD pleasure, getting 5.1 SACDs in genres of music I want has been a struggle. This makes the OPPO's (3) usb thumb drive inputs very, very compelling, since it permits me to play hi-res multi-channel FLAC downloads in music genres of interest, now stocked at Acoustic Sounds. It's not convenient, about 16 actions of clicking and button pushing before I hear sound coming out of my speakers; yet, this means to multi-channel and the high quality recordings from performers like the Seattle Symphony have brought me ecstasy like I've never experienced.

At any rate, I have also enjoyed movies via the OPPO and one has thrilled me over and over. It's Polar Express. The scene where the Steam Locomotive arrives on the disbeliever kid's street sounds just like the Steam Locomotives I remember on the tracks about 50 yards from where I lived as a child. So far, my only experience with movies has come from DVD, BD, and UBD discs. I temporally connected my laptop to the OPPO via HDMI and toyed with multi-channel FLAC music played from Foobar 2000, as well as a movie in iTunes but, a pattern of sound dropouts suggested I did not have settings on computer, iTunes, or Foobar setup correctly; and, I've gotta tell ya, I just did not want to get into it, since I'm geekless. In other words, to enjoy HDMI input pleasures I'm going to need some step by step instructions, or someone knowledgeable to come over to my home to hook things up for me. My point here is I wish the OPPO's Operation Manual had some instruction on this input.

OK, that's it. Was the OPPO worth $1300? No doubt about it and the ones today on eBay still seem to me to be good value for anyone who needs or wants 5.1 analog output from a Universal Player performing the DAC function using highly rated DACs.
 
Last edited:
Bucknekked

Bucknekked

Audioholic Samurai
It's been 2 years and 10 months since I posted my initial thoughts about the OPPO-205. I purchased it specifically to enjoy multi-channel SACD via analog output to a then 17 year old non-HDMI Sony TA-P9000ES Multi-Channel Preamplifier. My initial impressions have been somewhat tempered since my purchase since discovery and exploration of the unit's other means to deliver digital music have now been engaged. The first revelation, Network play is not multi-channel, is not gapless, and re-arranges album songs to alphabetical order, not good for enjoyment of The Firebird. Second, and most recent discovery, is the stereo only usb B input sends the digital stream directly to the DAC and thus the analog output is only sent to front left and right channels. What this means is mains get no subwoofer support. That's a big disappointment, since I want to hear and feel the bass from dance music in my iTunes Library. Good thing I can enjoy iTunes via an Airport Express connected the OPPO's optical input which does deliver managed bass to my sub.

Now, the highlights, although I purchased the OPPO for multi-channel SACD pleasure, getting 5.1 SACDs in genres of music I want has been a struggle. This makes the OPPO's (3) usb thumb drive inputs very, very compelling, since it permits me to play hi-res multi-channel FLAC downloads in music genres of interest, now stocked at Acoustic Sounds. It's not convenient, about 16 actions of clicking and button pushing before I hear sound coming out of my speakers; yet, this means to multi-channel and the high quality recordings from performers like the Seattle Symphony have brought me ecstasy like I've never experienced.

At any rate, I have also enjoyed movies via the OPPO and one has thrilled me over and over. It's Polar Express. The scene where the Steam Locomotive arrives on the disbeliever kid's street sounds just like the Steam Locomotives I remember on the tracks about 50 yards from where I lived as a child. So far, my only experience with movies has come from DVD, BD, and UBD discs. I temporally connected my laptop to the OPPO via HDMI and toyed with multi-channel FLAC music played from Foobar 2000, as well as a movie in iTunes but, a pattern of sound dropouts suggested I did not have settings on computer, iTunes, or Foobar setup correctly; and, I've gotta tell ya, I just did not want to get into it, since I'm geekless. In other words, to enjoy HDMI input pleasures I'm going to need some step by step instructions, or someone knowledgeable to come over to my home to hook things up for me. My point here is I wish the OPPO's Operation Manual had some instruction on this input.

OK, that's it. Was the OPPO worth $1300? No doubt about it and the ones today on eBay still seem to me to be good value for anyone who needs or wants 5.1 analog output from a Universal Player performing the DAC function using highly rated DACs.
I enjoyed your brief overview and review of the OPPO 205. I bypassed universal players when I began building my music library years ago and have never missed them Now however I'm getting the nagging feeling I'd like to get a universal player for my concert Blu Rays. I enjoy seeing the performers as well as hearing them. I can rip them to my server but titles and skipping to specific songs is inconsistent and a pain. Maybe I should just get a universal player and then I can watch the concert discs and those odd DVDa and SACD selections when I run across them.
My music room is only 2.1 so the 5.1 isn't of much interest. I sort of lost interest in 5.1 by having years and years of it and never feeling like I was getting the best out of my stereo content.

Do you know much about the
Sony UBP-X800M2
Its a universal player. TLS_Guy said in a recent post its the best one out there for sale today when you consider all the factors. I don't know much about Sony products but I know they usually work if nothing else.

Just thought you might be up tp speed on this since you did all the research for the OPPO player.
 
S

sterling shoote

Audioholic Field Marshall
I enjoyed your brief overview and review of the OPPO 205. I bypassed universal players when I began building my music library years ago and have never missed them Now however I'm getting the nagging feeling I'd like to get a universal player for my concert Blu Rays. I enjoy seeing the performers as well as hearing them. I can rip them to my server but titles and skipping to specific songs is inconsistent and a pain. Maybe I should just get a universal player and then I can watch the concert discs and those odd DVDa and SACD selections when I run across them.
My music room is only 2.1 so the 5.1 isn't of much interest. I sort of lost interest in 5.1 by having years and years of it and never feeling like I was getting the best out of my stereo content.

Do you know much about the
Sony UBP-X800M2
Its a universal player. TLS_Guy said in a recent post its the best one out there for sale today when you consider all the factors. I don't know much about Sony products but I know they usually work if nothing else.

Just thought you might be up tp speed on this since you did all the research for the OPPO player.
The Sony UBP-X1100ES is the one I would recommend for features and capabilities.
 
Out-Of-Phase

Out-Of-Phase

Audioholic General
I own the Sony UHP-H1 Blu-ray player. It's not an Oppo UDP-205, but I still enjoy it.
 
T

Trebdp83

Audioholic Ninja
If one has budget concerns and is only interested in HDMI connectivity, the Sony UBP-X800M2 will do the job. The UBP-X1100ES offers more connections, a display and longer warranty.
 
S

sterling shoote

Audioholic Field Marshall
I enjoyed your brief overview and review of the OPPO 205. I bypassed universal players when I began building my music library years ago and have never missed them Now however I'm getting the nagging feeling I'd like to get a universal player for my concert Blu Rays. I enjoy seeing the performers as well as hearing them. I can rip them to my server but titles and skipping to specific songs is inconsistent and a pain. Maybe I should just get a universal player and then I can watch the concert discs and those odd DVDa and SACD selections when I run across them.
My music room is only 2.1 so the 5.1 isn't of much interest. I sort of lost interest in 5.1 by having years and years of it and never feeling like I was getting the best out of my stereo content.

Do you know much about the
Sony UBP-X800M2
Its a universal player. TLS_Guy said in a recent post its the best one out there for sale today when you consider all the factors. I don't know much about Sony products but I know they usually work if nothing else.

Just thought you might be up tp speed on this since you did all the research for the OPPO player.
I just inherited a Sony UBP-X800M2, which I am using to enjoy stereo SACDs via HDMI out a Marantz NR1200 Receiver, also inherited. I have not had the Player long enough to know anything about how reliable it is; however, via the Marantz's DSD DAC, stereo SACDs sound identical to same SACDs decoded by my OPPO and Sony DVP-S9000ES.
 
Last edited:
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