Oppo 205 and external DAC?

Oppo UDP-205 DACs are indeed very good.  You can use the unbalanced stereo analog output from Oppo 205 to your amp.

What's wrong with the Oppo's unbalanced outs?  If you use an external DAC, you will not use the analog output of the Oppo, balanced or unbalanced. You will use the digital out, likely spdif. You will use the analog output of the DAC. If you have only an unbalanced input in your pre, you will use the unbalanced analog out of the DAC. 

As for the DAC, you’re simply asking what’s the best DAC out there without any price point. There are many that can outperform the DAC in the Oppo. I think my DAC is the best value, but everyone thinks the same about their DAC which is probably why they bought it.

Thanks for the response. Ithought I came across a thread describing measured and anecdotal improvement with the balanced output, regardless of cable length ....I can’t seem to find the link for reference ...anyways  it wouldn’t appear to be cost effective 

I use my Oppo 95 balanced XLR connected to Sennheiser HDVA600 balanced. It is a super combination, super dynamic and balanced tone. Except the Oppo fan, the overall noise is very low.

I'm running my 205 into the Bryston BDA-3.  I bought the Bryston almost purely to test what differences there might be.  The differences are very subtle (as I believe most digital sources to be) but noticeable.  The two DACs are similar enough that I have contemplated selling the Bryston and just using the OPPO.  It's been about 2 months of solid breaking in and extensive A/B'ing with level matched volumes.  The Bryston is a bit more clean, clear, and natural to my ears.  Supposedly the Bryston also re-clocks the signals it's fed, so I wonder if what audioengineer said above about the OPPO needing re-clocking is correct in this case.

Maybe I'm missing something but why would you use the analog out as opposed to the digital output to an external DAC?  Sounds like a formula for degraded performance. 

205 DAC is very good and it has XLR line out. I even think the 105(D) is even better  since it has the Tidal streamer, Netflix, and Berlin philharmonic digital concert hall app build in except the 4K.

Hi Jimmy,

How are you connecting your 205 to the BDA-3? I have the same combination. 

Thanks

I think you’re totally confused. You “must” use a digital out to make any use of another dac. End of story!

Yes I know. There are multiple outputs on the 205 and multiple inputs on the BDA-3. 

With my Ric Schultz modified 203, I inserted the iFi spdif Purifier, basically a reclocker and galvanic isolator into the end of the run to a DirectStream dac. I've found it to offer substantial improvement over using a Snake River Boomslang spdif cable alone, as if I had purchased a much more expensive cable. With the dac's new firmware, know as Snowmass (to be officially released maybe 11/11), the difference in clarity, size and solidity of imaging and the soundstage coming forward is substantial. It was a surprise, as I thought from reading the reviews that it aimed more at the mobile market. I didn't get the same results though running a toslink cable out of the Purifier, still using the Boomslang, at least with a Silflex optical cable (the 203 mod eliminated the toslink option, so I can't run it all the way with optical cable).

Always use 205 balanced line-out fixed for best sound quality. If your amp doesn't have balanced input, at lease have a balanced pre-amp for best result. I use a sennheiser HDVA 600 earphone amp which not only serve as earphone amp but also pre-amp. very silent and liner.

Get a highly modded Modwright Oppo 205.