oppo 105d mod or look for a new cd player ?

Jwt before you post the type of derogatory comment about a vendor who makes a living by modifying gear and who otherwise has a seeming very good reputation, you might want to provide more details of YOUR personal experience. It sounds more like a rage rant than anything credible. There are ALWAYS 3 sides to a story but you really haven't even provided your side as to what specifically happened with this vendor, it is not fair play by you. btw, what happened between your post below and now?

12-21-11: Jwt
EVS/ Ric Schultz does a blu- ray modification to the OPPO 95 that's downright addictive and frankly unbelievable until heard. So musical and sweet, extended yet articulate. The digital sound has come a long way, a really long way. I have a beautiful analog set up about 5K and Ric's modified Oppo 95 challenges my TT in many ways and it's definitely got soul and then some. It's magical to my ears. I do of course have the ancillary equipment perfectly matched, amp 25 watt class A pentode into 97 db speakers with dual 12" servo drivers per side and hand built cross over's on top. All for under 10K less cables and ac conditioning. I'll put it up against 50K system anyday and bet I get a least half buying and saving.
the speakers are a kit but awesome, I put it together professionally, the amp is hand built in the US like the speakers all point to point wiring with a nice kicker LIFE TIME Guaranteed on the AMP parts and labor less tubes after 90 days. Speakers are not small but not huge and the subwoofers are state of the art an included in the 5K. I have two other speakers Sonus Auditors w/ rel sub and Revel speakers with Revel sub and my above mentioned systems is decimating the latter two speaker that both cost 8K plus respectively just for the speakers. That mark up is lost value the way I see it and it's taken forever for me to learn this shit. The cables are important regardless of what anyone says. The designers of these components also make cables but I'd try all of them as they are completely affordable and claims are made that they match cost no object but I'm not sure about that. I use very high end cables in all my systems and now I'm hearing some amazing sound. My kids are rocking out most of the time, so I know its really good.
Jwt (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

In addition to the post cited by Tubegroover, the following one from this thread will also be of interest:

12-21-11: Jwt
... I think the 95 modded by EVS for about the same money right now is a unbelievable. no comparison to a modded 93 but at the same time a new 95 is 1K plus 1K is 2K but it smokes my Ayre CD 5xe mp hands down in every way. I have since sold my ayre. My ayre was 6K. So far nothing I've heard in the two channel mode with any type disc gets as close to analog as the EVS modification.
But that's just my opinion and is directly related to value, it's worth 3X in sound quality easy if not more. Analog sound is expensive and hard to get right especially in digital but I guess after 40 years Ric's getting it down right addictive.

Regards,
-- Al

Brownsfan,

I had a Lampi Amber but with the level 4 PCB and Tungsol Rectifier.

I have also had my OPPO 95 modded by Ric at EVS, as well as a Behringer crossover. Both sound great. If Ric modifies your 105, you will find an improvement in the picture as well as the sound. I love watching concert videos even more than movies. Next best thing to being there. If you have a $4000 budget, you could get your 105 modded by Ric, and also get a Schiit Ygdrassil, using the 105 as a transport.

So.. I went up to cities and took my oppo 105D for some comparisons.
I listened to esoteric K07 and Ayre CX7. The oppo seemed a wee bit forward .. but overall I was surprised how good it actually is. Based on this.. I think i'll keep the 105. Its a superb transport that plays everything. The question is to partner up with a dedicted dac or mod the 105. I was think something like PS Audio PWT II .. but not heard these.. Will look around a bit.