Oppo UDP - 205

If the connection is HDMI, the Classe is doing the DAC for either player.  I'm surprised you would observes such a difference.

db

I compared my Oppo 205 to my old Denon Blu Ray player that weighs 45 pounds with a much  beefier power supply. I connected HDMI to my Classe processor and found on Blu ray concerts like Michael Bubbley and others the Denon was more open and less s sounds in voice. I don't know if break in will change this as I'm using the converters in the Classe.

Just set up my OPPO 205, half way through a blue ray movie everything froze, the picture and all controls on oppo. Had to unplug it to restart. Not sure what this means, the disc was brand new. Replayed the disk without further such episodes. Played the disk without any initial setup, factory settings. Has anyone had this happen on prior versions 105/103?

Yes, others have reported this type of issue.
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/149-blu-ray-players/2821841-official-oppo-udp-205-uhd-blu-ray-player-o...

I've been surprised that I can appreciate UHD from Fire TV and a Blu-ray even on the relatively small screen of a 65 XBR 850.  I'll buy a few more UHD Blu-rays if I can find anything of interest, and I'll move the unused Apple TV to the living room.  The UHD compatible HDMI switch seems to function as advertised.  A remote lets you select one of three inputs and one of two outputs.  IIRC, it was only about $50!

db 

milpai, before I moved the Ayre C-5xeMP to the living room, it had been the stereo player along with an Esoteric SA-60 for surround in the HT/music room.  They both used a Parasound JC 2 BP preamp and JC 1 monoblocks driving a pair of KEF Reference 107/2s.  But when I play stereo using the SA-60 -- its now the only alternate to a silver 105D, it gets very close but doesn't quite reach that uncanny sense of music just being there the Ayre provides.  Nothing in my previous post should denigrate the 205.  It's an excellent CD/SACD and superb Blu-ray player.

db

Just set up my OPPO 205, half way through a blue ray movie everything froze, the picture and all controls on oppo. Had to unplug it to restart. Not sure what this means, the disc was brand new. Replayed the disk without further such episodes. Played the disk without any initial setup, factory settings. Has anyone had this happen on prior versions 105/103? 

dbphd,
So the Oppo is not a giant killer after all. But looks like it can get get you so much closer to the mega priced dedicated CD players at a much smaller outlay. Would like to hear your opinion after a few hundred hours. May be the burn-in will get the player a notch up?

I played Blu-reys of Legends of Jazz and the 2nd movement of Beethoven's 7th using the 105 then the 205.  The 205 provided more of a sense of transparency than the 105, the mids in particular seeming more open.  It's a sound I could live with easily.

I played Waltz for Debby SACD, a CD of Corelli concertos, and DVD-A of Pet Sounds using the Ayre C-5exMP and 205.  The 205 closes the gap with the Ayre substantially compared to the 105, but doesn't match its sense of transparency nor its depth of sound stage.  The 205 doesn't quite get to that intangible sense of listening to music that's just there, i.e., not being reproduced.  The big surprise was Pet Sounds.  Played with the Ayre it has an amazing sense of depth, but seemed flat with the 205.  I tried the video side of the disc with no improvement in sound but a display of lyrics for those who like to sing along.

The 205 is a very nice sounding disc player that lacks the magic of the Ayre.  It is a substantial improvement over the 105.  Of course I can't play Blu-rey discs on the Ayre, but the sound of Blue-reys using the 205 is so good I needn't look elsewhere.  Fortunately, that's the purpose of the Oppos in my setups.  

I got my OPPO UDP-205 last night and had some time to spend with it and listen to some familiar tracks.  I know it's brand new and it didn't have enough time to burn in but I was already very impressed.  I used analog outs and connected it directly via XLRs to my incredibly good Golden Maraschino Cherry amps made by Digital Amplifier Company and down the road to KEF Blades 2.  The interconnects and speaker cables are Serious Technologies Graphene Extreme.  I am familiar with OPPO and it is probably my 5th or 6th player (following the evolution).  Two of them were highly modified by Modwright.  I can already tell that this one is a winner and will probably stay with me for a very long time.

Before you get too excited about 4K, do the research on screen resolution vs seating distance.  Those 4K screens, showing 4K media,  look gorgeous in the showroom when you are three feet away.  No one sits that close in their homes.  So, unless you are viewing an 80 to 100" image from a 4K projector, it is unlikely that there will be any perceived resolution improvement over 1080p at realistic seating distances.  HDR, an accompanying feature in most 4K TVs, may or may not turn out to be a big deal; will have to wait that out.

Until then, I'll remain happy with my kick-ass Oppo BDP-105D.

No silver 205's are planned, according to Oppo.  Also Darbee is at least 2 years away if they do it at all.  If you have a silver 105D it's value just went up....The Oppo 105D will stream 4K with a Roku stick in its HDMI ports so you may not need a 205 of ANY color, the way things are going.....

No silver 205's are planned, according to Oppo.  Also Darbee is at least 2 years away if they do it at all.  If you have a silver 105D it's value just went up....I think an Oppo 105D will stream 4K so you may not need a 205 of any color, the way things are going.....

Their website shows buy now for the price of USD 1299. I checked with the Asia distributor, it's not rolled out yet for Asian market. I noticed it's a dual voltage unit sold in North America and wonder if I purchase it there and use in Asia, would it be a zone restriction? :)

Detailed audio impressions anyone? Considered purchasing, but would love to hear how tidal, red book and sacd sound...

I am holding out for silver. I've already complained to management.

@dbphd ,
Yes do you have excellent source, no doubt about that. And your system is also on the higher end. If anything, it should reveal any deficiencies in the Oppo or any advantages that it has. But it is this feedback from "users" that I trust rather than paid advertisements.
So will surely look forward to hearing your opinion on this player.

I use a 4K Sony 65 XBR 850 as a monitor in the setup in which the 205 will replace a 105.  In anticipation, I bought a couple of 4K movies a couple of months ago.  But having taken a peek at 4K using Fire TV, I'm not sure I'll perceive much improvement over the already excellent 1080p -- or it may be that the Sony upscales everything to 4K.

db

milpai, I will try to do so, but the other player in that system is an Ayre C-5xeMP, a high bar.  The preamp is an Ayre K-5xeMP, the amp a VX-5 Twenty.  The balanced Ayre audio chain seems to have some magic, but I have high hopes for the 205.

db 

Ozzy,
Did you compare the "audio only" of the Oppo with a CDP? Please share your findings.

dbphd,
Happy Birthday to you! Please share your comparisons of this player with the rest of the players in your system.

Can you play Tidal through the 205 like you can on the 105?   I went to the oppo website but could not find anything on it.  Thanks

I was on an Oppo list and scheduled to receive a 205 4/28, then I decided to wait for a silver 205.  An email from Oppo informed me that there had been little demand for silver 105s, and it's not clear that Oppo will offer a silver 205.  So yesterday I reordered a 205.  I was surprised to receive notification from FedEx that delivery is scheduled for 4/28, my birthday.

The 205 will be a black thorn among silver Ayre 5-series components and a Sony HAP-Z1ES.

db

I wonder if they will have a firmware update for  HDMI 2.1

it looks like about a year wait

They had this at the AXPONA this year. I lifted it and the weight was substantial. Hoping that this is better than the 105D that it replaces.

I placed my order last week and expect to receive it 5/6.