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OPPO 205 VS 105 QUESTIONS

     I'd like to upgrade from my current  Oppo 105 to the 205 but need advice on whether there are functions the 105 does that the 205 cannot.  I'm basically just looking to upgrade from the 1080p video playback of the 105 to the 4K playback of the 205 while still having all of the audio capabilities I currently use on the 105 
     I currently use the 105 in a combination 2-ch music and 5.1 surround ht audio system.  For video I have a 65" Panasonic plasma that is 1080p but wanted the 205 just in case I purchase a 4K OLED hdtv in the near future.  The 4K and high contrast color are really the only reasons I'm considering upgrading to the 205.
     But my questions are all concerned with the 205's audio capabilities:

1.  Can I connect the 205 to my Xfinity cable wi-fi router/modem via an rs43 ethernet cable just like the 105?
     My main 2-ch music source is a 2TB NAS, also connected to my wi-fi router/modem via ethernet,  that contains my entire 16/44 CD collection and a growing number of 24/96 hi-res music files. The NAS  only contains audio files, no video files.  I use a wireless laptop running JRiver Media Center to select the music file to play.  All is functioning flawlessly and just want to make sure swapping in the 205 via ethernet will work the same way.  I understand the 205 has the latest top of line Saber dac chips that are likely an improvement over the 105's Saber 9018 chips.  


2.  Can I send internet music files (currently only Spotify but likely others in the future)  to the 205 from my laptop for use as a digital streaming playback device utilizing its internal dacs just like the 105?  

3.  Can I connect the 205 directly to my amps as I currently do with the 105?  If so, does it have dedicated XLR l+r stereo outputs and rca outputs for the surround channels just like the 105?

4.  What would you do: be content with the 1080p Oppo 105 and Panasonic 1080p plasma that are functioning very well or upgrade to a 4K Oppo 205 and 4K OLED both with improved color capacity?

5.  Are there any other significant differences between the 105 and 205 that you think I should be aware of?

     I understand the 205 is currently in short supply but know that Oppo is planning on 1 final production run of the  205 before bowing out of the market. I did signup on the Oppo website fairly early for notification of future availability.  I really want to avoid buying one of the currently still available 205s, but at significantly increased prices, if I can.  I'm going to ask Oppo if I can reserve one of the final run units if I prepay.

Thanks in advance for your assistance,
   Tim
noble100
auxinput
1,538 posts
 
@basement - lol, people still continue to ask me "why do you still get blurays from Netflix instead of just streaming it?". lol. Because both the audio quality AND the video quality are compromised from streaming compression.  Even on hi-def content.
noble100's avatar
noble100 OP
1,093 posts
 
Hi basement and auxinput,

     I know the 105 uses Saber 9018 dac chips and the 205 uses Saber's newest and best dac chips.  Interesting that you think your older Theta Prime 3 dacs sound equal or better than the 205's.  Of course, there's more than just the dac chips used that determines the final sound quality.

     But I get your point.  Fortunately, I like the sound of my music files using the 105 as the dac.  I also notice there's a quieter background, more detail and greater dynamics when playing a Blu-ray disc compared to cable and streaming.  I was thinking the video differences may be less discernible to me due to the 105's video processing circuitry.
Thanks,
  Tim    
junzhang10
166 posts
 
205 added MQA and 4K but delete the Netflix and Tidal app. I missed that.  But the 205 is the last Oppo player. The price stay the same as 105. So I decided to purchase one in addition to my 105D.
mallen123
102 posts
 
The 205 does show album art from CDs and the hi rez files i play thru  it, so I suspect it still has Gracenote.

I have 22,000 albums in hi rez on an 8 tb disc thru the 105 in and now the 205.   
205 definitely sounds better.  
  
205  also seems to be able to map all the files into Albums, Genre and Artists, where as the 105 seems to choke on that many Albums and i can only access the music thru the folders where they are stored.
mcgal
189 posts
 

I recently received a 205. I noticed an immediate improvement in sound quality over my 105D when I hooked it up for a BluRay concert in 5.1. It also sounds better than the 105D through the balanced stereo outputs though I only listened in 2 channel for a minute or two. I use a separate 2 channel system for CD's, SACD's, MQA and HiRes files.

I have my 105D connected to my 205 via the HDMI input on the 205. That way I can watch Netflix, Cable and You Tube since the 205 can't do it by itself. Picture quality is also an improvement for me now than I can connect to my 4K projector.

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