Hello all,
I just wanted to add to this forum a couple of important points
1. If there was an album worth putting into DVD-A format, it will no doubt have a Bluray audio format. (This is certainly the case with the King Crimson box sets, of which I own the lot. )
2. Why would you even put the DVD-A discs into your player when the set provides you with Bluray audio discs which provide far superior audio? So forget about trying to get those DVD-A layers and just use the Bluray discs also supplied in the set.
There is one exception and that would be the Frank Zappa Halloween DVD audio disc, however it sounds great in any case and if that doesn't thrill you, you can always get the Halloween 77 box set which makes the DVD-A redunant anyway and gives you 24bit audio, that you can pop into your USB port.
Of greater importance is the audio playback between the Oppo and the Yamaha players. Some people are winging about the mids on the OppoYamaha, while others swear black and blue that the Oppo player opened up the heavens for them. On that note, I'd argue that surely any audiophile could simply EQ a little to there particular taste.
For someone looking into one of these players right now(because all the stores are offering these days are mass seller completely plastic cheapo's guranteed to last your warranty period and then promptly die shortly after. With the Oppo and the Yamaha players, the quality appears to be much greater and Yamaha's audio enhancements appear 2nd to none. (Unless you want to at least double the price by going to Cambridge Audio players etc.)
For me, here's the current pluses and minuses of each player if purchasing right now as of 2020.
1. Availability.
Yamaha: +1 (Although discontinued, many hi-fi stores still have stock of most of there models BRAND NEW. They don't sell like cheap players but they do sell and hold there value, hence specialty stores don't mind keeping the stock around.)
Oppo: -1 (Sadly, despite both Oppo and Yamaha now being out of the Bluray manufacturing business, Yamaha is still available whereas Oppo due to marketing hype and over the top reviews from Audiophiles(questionable in many cases), are completely sold out and you can only purchase a 2nd hand one that someone else hopefully hasn't played thousands of hours worth of discs through the machine(even while swearing they have given it little use, because just look at the pretty case that's hardly been touched and here's all the packaging and accessories complete.) Believe any seller who declares it's hardly been used as much as your local politicians, no one buys a player of this price point to sit like a weird decoration and only ever be used once in a blue moon.
2. Price.
Yamaha: +1 (Price remains around the same as release time.)
Oppo: -1 (Price is governed by perception, marketing hyperbole and now collector status.)
3. Audio Connections.
Yamaha: +1 (Those XLR's will surely not be a negative for any serious audio fan, not to mention the RCA outs)
Oppo: +1 (It can't be denied a separate HDMI audio out is a good idea, which is sadly missing on the Yamaha. It also provides 5.1 and 7.1 surround analog outs which is a rarity.)
4. Picture.
Yamaha: +1 for providing 4k upscaling.
Oppo: +1 for providing 4k standard (That said, this person has no interest in 4K media as they find it actually makes the picture worse(essentially do I want a magnified zoom in of every zit on an actors face??)
5. Design.
Yamaha: +1 (Rock solid build quality especially for the price.)
Oppo: +1 (Also a very nice, solid build that can't be ignored.)
Conclusion:
Yamaha BD-A1060: 5/5 buying criteria satisfied.
Oppo UDP-203: 3/5 buying criteria satisfied. (Even the bonus of 4k doesn't sway me.)
Yamaha wins. Also with a new Yamaha player you will receive the full warranty, whereas Oppo is cross your fingers and hope the previous user hasn't just about worn it out.
Just thought I'd add this as there still 2 of the hottest Bluray players out there for audiophiles like myself who are loving Bluray audio(which I'll argue actually out performs vinyl, now if that doesn't get some people commenting, what will? Ever scratched your head and wondered... Why would I want a vinyl of a digital recording? Vinyl is great for analogue recordings and provides many hifi benefits, but for digital, especially if there's a bluray audio edition available, I'd argue a down grade.)
Thanks to all for sharing,
Sean.