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Oppo UDP205 replacement?

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pumpkins69

New Member
Looking to replace my Oppo UDP205. With audio being the priority, I was thinking of getting a Sony UBPX700. Audio would go through a Topping D90. This would be my first DAC purchase and was wondering if this would be an upgrade in audio? Also, I would be connecting it to a Sansui 9090DB. Would it be compatible?
 
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I have to ask, what's wrong with the Oppo? Is it dead, or do you just want an upgrade? If dead, Oppo still repairs them, if there's an interest in getting it running? But, if it's still fully functional, why replace it with the Sony UBP-X700? Run a new DAC using the Oppo. That'll give you some extra money for the DAC.

As to DACs, the Oppo uses the well regarded ESS ES9038PRO converters. The Topping D90 uses AKM AK4499 converter chips. Both of those are top of the line chips. Both, I believe, are Delta-Sigma designs. So, I do wonder if the D90 will be an upgrade or a lateral move? If you want a true upgrade, that would benefit CD Audio, consider a R2R Ladder DAC. Many think they're more musical, and cast a larger, more realistic soundstage, than a Delta-Sigma DAC. As an example, I have gear with ESS and AKM chips, and I think my Multibit Schiit Bifrost R2R betters them, for creating a soundstage with good depth. As such, maybe consider Schiit Modi Multibit or Bifrost 2 DACs. They are in the same price range as the Topping.

Oh, the Sansui should be fine. It looks to have an Aux input, and 2 Tape In inputs, either which will work, for an outboard DAC.

A 2nd Oh, just curious, do you use SACDs? The Oppo and Sony X700 support playback of SACD. The Topping will decode DSD, but the Schiit won't. Mike Moffat of Schiit considers it a dead format, and exhibits no love for it. If you go with Schiit, you'd have to have your player output PCM digital for a Schiit DAC to properly play a SACD.

'Luck.
 
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Like @StimpyWan said why get rid of the Oppo? If it’s to get the sound quality with a better Dac then get a separate Dac to bypass the one in the Oppo . That’s what I did with my Udp-203 , I am using a Dac that retail was 2 times the price of your 205 and I am bypassing the Dac in the 203 all while still using the 203 as a transport. The sound is exceptional and I get the best of both worlds doing it this way.

Audiofreak71
 
Thank you stimpywan and audiofreak71 for the insightful response. I do have a collection of SACD and was thinking of selling the Oppo since they’re selling close to 3k on EBay. I would then upgrade on the audio side by getting the Topping D90 while maintaining SACD capability with the Sony. I would then have some extra cash left for future projects. Looks like I’m sticking to the Oppo for now.
 
If you want the best SQ with your SACDs stick with the Oppo. With that Sony you mentioned to play SACDs in the native format you will need a DSD DAC with HDMI (think Bryston BDA-3) that is if Sony even allows DSD to be sent out to an external DAC over HDMI and not simply converts DSD to PCM before sending it out. You could also use a receiver that supports DSD but receivers are typically mediocre as DACs. The Sony will only output PCM over Coax if that was your plan to hook it up to D90, I suppose it can be a reasonable compromise if you can sell the Oppo to free up some cash.
 
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I've ripped my SACD collection to DSF in the hopes of preserving the library once the SACD players become extinct and non-repairable (hopefully this is decades in the future but who knows ?).
 
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