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Is OPPO losing it's way?

Their new 'upgrade' Sonica DAC is using the new ESS ES9038PRO Sabre Dac; while the new
UHD player UDP-203 uses the new AKM (4458). What gives? Why not just use the best for both-especially with the promise of UHD?
ptss

Showing 3 responses by ricevs

ricevs
1,443 posts
 

The Oppo 103 was never designed to be a high end analog out player.  The 103 was mainly designed to be used with a Pre-pro.  Same with the new 203 player.  The analog outputs are just throw ons.  However, the AKM DAC chip you mention is way better than the 8 channel Cirrus DAC used in the 103....so I would expect better sound quality.  So this is an upgrade.....not anyone losing their way.  In fact, with mods it could be killer.  However, the even better analog out machine (UDP-503) will be out next year some time.  I expect it to have ESS9038 DACs for both two channel and multichannel (we shall see).  Oppos power supply parts, output stages, coupling caps, clocks, etc. are not state of the art.  This is why modding Oppos make such a great improvement.  There will be several of us modding the Sonica DAC and also both new UDP players.

There are no more 103Ds or 105Ds available (except for dealers trying to rip you off on the very last ones).  Please wait for the new models if you really have to have an Oppo or find one used.

ricevs
1,443 posts
 
I try not to get tooooooo commercial here but you can contact me anytime through my website....tweakaudio.com,  and you can call me anytime to discuss.  The new players and DAC are not out yet so there is no pricing yet (multiple levels/pricing usually are available....say a few hundred $ to mucho more).  You can check my website for current mods to 105s, etc.  I warrantee my own work for life.....yours or mine...he he.  If you want a warranty on the entire modded player then I can do that for $50 for two years.
ricevs
1,443 posts
 
The Oppo 83 was all they could do at $500.  To give you the better analog stages and DACs and power supplies they had to make it a bigger machine and charge you $900.  The of course, the newer ones got even better and slightly more expensive.  The new 4K baby machine coming out will be $500.  It will be better in every way than an 83....better picture, better sound and more features.  Hardly losing their way!  Of course, they will have a more expensive version with better DACs and power supplies, etc. No one has ever given as much value as Oppo. They have the highest resale value of any component.  Heck, right now, the last few 105Ds that dealers have are selling for way more than the list price. 
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