Hi there,New to this forum and at best a part-time audiophile.To share my experience: I use an OPPO 205 UDP in two systems - ROON is run on a MacBook pro (my 'dedicated music server'), conncetion w/ OPPO is seemless via Toslink, USB DAC or wireless input (Linksys mesh system as wireless router).Via USB DAC, the OPPO is a full MQA endpoint (decoding and rendering), via wireless, it is limited to the 'renderer' function (one step of unfolding if I understand right), so you leave the initial 'decoding' step with ROON. MQA files up to 24bit/192kHz play "losless" via the wifi connection.
When you want to play the same program through both systems (e.g., when you have a house full of guests), time coherence between the two OPPOs via wifi input is perfect (thanks to Roon). I would argue that the wifi connection is at least as good as USB and Toslink 'wired' connections, may be better - although I cant tell.
My dealer had dropped a Mytek Brooklyn in my system for comparison (only tried USB input, no wifi) - it sounded a little cooler, but to me there is no loss of detail, space, texture when comparing the OPPO to the Mytek and I actually preferred the 'sound' of the OPPO (apodizing filter setting), but all in all differences were very marginal.
Now - I know the OPPO is no longer in production, yet the service is still very much alive, incl. firmware updates, etc. and you could still get a new one on Amazon or ebay within your budget. Superb SACD player comes on top. One more box saved.
When you want to play the same program through both systems (e.g., when you have a house full of guests), time coherence between the two OPPOs via wifi input is perfect (thanks to Roon). I would argue that the wifi connection is at least as good as USB and Toslink 'wired' connections, may be better - although I cant tell.
My dealer had dropped a Mytek Brooklyn in my system for comparison (only tried USB input, no wifi) - it sounded a little cooler, but to me there is no loss of detail, space, texture when comparing the OPPO to the Mytek and I actually preferred the 'sound' of the OPPO (apodizing filter setting), but all in all differences were very marginal.
Now - I know the OPPO is no longer in production, yet the service is still very much alive, incl. firmware updates, etc. and you could still get a new one on Amazon or ebay within your budget. Superb SACD player comes on top. One more box saved.