upgrade player or use modified oppo bdp 105 as transport

DAC sounds like the way to go and it seems like a teally good with MQA decoding is going to drain the wallet. I'm sure there are some decent giant killers out there. Any favorites I should look at??m

New or used probably somewhere in the 5k range if need be.

Soix, thank you for the links. Great read exposing just how little I know about digital audio. Much more to lear/research.

Thanks all for the responses. I have been pouring over several forums here and realize I'd like to upgrade for the "last" time (LOL) and do it right the first time. Based on many  A-goner's inputs (and others) I find myself lusting for something like the PS Audio Direct Stream MK2 DAC coupled with the relatively new Perfect Wave SACD transport (supports CD too but not HDCD). (add streaming later)  Obviously price is the big stumbling block. Really like the reviews and testimonials for the Holo May dac (spelling) and the Denafrips Terminator II dac.  Both are nearly as pricey as the Direct Stream, but I'm thinking synergy might come into play here as I'm not finding a lot of choices for stellar SACD/CD transports. Not sure I can wait for these goodies to turn up on the used market...but 15K + is probably too rich for my situation.  Finding that while our passion for 2 channel audio is a very niche market, there seem to be countless choices for gear and opinions out there with no real set standards and the like. So much to wade through, like I just sat and watched the audio world morph into an uber complicated pass time. Still looking for potential "giant killers". Love to "hear" what others think.

Happy Listening 

update

I went with the project RS2T transport (used) into a Musetec 005 dac via rca coax...balanced outs from the dac into a Benchmark LA4 pre,,,,,,,

Sound was great, better than the bdp 105 as a transport.  How much better is hard for me to quantify.  A/B critical listening is difficult given many factors including short attention span  LOL.  While the project was "away" for "repair" (bogus), I felt the 105 had a lil more midrange punch but wasn't fleshing out instrument separation as well.

But I've had issues with the Project. Strange ones regarding sound cut-outs that seem to be tied to electronic devices turning on in the house.  Also, no sound at all using outboard power supply from LTS designed specifically for the project. They sent me two with two new umbilical cords. Neither worked.  Sent the project to the u.s. based repair center.  Worthless. Exact same issues persist.  I am now daisy-chaining two power conditioners until I can figure my next move. Love the sound when it works.  Also see that the RS2T is no longer on back order, so, maybe they have fixed their issues, but now I'm gun-shy.   Another option is a jays-audio cd3 mk3 at 5k.  New Project RS2T's run 3k and I still have the unused LPS.

Bottom line....I feel transport to dac is superior to a cd player. 

Thinking about trying the 105 as sacd transport into a geerfab dbob device that can deliver some type of higher res signal to the dac.  It uses HDMI out from the 105 then coax out from the dbob.  I know someone that has a dbob and loves it,

Happy listening.

Soix

You are probably correct. The RS2T is driving me crazy. Really think its a mute issue tied to an internal power problem.    Mute button on the remote has never worked. In fact only two or three buttons actually work on the remote.  Just unbelievable.

Eager to try out some other higher end transport.  Not sure about another used digital device.  Maybe from someone I know.  Hans Beekhuyzen reviewed the cd3mk3 at 5k but at the end of the youtube review he said some other transport sounded better but, for the life of me, I could not make out the device that he mentioned.  Anyway.

Happy listening.

trn

Hope you post your impressions on the Urd here. I've been looking into it as a replacement and also the Schiiit dacs.   Like the idea the urd has usb output. My musetec dac is supposedly optimized for usb input. Not a lot of transports have usb interface. Currently using rca/coax transport to dac.  Have not tried AES/EBU as I don't have a good cable or any suitable cable.

Look forward to your input.

Thanks