Add I2s to Oppo players?

I don’t get it.  You’ve already got a “China box” in the Venus but don’t want another one to convert to i2S?  Seems pretty hypocritical to me.  I’d say just get a Denafrips Hermes and be done with it. I use an Iris to get i2S to my DAC and it was a significant improvement, and the Hermes should be better still.  Plus, trying to retrofit i2S to an Oppo could end up being fraught with problems/compatibility issues if it’s even possible.  Take the easy route that’s already been provided for you by the manufacturer of your DAC.

I do not like the idea of using a box to convert the HDMI from the OPPO to I2s…I just don’t like the idea of a $40 Chinese box between the Oppo and Venus II.

If the Oppo doesn’t output i2S, which it likely does not, you don’t wanna use its HDMI output for audio anyway, period (unless if it’s for the limited use case of passing a native DSD signal if the Oppo even has that capability). For audio in general you’re better off using the USB, SPDIF, AES/EBU outs to a DDC like the Hermes I mentioned above and let that do the conversion to i2S.

I’m honestly having a hard time following what you’re doing as the info of your system has come in piecemeal, but if I’m reading right you’re still using a computer as a source into your very nice Venus DAC.  If that’s the case that should be the first thing you should address and add a dedicated streamer that’ll up your performance significantly.  Likewise, adding a DDC and converting to i2S is another area for significant sonic improvements, and I’ll call on @vthokie83 yet again as he can tell you his experience upgrading to i2S with his Denafrips Pontus II.  FWIW.

Sorry I am not clear. The only source is the OPPO. So far.  I use the optical to the DAC and the #1 OPPO HDMI output to a cheap box that extracts digital from SACD's ,because DSD will not come through optical. The extracted signal from the black box goes into the Venus II I2s input

You have multiple very bad issues going on here.  My initial more thorough response got kicked out once so I’m not gonna go into more detail here now again, but you’re very confused and not getting near the best from your excellent DAC.  You have some work to do.

I’m really trying to help here, but A’gon keeps kicking out my responses so right now I’m beyond pissed off.  You should not be using optical connections to your Venus.  You should not be worrying about converting HDMI from your Oppo to anything.  Your priorities are all messed up and you need to totally rethink what you’re doing here.

I2S is not a “fool’s errand,” and that’s just a stupid and uninformed thing to say.

Some of my DVD-A do sound better thru optical. And again, Optical does not pass DSD, so I need HDMI to I2s.

Sorry, but you’re completely lost and out in the weeds here and I’m done.  Listen to Alvin — he’ll set you straight.