Current Universal Players

@audiophileman 

I love my Cambridge Audio CXU universal player, that's a few years old but no longer available.  It decodes HDCD.  They're probably hard to find, but I chose it over the pricier Oppo players.  The CXU also streams YouTube, which is very nice.

I have an Oppo BDP-105 with EVS mods and an Ayre C-5xeMP. The Oppo decodes HDCD and has USB input, which I find invaluable.

I have nor compared them side by side except for red book CD and SACD. The Ayre MAY sound slightly mor pleasing on red book but I only have one CD in two copies. I prefer the Oppo in every other way. I should sell the Ayre.

Use Windows computer to rip the HDCDs to a hard drive. Iirc Microsoft bought the HDCD process. Music Bee decodes HDCD and rips to 24 bit. A HDCD capable DAC should play them.

Thanks,

aldnorab

I owned the OPPO 105D which had the HDCD chip and Darby. I put my name on the list for the last batch of 205's, and luckily, I was notified and purchased one. I sold my 105 to a friend. I miss Gracenote, which gave you a beautiful display of the cd that was playing, and the HDCD chip for decoding HDCD's. The 205 doesn't have either of these, but has slightly better sound and is 4K. I am very satisfied with the 205, But the 105 was very good too.

I use a Panasonic DP-UB9000 in the HT - excellent in all respects. Don't know about all the formats it does, though, so you might want to check that out.

Oppo 105D SADLY UNAVAILABLE NOW

As the man said----Oppo.

@ spenav

I'm not sure what the point of your post is but I think you don't understand the HDCD format. Yes, you can play an HDCD disc on a standard Redbook player but the player won't decode the HDCD information and provide the extra dynamic range. If you want to experience the advantage of the format you must have a CD player or a DAC that will decode it. It will have an HDCD logo and a light that will come on when it detects an HDCD disc.

@secretguy 

Berkeley Audio Design makes a range of DACs that all decode HDCD. They are expensive but they definitely support the format. One of the principles of the company is Pflash Pflaumer who was a co-inventor of the HDCD format. There are also lots of used players for sale that do HDCD.

I purchased a Marantz UD7007 universal player from a US seller on eBay a couple of years ago - it was little used, essentially new. I'm very happy with it since it offers XLR balanced out from it's internal DAC, and digital out to my main DAC, as well as two HDMI, which gives me options. SACD through the internal DAC and the XLR sounds good, but I got a HDMI to I2S conversion box to allow me to use my external DAC, just to see if "better" was possible. So far, no success in getting it to work. The transport seems decent - unlike my Sony UBP-X700, which chokes on some old DVDs.

@8th-note 

@secretguy 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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High Definition Compatible Digital

Media type	Optical disc
Capacity	Typically up to 700 MB
Read mechanism	780 nm wavelength semiconductor laser
Developed by	Pacific MicrosonicsInc./Microsoft
Usage	Audio storage
Extended from	Red Book Compact disc
Released	1995; 27 years ago High Definition Compatible Digital (HDCD) is a proprietary audio encode-decode process that claims to provide increased dynamic range over that of standard Compact Disc Digital Audio, while retaining backward compatibility with existing compact disc players.

Keep your 205 and buy a great red book dac. The sound of red book will be so far superior what you have, my guess is you will forget SACD.  But you will still have the ability to play any of those discs. There are plenty of threads on Rockna, Holo, Denafrips.  Spend 5k or more and the upgrade will be amazing IMO.  

I love HDCDs...far more than SACDs....but nothing decodes them anymore.

Look for a used Marantz UD7006 or UD5007 Universal player, they pretty much play every format you mentioned, and then some.  I have both in different systems and very happy that I decided to purchase them.before being discontinued. 

There's also the Sony UBP-X700 and what might be the Oppo-killer: Reavon UBR-X110 at $999. If you want to listen to DSD off SACDs, and hi-res PCM off other discs through an external DAC, then you need a GeerFab Audio D.BOB www.geerfabaudio.com, available at the major US dealers. I invented it because I was dissatisfied with the internal DACs of players.

I’m regards to Oppo output with various sources look at the following item. The GearFab Breakout Box. Sorry for lack of a link, but I’m lame. Regards, Mike. 

I think your problem is going to be HDCD.. I don't know of any new players that decode this format. I have two players and a DAC that will do HDCD because I collect CDs with this format and I can hear the difference when the HDCD is decoded. You may have to end up with two boxes if HDCD is important to you.

IIRC the Oppo 205 doesn't do HDCD (please correct me if I'm wrong). If you are into high end vintage gear there are some really nice players from the mid 90's through about 2010 that do HDCD. I have found it interesting that the SQ of these decades-old players holds up amazingly well compared to modern high end digital gear.

McIntosh MCT 500 transport or the mc550. Stay with a well made reputable and fixable player! My MCT transport also plays usb dsd files. Great if you have your own dac. 

Reavon UBR-X200 4K Ultra details from reavon.usa.com

audiophileman

Good advice as above. There has never been a better time to purchase Universal Players. Best practice, whichever brand/model considered, contact an Authorized repair center to check available Critical parts.  The Classics never go out of vogue.

Happy Listening!

@audiophileman 

When you are ready to sell your Oppo 205, please give the right of first offer.

@curiousjim 

HDCD is backward compatible with any CD player. 

The Oppo outputs DSD only over HDMI 

+1 @mahler123 

Sony has a few that will do everything but HDCD. I have the UBX 800 in the den’s 5.1 system. 
 

All the best JD

I didn't think the Oppo's would output DSD.

I use a 105 into a Bryston DAC3 over HDMI.  The Oppo is programmed to out DSD from SACD and Blu Rays.  Sonically you would have a hard time matching that

I guess I should have mentioned that I currently have a Oppo 205 but was thinking of going "big time".

Sony still makes Universal Players.  UBX 800 comes to mind.  Check the Crutchfield site.  I would also check Yamaha

cambridge audio makes a well-regarded oppo-based bdp which does dvda and sacd (not sure about hdcd). personally, i'd cheap out and go used--a lot of these overbuilt older lexicon/meridian/denon players can be had for pennies on the dollar.

Thanks.  I'll check it out.

You're right that the universal disc player is becoming a dying breed. One current option is the McIntosh MVP-901, although I'm not sure if it does HDCD.