New OPPO DAC/Headphone AMP looks impressive

Couldn't resist - I purchased one intending to take advantage of the 30 day guarantee if I wasn't satisfied.

I was also looking at the Chord Hugo and Wyred for Sound SE.

Since this uses the same DAC as the 105 - could it be considered a bit outdated?

The fully balanced design should add substantially to the SQ as I would image simpler signal paths. Not sure if the 105 does the highest DSD and PCM rates either.

But it's true, there's probably too much feature overlap not to muddy the waters. If the only real distinction is analog and balanced inputs and more juice for certain headphones, this would have a very narrow audience.

I seriously doubt this is true and expect some major sound benefits over the 105 once the reviews hit. Ok maybe hoping more than expecting...lol

Good points. I'm just looking for a quality DAC for the stereo rig. Doesn't have to be portable. But I do want whatever will sound best overall. The feature that the gate arrays can be reprogrammed/updated is appealing.

You have to wonder to what extent that will happen since Chords (like everyone else's) first order of business is selling new model Chords. But if the Hugo out of the gate is clearly better that's all you need to know.

Looking forward to the day these gate arrayed DACs will have multiple configurations like DSP modes where they can be optimized to diffent system characteristics. More revealing, neutral, warm forgiving etc.

Finally got mine in the mail. Sadly waiting on the speakers so all I have in the house are Sony $60 pr from Walmart speakers. Wouldn't dare comment on SQ given no burn in and speakers. But it's very nicely designed with excel lent build features and design.

Much smaller but feels heavier than 105-D. Love the blu tooth and all other connectivity. Am using straight into a Cary SS amp and has plenty of gain. We'll see about SQ once my Veritys arrive but so far I like it. OPPO knows how to build it right.

The $60 Sony speakers are horrible sounding in general. Irritating tweeters, non-distinct boomy bass, nothing really positive. We're used for temp rear speakers in a 7.1 setup.

But I left the HA-1 to burn in for about 15 hours so far and there are big improvements from out of the box already. Aside from the obviously unrefined sounding tweeters etc, I'm actually getting some excellent depth, well balanced and coherent sound, surprising imaging, etc.

I won't know until the Parsifals show up, but with very little burn in, the preamp section has already improved considerably.

If this has the respectable preamp section I think it will, throw in a lower cost high value speakers and 2 channel amp (and a computer or iPod) and this could be the centerpiece of a very satisfying over performing mid-fi setup.

It might prove to be a weak link for the Cary electronics and Verity Parsifal speakers - but the juries still out. We'll see next week when the Parsifal's come knocking. I have the feeling it might hold its own.