Something sounds amiss here?
1-The 103 has 7.1 channel outputs.
2-The XPA5 is only 5 channels (are you using 2 from the yamaha?)
3-The Oppo should sound better than the yamaha's processing.
4-After listening to CD's through the Oppo/Emotiva, Pandora should sound lousy.
5-You only list 5 speakers, why are you using 7 channel mode?
6-Any 2 channel dac will only put out 2 channels...you would end up using some sort of matrix decoding to get more channels.
My Opinion: Take the Yamaha out of the equation and try the Oppo directly to the XPA5 amp. The Oppo volume control is actually quite nice. If you need more control I would still suggest you scrap the Yamaha and look at the Emotiva UMC200 pre/pro. In my opinion (as an owner of both oppo & emotiva gear).
1-The 103 has 7.1 channel outputs.
2-The XPA5 is only 5 channels (are you using 2 from the yamaha?)
3-The Oppo should sound better than the yamaha's processing.
4-After listening to CD's through the Oppo/Emotiva, Pandora should sound lousy.
5-You only list 5 speakers, why are you using 7 channel mode?
6-Any 2 channel dac will only put out 2 channels...you would end up using some sort of matrix decoding to get more channels.
My Opinion: Take the Yamaha out of the equation and try the Oppo directly to the XPA5 amp. The Oppo volume control is actually quite nice. If you need more control I would still suggest you scrap the Yamaha and look at the Emotiva UMC200 pre/pro. In my opinion (as an owner of both oppo & emotiva gear).