auxinput
Platinum Eclipse
Platinum Eclipse
Oppo 105 with DIY LPM is a giant killer (no dac needed)
Responding to the many "which dac?" question threads and making the following basic comment over and over, I felt I should post a separate thread for it
Over the decades I have owned a lot of transport dac combos as well as cd players that could serve double duty as a transport to which I connected various outboard dacs. Being very interested in SACDs and DVD-As, I bought a new Oppo 105 ~ 8 years ago, strictly to play them. So both were in the system at all times as I toggled between red book and hi-rez formats
The reviewers consistent knock on the 105 was the power supply. Several years ago I was using a Pioneer PD65 with Musical Concepts mod that included an outboard power supply. I upgraded the dacs, but eventually used it as a transport. Finally, the PD 65 laser died and was no longer made. So, while I researched a replacement I used my unmoded 105 for redbook too. After a lot of searching, I settled on a Marantz HD CD -1 for redbook playback. It had very good reviews and had most of the outs needed to use it as a transport, if/when needed. My preamp was a Audio Alchemy DDP1 ($1995), at that time sans PS 5 outboard PS ($695), which is a HUGE improvement over the DDP-1 without it. Go figure: LOL).
Many months later, I stumbled across Linear Power Supplies on Ebay for various Oppo cd players. I had no idea that upgraded Linear Power Modules existed, let alone that they were simple DIY screw in replacements for the OEM ps, let alone that there was a number of companies making them. One company offers a number of LPMs at various price points from ~ $200-$500 (sorry I don't recall which one) provides super easy to follow photos. Also available are upgraded IECs with silver tails that connect to either the stock or upgraded LPMs. Like many of you, I was hesitant to dive in with both feet, but started by replacing the OEM IEC and a jumper to bypass the 110/220 switch. There were lots of choices, but settled on the Furutech Rhodium EIC with pure silver tail that snaps on the old or new board, and a jumper to bypass the 110/220 switch.I was so shocked at what that alone did, I bought a ~ $250 LPM . Later, I learned it sounds even better without the metal cover, which I then did. If you're concerned about dust getting into it, I bought a cheap air conditioning filter for my amp, but my 105 is pretty isolated
The result was so amazing I decided to bypass my DDP-1, which now had the outboard PS. IMHO, it was every bit as good as having the $2700 highly reviewed AA in the system, and likely better as I eliminated a power cord and a cable, both of which can affect the sound. In this case Less is More
For ~ $400 you will be amazed
hth
Over the decades I have owned a lot of transport dac combos as well as cd players that could serve double duty as a transport to which I connected various outboard dacs. Being very interested in SACDs and DVD-As, I bought a new Oppo 105 ~ 8 years ago, strictly to play them. So both were in the system at all times as I toggled between red book and hi-rez formats
The reviewers consistent knock on the 105 was the power supply. Several years ago I was using a Pioneer PD65 with Musical Concepts mod that included an outboard power supply. I upgraded the dacs, but eventually used it as a transport. Finally, the PD 65 laser died and was no longer made. So, while I researched a replacement I used my unmoded 105 for redbook too. After a lot of searching, I settled on a Marantz HD CD -1 for redbook playback. It had very good reviews and had most of the outs needed to use it as a transport, if/when needed. My preamp was a Audio Alchemy DDP1 ($1995), at that time sans PS 5 outboard PS ($695), which is a HUGE improvement over the DDP-1 without it. Go figure: LOL).
Many months later, I stumbled across Linear Power Supplies on Ebay for various Oppo cd players. I had no idea that upgraded Linear Power Modules existed, let alone that they were simple DIY screw in replacements for the OEM ps, let alone that there was a number of companies making them. One company offers a number of LPMs at various price points from ~ $200-$500 (sorry I don't recall which one) provides super easy to follow photos. Also available are upgraded IECs with silver tails that connect to either the stock or upgraded LPMs. Like many of you, I was hesitant to dive in with both feet, but started by replacing the OEM IEC and a jumper to bypass the 110/220 switch. There were lots of choices, but settled on the Furutech Rhodium EIC with pure silver tail that snaps on the old or new board, and a jumper to bypass the 110/220 switch.I was so shocked at what that alone did, I bought a ~ $250 LPM . Later, I learned it sounds even better without the metal cover, which I then did. If you're concerned about dust getting into it, I bought a cheap air conditioning filter for my amp, but my 105 is pretty isolated
The result was so amazing I decided to bypass my DDP-1, which now had the outboard PS. IMHO, it was every bit as good as having the $2700 highly reviewed AA in the system, and likely better as I eliminated a power cord and a cable, both of which can affect the sound. In this case Less is More
For ~ $400 you will be amazed
hth
14 responses Add your response
In my own experience, and with my own external DAC, I have proven this not to be true. Or to put it another way, the "glare," probably produced by jitter, is taken care of in some good measure by the better clock in the DAC. Not to mention the "transistor glare" of an inexpensively constructed IC analog section. abraxalito commented on this already using a technical explanation. However, since I used my 103 only for a digital transport, I compared audio on BOTH the HDMI output as well as the S/PDIF output. Before / after the linear power supply upgrade. There is a significant reduction in digital glare when linear power supply was put in. While in your situation, a better external DAC improved things, but it is likely the rest of your system is not revealing this "digital glare" detail from the Oppo. |
melm Of course a lot more can be done to a 105. HOWEVER, my point is to let people know that they can do a simple (and significant) DIY upgrade for a LOT less than ~ < $2000 dacs, and as was mentioned, should a 105 owner decide to use it as a trans only, they will still benefit GREATLY from upgrading the PS |
"However, there is still a "digital glare" present when using the Oppo strictly as a transport to send digital output to an external DAC." In my own experience, and with my own external DAC, I have proven this not to be true. Or to put it another way, the "glare," probably produced by jitter, is taken care of in some good measure by the better clock in the DAC. Not to mention the "transistor glare" of an inexpensively constructed IC analog section. In any event, playing disks is not the way to get the best sound out of digital files. So putting another $400 or so into a power supply to run an Oppo transport is not the way to go for the highest quality sound. (I say this with a caveat as there are multi kilobuck players that I have not experienced and have no need for.) Just one person's opinion. |
IMO far more effective, and cost effective, to use an external dac than to modify an Oppo. It also preserves its resale value. That may be true for the analog section. However, there is still a "digital glare" present when using the Oppo strictly as a transport to send digital output to an external DAC. The linear power supply upgrade fixes this. |
auxinput For the Oppo BDP-103, yes it was a simple DIY of just replacing the switching power supply module with a linear power supply from "oppomod.com" (just like you did with your 105). In my writing, I also upgraded the power supply for my DirecTV Genie box (which required some customization / electronics work). |
At the moment I use my Oppo 105 only to play videos and as a go-between my computer and a TV. It makes a great digital renderer by the way and I was using it as one for DLNA before I got something better. CDs and SACDs are copied to a hard disk. I agree that power supply is important. The external DAC I use has two 50 watt transformers and 13 groups of rectification. But power supply is not all there is to sound quality. Among other things are more precise clocks at the DAC chip and at inputs, and improved analog stages which should probably include discrete rather than IC components. Also more effective shielding of components from the power supply. If you want to take digital to a higher level, it is more complicated than you have made it. IMO far more effective, and cost effective, to use an external dac than to modify an Oppo. It also preserves its resale value. |
I see you have the 105. Even though the 105 have a linear power supply for analog output stage, it still uses switching power supply for feeding digital transport and DSP. Upgrading this switching power supply to a linear will really improves sound and remove a lot of glare. I did a big write-up on this a couple years ago here. |
Well, well, well... this just might take my 105 over the top. Scroll down to DSP2.0 https://www.underwoodhifi.com/products/dspeaker |