It is ironic that the streaming feature they dropped from the latest geration is exactly what could have saved them. Streaming, after all, is what is killing disc sales and what led to Best Buy’s decision to no longer sell CDs. I own a BDP-83 and a 103. I didn’t buy the 103 for streaming but it is pretty much all I use it for these days. And streaming is my main listening method now, I no longer invest in SACD. I recently decided that the 103 is the last disc player I will buy and it’s replacement will be a music streamer of some sort if it ever fails. I’ve researched a few dedicated streamers and some of the prices are out of my acceptable range. Wouldn’t it have been fantastic if Oppo had entered that market and made a dedicated music streaming device at their affordable prices? They would have had my money with enthusiasm.
I would add that Oppo products haven’t been bullet proof in my personal experience. They’re really good for the price, but not on the gilded pedestal some are placing them on. The 83’s had a well known issue with the disc tray. I had to send mine in for replacement and was charged for the replacement of the defective part they sold me. It also used to skip quite a bit when it would play. And I never loved the audio quality of their players, but I was in their entry level range so I guess that’s fine.
