I think it is commonly suggested that these decoding chips.... 9018, 9038, etc represent computing power that ultimately shows up in very good resolution and musicality but only if everything else in the signal control is well done: transformers, capacitors, rf shielding, clock etc.
Therefore, a well implemented 9018 or 9028 can exceed the performance of a poorly implemented 9038... as evidence... it is often stated that ess chips are generally brighter than those of other chip makers...which I suspect is implementation and a desire to maximize the absolute resolution capability of the ess chip.
I suspect that oppo was careful to make sure that the 203 and 205 sounded the way they wanted them to sound. It would not not be surprising if someone like Rega, or Naim, or Parasound, to name just a few, liscenced aspects of the oppo intellectual property if there appears to be enough demand going forward.
In in the mean time, the question remains... would you buy a Rega, Marantz, Music Hall, Vincent, Nad, etc CD player to replace your current player/oppo if it died..or would you go cd transport + dac to give you a better overall option and if so.... what would you choose?
