Oppo Vs Esoteric

Thanks folks for your inputs. I am wondering if I should spend the big dollars on a unit like the Esoteric or get the Oppo for now and then spend on a outboard DAC like the Bryston or the Holo, later next year. I plan to upgrade the loudspeakers soon and have allocated a good chunk of the budget for it.

Thanks guys. I plan to visit about 5-6 shops today and see how I go about choosing a loudspeaker and what budget it leaves me for the digital player. With all the feedback that was provided, there is not a 0.0001% doubt in my mind that the Oppo can better any dedicated CD player. But the option of using the Opportunity as a transport for a outboard DAC is also tempting.
How would a outboard DAC like Bryston BDA3 compare to the Esoteric or Marantz or Luxman?

During the visits to the 5-6 dealers, I did not find a single system using either Esoteric or Marantz or Ayre SACD players. Mostly it was CD players (MBL, Simaudio, Rega) or streamer/DACs (Naim, McIntosh, etc). I have not yet made up my mind on this one, but I do prefer a disc spinner over a streamer.

Thanks for the folks. While it looks like the Oppo is not a giant killer, it is a great bargain for the price. My choice will be dependent on the loudspeaker I end up with, because the budget will set the purchase decision. Besides, it looks like a few DACs now-a-days have the HDMI option. So the Oppo can be used as a transport. I don't know of any other transport that has HDMI out for DACs like Bryston BDA-3, Holo or the Vinshine Denafrips DACs.

gdhal,
From page 60 of the Oppo manual it states the following:

SETUP MENU OPTIONS61•DSD – SACD Direct Stream Digital (DSD) data is output over HDMI without any conversion. For the analog audio outputs, DSD data is converted into an analog signal directly by the internal DAC. If you use a receiver that supports HDMI v1.2a with DSD over HDMI, or you prefer the sound quality of straight DSD to analog, please select this option.

I read on Audiocircle that some folks have done this.

So, I got my Oppo UDP-205 about 10 days back and been listening to it, when ever I get a chance. For the first few days, I let it "run in". Have probably about 120 hours on it. I find it strange - I find this player a bit too smooth, even from day one. Not sure if anyone else experienced this. I distinctly remember the Esoteric+Canton room from AXPONA this year. That system sounded super hi-fi and the "highs" were super extended, even at low volume. Of course, the cabling in that system was probably more than the entire cost of my current system. So, is that the difference between the Oppo and the Esoteric players? Mind you, it was not the lower end Esoterics at AXPONA. It was some $20+k system with a transport and DAC. One thing I should mention that, I did update my player with the latest firmware.

@gdhal ,
I have 0% use for the Oppo as a video player. The Oppo is in a dedicated listening room without any video playback. In fact all the setups on the Oppo can be done via the app - so no video required. I have set up the Oppo for 2-channel listening. I have not paid much attention to the DACs, it is on the default setting.
But this does not mean that I am regretting my choice. I really like the Oppo. It is just that I am not finding it as harsh as folks make it out to be.

@2psyop ,
I don't think that the Oppo is a hype at all. It makes some beautiful music.The price to performance ratio is pretty high. My point was, is sounding "hi-fi" really what people call the "real deal", or is it sounding smooth that is the "real deal". This player does not sound bright as some people make it to be. I think people make up their minds based on other's experience, or what they heard.

@shadorne ,
I will be getting the ProAc D48Rs. Yes, I do understand what you are saying. The ProAcs are a B--I--I--I--I--I--G stretch for me. But the idea was to do it right after spending so much time and money on a speaker that I was looking for, for the past 2 years.

@shadorne ,
I was listening to Jennifer Warne's "The Well" SACD last night and it sounded so good. I have not heard it so musical and detailed, even with my older Marantz SA-8260, which is considered warm.

@1graber2 ,
I am wondering how much better is the Esoteric/Marantz/Luxman than the Oppo. I am pretty happy with what the Oppo is doing in my system.