SACD/CD player update


i have invested on analog for a long time. From vinyl to Reel to Reel, VPI turn table to tube preamp. But sometime i looked at my shelf, there are still over hundreds of SACD and red book CD over there. also some Hi-def in my hard drive. I only have an Oppo 105 to play them. I wonder if it worth to invest on a better player. Thinking about Esoteric, but i never do  A-B comparison and don't know how much i can gain. I'd like to hear some advice. Thank you.
cygnus_859

Showing 1 response by melm

I also have an Oppo 105 and would never consider a mod. First of all, if you mod you will never get anywhere near your money back if you sell. And what is the life expectancy of a disk player anyway? Modwright mods begin at $2500. (Apparently Ric Schultz is no longer doing the 105s.) There is absolutely no reason that you cannot do as well, and IMO better, with that money on a separate DAC. For a reasonable price there is a universe of options out there competing for your money. At a minimum, your Oppo can output to the spdif of a fine DAC. No reason IMO to get a new player.

But in the long run, what you might consider doing, in addition to buying a separate DAC, is lifting your audio quality by ripping your CDs (and with the help of your Oppo, your SACDs) and not playing them as disks, but as files. They will sound better. Hearing my ripped DSD files through a really good DAC is a particular audio pleasure.

I still use my Oppo to play video, but with the sound through the separate DAC, but my audio goes straight from a hard disk through a lap-top to the DAC. I also use my Oppo to preview disks, but if I like them they are ripped right away and all digital music controlled from a phone.