I have been using DACs since the early days of digital. Audio Alchemy, California Audio Labs, Theta, PS Audio, etc....I've had many, some great and some not so great. Most of the time it was a decent upgrade. And then DACs went out of fashion, but I kept using them because my digital sources sounded better and I valued the DAC as a hub for those devices.
But if you buy a 205 you will get a player with the latest chipset and a good analog stage. Down the road if you want to add a DAC it will still be a good disc spinner.
It's hard to find a universal "transport" that doesn't break the bank which led me to buy an OPPO 103D. It is a great machine that sounds pretty good but the reason I bought it was to pair it with my DAC. I would buy another OPPO in a heartbeat, most likely a 205.....or a "305" because I will run the 103 til it dies.
But if you buy a 205 you will get a player with the latest chipset and a good analog stage. Down the road if you want to add a DAC it will still be a good disc spinner.
It's hard to find a universal "transport" that doesn't break the bank which led me to buy an OPPO 103D. It is a great machine that sounds pretty good but the reason I bought it was to pair it with my DAC. I would buy another OPPO in a heartbeat, most likely a 205.....or a "305" because I will run the 103 til it dies.