USB DACs that outperforms OPPO 105D's internal DAC?

The Oppo is getting older now and DAC's have come a long way in the last few years. I'd bet a good many newer DAC's will out perform the internal one in the Oppo.

Schiit Audio, a whole host of Asian DAC's, and so many more. I'd bet any DAC above $300 will out perform the internal DAC.  R2R / multi-bit is what i would look for if it was me. 

The other option is a dedicated streamer that can organize your files / meta data. They can organize all your files/meta data much easier then laptops and External DAC's and players and simplifies the whole lot. 

I use a PSAudio DSD Dac. I feed it with a macmini using Audirvana which removes all of Apples audio fuckery. I use macbook and ipad as a remote, and it works great. Since you’re using USB, I would remove the PSAudio’s bridge (everything sounds better without it in the system). Also Supra usb cables are worth the little bit of extra dough.

PS Audio sells the DSD dac for $3,000 presently.

Just my 8cents.

Good luck !

TD

Thanks for your replay.

I'm leaning to Bluesound Node N130. It fits my budget and looks like I can use a tablet to browse the music, and also I can use Qobuz or Spotify.

Is it considered as a dedicated streamer? 

Thanks for technical details link.

I will read through and hope that I understand them thoroughly.

@tonydennison -- just curious -- why are you recommending a $3,000 DAC to a fellow that asked for suggestions under $1,000?

@mlsstl  Just to get a response from you. Oh and if the manufacturer is selling something for $3K, I can imagine a civilian selling one for $1.5K. 

Hey, wait a minute.....that's not a real badge!

@tonydennison -- have to admit that 50% over the top line of the OP's budget is better than 200%.

Always entertaining to read these forums.

@mlsstl 

😃

Just get a streamer. Life will be better. You can use tidal connect (and others) and be done with it. Tidal connect will let you use your phone, tablet or computer to pick songs. When you click on them the streamer is actually pulling and playing the data.

I have never heard the blue sound node but the ifi stream is $400 and sound better according to these guys (link below). I am using one and it was easy to setup and has had no trouble. The only add thing is sometimes after I connect I have to skip a track before it plays when booted up. Amazon sells them, if you don’t like it send it back. 

https://youtu.be/PP1Zsh078nU?si=xw7KdDaqkatP-NtS

It’s not really a question of what under $1k dac will sound better than the oppo as much as what under $1k dac won’t sound better than the oppo.  One of the reasons I put off getting into serious streaming was the poor sq I got when streaming Tidal with my 105.  It wasn’t until I finally broke down and bought my first “real” dac did I realize what streaming was all about.

@ihcho-

I went through this years ago and understand your concerns with the Oppo. The Schiit Bifrost is a popular dac and retails for around $800- there are others out there as well. I cannot recommend Topping. 
If you go DNLA with your Oppo you can pick up a solid state usb drive for a good price, transfer your music files to it and use your IPad with the Oppo media control app to browse your files and control playback (no need for TV display). It’s kind of antiquated now but it will work until you make your decisions on other gear.

Personally I would lean towards a device that allows you to rip your music to an internal drive (as mentioned above) and that handles D/A conversion as well. Keep your Oppo for playing movies- 

Thanks for all comments.

Now I have more idea about playing music from USB drives and which devices are to look at under my budget.

@mlsstl 

I think it became a trend, maybe to show off how expensive stuff on has 🙄

Used Gustard R26 or Musician Pegasus would be the 2 dacs I would look at for around a grand. 

I put a $799 D.BOB with my used $200 OPPO. The OPPO has a bit of mechanical noise and what I have is a low-end device.

The D.BOB takes HDMI out from the OPPO and allows me to route decoded SACD DSD and CD into my DAC of choice. In my case, a $2200 Schitt Yggi+ Less is More.

This is an excellent way to keep your disc around and also stream.

The Ygggi+ is interesting in that it sounds great and also has 3 outputs. I have 2 headphone amps hooked up by RCA and my 2-channel Benchmark LA4 preamp taking XLR out from the Yggi+. I have Sonore OpticalRendu providing a beautiful fibre stream to the the Yggi+.

I can stream and listen to disks on all the 3 endpoints.

ihcho

I did not like Oppo 105D DAC either. I suspect any other DAC will better it.

Happy Listening!

An old thread, but I just want to say that I got Node N130, and indeed it sounds better than OPPO 105D DAC.

Also, the app that comes with Node is very good and now I can easily access my music with iPhone/iPAD.

@ihcho I have the Oppo 105 no D. I access songs quickly, via phone, using the Oppo app. I run the Oppo digital out to an Ayre Codex DAC. Recently bought an Aurender N200 streamer. It sounds better than the Oppo hooked to the same Ayre DAC. Probably not the Oppo's fault. This is comparing a superb optical cable to USB on the Aurender. 

Enjoy your new streamer,

aldnorab