Oppo BDP105 first impressions review.
I await my bashing from other users now lol 
I sincerely hope this does not happen.
You gave your considered view based on what you heard, and nobody really has the right to tell you what you should like.
It also serves as a warning, that purchasing (anything) purely on reviews may not work out in practice.
+1
Indeed, if we all based our purchases purely on reviews, then we would all own the same kit.
It seems the site/forum was having problems earlier and my review didnt appear 
Apologies for that.
So yes i would like to share my impressions of playing with my new Oppo 105 all day whilst doing some listening tests against the unit it replaces which is a Denon DBP2012ud of only 12months old. This review will focus solely on the 2 channel audio quality while listening through HDMI from both players. I admit to have tried neither through analog outs as yet only HDMI - though i'd like to do this as i expect the difference from using the Sabre DAC in the 105 output via XLR into a proper integrated amp to sound better - surely the main point of buying a 105 over 103. The two players are connected to a Pioneer SC-LX85 av processor/amp and the speakers are Monitor Audio RX6 floorstanders. HDMI calbes are identical and both good quality. Expectations having read such rave reviews online and on forums are high.....
Started by listening to a favorite album of mine Pawn Hearts by Van Der Graaf Generator on CD. Immediately noticed the treble to be more prominent than the Denon but surprisingly not in a good way. Sure its quite a harsh recording (for those who have heard it) and the Oppo does nothing to hide the fact and perhaps over emphasises it. I also thought the timing of the record to be slight out and then it came to me the main critisism of the Oppo 103 in what -hi-fi review where they seemed to mention it didint time well with music. I simply dont remember not enjoying the three amazing tracks on this VDGG album ever before??
Promptly i moved onto another favourite CD... Nursery Cryme by Genesis. There are a number of tracks with some rhythmic but complex drumming which i figured would be a great test of both units 'timing'. Again the Oppo sounds brighter though acceptable on this recording but almost harsh again. More worryingly where the Denon has me tapping my feet and playing imaginary drum kit i just found the Oppo lost all the subtleties in the rhythms and stopped me tapping away and i was suddenly finding it hard to listen too for more than a few minutes! I have gone back and forth between each player for hours and i am so far very disappointed by what ive heard.
I now have a predicament of whether to return the unit as i bought online or try the analog outs but i must admit the disappointment so far has made me wonder whether to bother keeping it any longer. For the same money i can have a dedicated SACD player (one with warm rich sound like MArantz Pearl lite) and seperate Blu ray player. I think i have discovered that when you pair notoriously bright/forward sounding components together it doesnt help as the Pioneer amp and Monitor Audio speakers are guilty of some brightness though no other source has pushed them into harshness as the Oppo has before.
I have learned a lesson today also which is preached on these forums daily which is to always try and make sure to demo such expensive equipment
Getting the opposite from your review.. Even the first week the machine was still sounding bright. Into the 2nd week everything now sounds relaxed & musical..
Try the analogues,i very much doubt you will be dissapointed,as you have said the dacs are thestand out feature on the 105.
I too found mine to improve in sq over a few weeks of playback,(don't understand why)but i was also running in some new speakers.
I wonder how the sound compares to the Cyrus CD8SE? I need to replace my Pioneer LX-52 and I'm just wondering if I should go down the one box route? Any thoughts?
The only way to find out is do an audition trebor.. I really like the sound of the oppo but no one can really suggest sound to another. I use mine as transport & for blueray & 3D .. You may find this hard to believe but i get a better result from connecting a solid state hard drive to one of the USB inputs on the oppo 105 when listening to music. I use plug & play software to control via phone hand set.
It will also depend on what purpose you need it for.
I say go have a listen.
Hello I'm about to purchase a 105 and id like your advice.
Im still trying to figure ot the best connections for best Audio and Video: Display LG 9600 55 Marantz SR7005 Squeezebox touch Currently hooked into AVR via RCA Apple TV currently hooked into AVR via HDMI Verizon Fios hooked into AVR vis HDMI. Thanks again.
I have auditioned at length both the BDP-103 and the BDP-105.
You can read my thoughts on my blog regarding these two fantastic units at
There is something I don't really get here. If you are auditioning a top end player's 2 channel sound quality, why on earth would you take the signal output from an HDMI source? The Oppo 105 has a far superior power supply and DACs than your AV Amp and so if you are taking a digital sound source from the player, you aren't really auditioning it at all. All the music translation is being done by your amp! If you are going to take an audio output out of a player digitally there is little point buying a player like the Oppo.
I have a 105 and take the audio out via the 7.1 audio RCAs. I was replacing an old Arcam DVD player and the improvement in sound was dramatic.
You could try the Cambridge Audio CA752 which is very similar, maybe not so bright and £200 cheaper.
In my demo it seemed better than the Roksan K2 cd player.
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It's a shame there's no 'Source Direct' option on the Sky box, so that 576i material could be upscaled completely by the Oppo without having to be upscaled to 1080i by the Sky box.
Leave Sky box at "auto" so it doesn't upscale.
Thanks, I'd assumed the auto option just checked your tv's capabilities resolution wise.
Naim Nait XS | Monitor Audio RX6 | J River MC18 | Teac UD-501 DAC | Oppo BDP-105 | Pioneer PDP-LX5090 | Yamaha YSP-4100 | BK XLS300/PR Sub | Chord Odyssey 2