Interesting market dynamic / OPPO 205 UDP

[thedudeabides]

I discovered that the OPPO 205 UDP 4K disc player, which is no longer being made and had a MSRP of $1,299 when the company stopped production approx. 2 years ago, is now bringing $3,500 for a used unit on Ebay. Amazon is selling a new unit for $4,800. Any explanations / thoughts?

 

[tmallin]

Supply and demand, I suppose. For those whose primary music source is optical disc, it was the best sounding of the Oppo disc players (I owned most every version Oppo made) for those discs it could play, which was most.

The earlier 105D was actually the most versatile player Oppo ever made, however, since it provided access to many streaming services (including Tidal) and decoded HDCD discs, two things the UDP-205 could not do. Late in the production run Oppo added MQA decoding to the UDP-205, however, so if you had fed a streamer into its USB audio jack, the 205's DAC would provide full MQA decoding out of the Oppo's analog outputs. I did not think it did a very good job of that, however, preferring the Auralic Aries G2's MQA decoding (even though it was not a licensed MQA decoder), and my current Lumin X1 has far superior MQA sound.

In addition, the UDP-205 is one of the best DVD and Blu-Ray players in terms of video quality, at least up through the 4k video standard.

The choices Oppo made in dropping HDCD decoding and direct access to streaming services were probably market driven. Most of the best recent DA chips don't handle HDCD decoding. And since there are software programs (such as dB Poweramp) which decode HDCD when you rip the disc to a file, you could feed the 205 computer audio files already decoded from your networked hard drive. As to streaming services, today those have migrated to dedicated streamers or to receivers and amps. If you want to, you can feed the digital output of a computer or streamer into the Oppo's digital audio inputs and let the 205's DAC decode the stream.

Today, I would not buy the UDP-205 at these inflated prices. I've moved on, as have many or most, to sourcing music from computer files on my local network or from internet streaming services. Today, the Lumin X1, fed from my network computer and internet, is the only audio source box I need in my greatly simplified audio system. The Lumin has a volume control so it acts as my "preamp" and directly feeds my amps, which drive my speakers.

 

[dan31]

As Tom said, if you spin discs it is a fine unit. I use it for movies and some early morning listening via the headphone output. I think it was a bargain at the retail price. I would not pay the current inflated prices.

 

[NorthStar]

I discovered that the OPPO 205 UDP 4K disc player, which is no longer being made and had a MSRP of $1,299 when the company stopped production approx. 2 years ago, is now bringing $3,500 for a used unit on Ebay. Amazon is selling a new unit for $4,800. Any explanations / thoughts?

It is still a bargain @ $5,000 US compared to other lesser players that sell for more. IMHO

But, there is another Universal 4K Blu-ray player out there, not as good as the 205 in performance and features but not too shabby either...the Pioneer Elite LX500 for $1,000

And for strictly 4K HDR picture quality, the Panasonic 9000 also for $1,000

For one player the 205 is still the best, regardless of cost. IMO

 

[Barry2013]

Ebay Uk has a new unopened 205 for sale for £1.6k from a private rseller Only 19 hrs left if anybody is interested

 

[redandgold]

The Oppo is the only all-in-one high quality universal disc spinner. Here in europe and in japan a lot of people still love spinning discs. And if you look after a solution which plays Blu-ray, SACD and CD at a high standard the options are few. Denon/Marantz is out, Sony and Panasonic don‘t have the same standard and the only actual alternative Pioneer was long time out of stock (why ever ). And Oppo has together with Pioneer the only enhanced analog section. But Oppo has in contrary to Pioneer streaming capabilities and plays Roon. So the available Oppos get rare.

Last fall I had the same decision problems and I didn‘t find an adequate alternative to Oppo. So by good luck my dealer got the last two remaining players in the warehouse of european distributor. I ordered one and gave the order to tune my player to a level where this player can compete easily with CD players in the five figures range. Once it is ready I will report in a thread at Oppo section of WBF.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

The earlier 105D was actually the most versatile player Oppo ever made, however, since it provided access to many streaming services (including Tidal) and decoded HDCD discs, two things the UDP-205 could not do.

Yes. In addition, the 105(D) was also one of the Oppos that could be used to rip SACDs and that function is not available on the 205

 

[rando]

Oppo has a flat service rate of $100 (or lower) on out of warranty equipment. I've been tempted to pick up a 105d and eat that to get it fully tested and re-certified. In the long run probably a good investment to get the parts with known issues replaced.

 

[NorthStar]

Very true about the Oppo 105(D), but the 205 adds 4K UHD Picture with Dolby Vision and HDR10 and HLG, and also superior sound from a superior analog section and DAC.

If you want to rip SACDs and HDCD support just use your old 103(D), or buy a used one on eBay.

IMO

 

[Addicted to hifi]

i use the 105 still
and it’s a excellent player for the money.

 

[astrotoy]

Yes. In addition, the 105(D) was also one of the Oppos that could be used to rip SACDs and that function is not available on the 205

That is why I bought a 105, in case my PlayStation 3 stopped working and I needed a back up to rip my SACDs. Larry

 

[analyzer]

That is why I bought a 105, in case my PlayStation 3 stopped working and I needed a back up to rip my SACDs. Larry

Me too I bought a 105d in the used market for multiple services; dvd+blu-ray player and my first steps in the liquid music. Me and a friend ripped many many cd's now stored in a HD connected to Oppo and via analog XLR to my preamp.
Oppo and my CD player are both old now; they can't compete with the best high-end sources, neverthless I enjoy the overall result, next year I'll take advantage of Oppo features as a streamer; it's a pleasant versatile unit.
Marco

 

[Addicted to hifi]

It’s a pity oppo don’t make these players anymore or hifi for that matter.

 

[astrotoy]

Me too I bought a 105d in the used market for multiple services; dvd+blu-ray player and my first steps in the liquid music. Me and a friend ripped many many cd's now stored in a HD connected to Oppo and via analog XLR to my preamp.
Oppo and my CD player are both old now; they can't compete with the best high-end sources, neverthless I enjoy the overall result, next year I'll take advantage of Oppo features as a streamer; it's a pleasant versatile unit.
Marco

Do you rip SACD's with the Oppo? That is most important to me. I can easily rip CD's on my computer using dbpoweramp. However, SACD's need special software which a modified PlayStation 3 or the Oppo 105D has to get the hirez .iso files. Then I extract both the stereo and multichannel files to play - in DSD64. Larry

 

[analyzer]

Do you rip SACD's with the Oppo? That is most important to me. I can easily rip CD's on my computer using dbpoweramp. However, SACD's need special software which a modified PlayStation 3 or the Oppo 105D has to get the hirez .iso files. Then I extract both the stereo and multichannel files to play - in DSD64. Larry

Also my friend who assisted me used dbpoweramp; CD ripped only.
Usually I play SACD with my old player (Emmlabs CDSA-SE)

 

[stehno]

On a hunch, in 2014 I purchased the OPPO 105d and within 2 or 3 days of burn-in it was about on par with my $8500 Esoteric UX-3SE cdp. Within a few months and after exercising a few of the 105D's options the OPPO easily outperformed the Esoteric unit in perhaps every way - well, except for the bling.

This and a few other "upgrades" like this helped me to realize it's really not so much what we purchase but rather what we do with what we've already purchased that makes all the difference from a performance perspective.

 

[Addicted to hifi]

On a hunch, in 2014 I purchased the OPPO 105d and within 2 or 3 days of burn-in it was about on par with my $8500 Esoteric UX-3SE cdp. Within a few months and after exercising a few of the 105D's options the OPPO easily outperformed the Esoteric unit in perhaps every way - well, except for the bling.

This and a few other "upgrades" like this helped me to realize it's really not so much what we purchase but rather what we do with what we've already purchased that makes all the difference from a performance perspective.

Yep the oppo was amazing value.

 

[kodomo]

I have an Oppo 105D and now I am getting an 205. However, we will still need to stream netflix etc. and I also check some albums over Tidal. What would be the best option for streaming? Shall I get an apple TV for video streaming and use mconnect for Tidal or are there better options out there?