Barriers to Computer Audio

[Norton]

Yes there are lots if options, but you shouldn't see these as barriers.

 

Your Oppo95 is an ideal tool to start exploring those options as it can be used as a USB DAC, or as a renderer, or to play files from network shares or attached USB storage.

 

So, rip your CDs to your PC using dbpoweramp (if you wish) , put your PC and the Oppo on the home network (wired or wireless), set your PC music folder as a network share and use the Oppo app (on iPad etc) to pull files from your PC to play on the Oppo, or do the same for files copied to thumbdrive etc plugged directly into Oppo. If you don't have an iPad etc, then use the TV screen and Oppo remote.

 

If you wish, install Jriver on the PC, import your music to its library then either connect PC directly to Oppo DAC via USB, or use JRiver as a DLNA server to push music to the Oppo as the DLNA renderer over network. In this case you can control things either from PC screen and keyboard or via the excellent JRemote app in either scenario to send music from PC to Oppo.

 

Once you've tried out the various option you can decide which suits you best and choose future kit at that point. But I'll whisper this last bit quietly on this site, in my experience these options differ more in terms of convenience than final SQ. Similarly, while the Oppo isn't the last word in SQ, don't necessarily expect radical improvements in SQ simply by using other more specialist or expensive kit.

[Norton]

Apologies,

 

On second thoughts I think my post above is wrong (it's been a while since I owned a 95).

It's the Oppo 105 that can do all those things, I think maybe that the 95 can't be used as a renderer or USB DAC. Playing from network shares or USB drives is still a good place to start though

[Norton]

Actually, almost all current USB DACs sound better with their USB input than with the Coaxial or Optical inputs. (shrug) USB protocols and S/PDIF protocols are not that dissimilar.

 

Each to his or her own, but that's not my experience. From BDP2 Coaxial bettered USB whether into my Hugo, Oppo or Esoteric DACs, each of which pass for "current"', albeit it's the Oppo EU rather than D .

 

Of course this says as much (more even?) about the source than it does the DAC.

[Norton]

Interesting, I get the opposite results with my Oppo, but I don't have a Hugo or Esoteric here to compare to.

 

I wonder if you put a REGEN or even an iFI Power in front of them, what the difference, if any, would be?

 

-Paul

 

I have no experience with the Regen, but if it did indeed eliminate (to my ears) the SQ gap between Coaxial and USB it would certainly be a top value upgrade. However, as I'm quite happy with Coaxial (noting that the BDP also outputs DoP via Coaxial or AES) there's no incentive for me to try, unless USB via Regen is likely to better the BDP's Coaxial which I'm guessing is unlikely. I could be wrong of course...