OPPO UDP-205 Ultra HD Audiophile Blu-ray Disc Player

Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 16th, 2017

Overall
(out of 5)

Gino Sassani

Gino Sassani is a member of the Southeastern Film Critic's Association (SEFCA) and The Critics Association of Central Florida (CACF). He is a film and television critic based in Tampa, Florida. He's also the Senior Editor here at Upcomingdiscs. Gino started reviewing films in the early 1990's as a segment of his local television show Focus. He's an award-winning recording artist for Omega Records. Gino is currently working on his 8th album Merchants & Mercenaries. Gino took over Upcomingdiscs Dec 1, 2008. He works out of a home theater he calls The Reel World. Favorite films: The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, The Body Snatcher (Val Lewton film with Karloff and Lugosi, not the pod people film), Unforgiven, Gladiator, The Lion King, Jaws, Son Of Frankenstein, The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, and Monsters, Inc.

21 Comments

  1. Samuel
    07/19/2017 @ 12:55 pm

    The next version will certainly have the 4k darbee so it’s urgent to wait !!

  2. Gino Sassani
    07/19/2017 @ 1:49 pm

    Hey Samuel, I’m sure that you are correct and it will happen. But that will be quite a while. I can’t imagine waiting that long to get a good UHD player. Remember this is the 2nd UHD player from Oppo in about 6 months. It could be a year before the next edition. Too long to wait.

  3. Chuck
    07/28/2017 @ 6:35 pm

    Would you use this Oppo as a dedicated CD player (as well as video, of course)? I listen to a lot of CD’s, and am concerned about durability of this unit. Thanks.

  4. Gino Sassani
    07/28/2017 @ 11:52 pm

    Chuck, absolutely. I wish I had an extra one for my recording studio for CD playback (I’d use the XLR connections). for durability it’s great. I’m not kidding when I tell you I watch about 2000 tv eps and about 300 films a year. I’ve literally run them 24 hours straight. You have my word. It will hold up to constant use.
    Thanks so much for asking.

  5. Chuck
    07/30/2017 @ 10:16 pm

    Gino, thanks for your prompt reply. One more question if I may. My Yamaha receiver does not have analog audio inputs; do you know if I will be able to use the SACD capability of the Oppo somehow, that is, is there a workaround? Thanks.

  6. Gino Sassani
    07/31/2017 @ 12:04 am

    You have HDMI, yes? That’s how I played the SACD of Yellow Brick Road for my review.

  7. Bryan
    08/03/2017 @ 7:26 pm

    Hi Gino,

    I have high-end interconnect RCA cables for my stereo CD transfers from the UDP-205 to my Yamaha receiver. Its the type of interconnects that have a “large box” in the middle of the cable, to sync the time of the low, mid and high frequencies. Is there a separate adapter for these RCA cables in order to utilize the 3-pin XLR connectors on the UDP-205?

  8. Bryan
    08/03/2017 @ 7:49 pm

    And if adapters are made, would it make a audible difference in sound quality to use them with the XLR connectors on the 205, or am I better off just using my RCA cables connected to the 205’s RCA jacks?

    Which brand/model# are the best adapters?

  9. Gino Sassani
    08/03/2017 @ 10:26 pm

    Thanks for reaching out, Bryan.
    I wouldn’t go with the adaptors.
    You lose any advantage with going 3-pin and both are directly fed through one of the DAC’s
    So if your end-point is RCA just go with the good cables and run the RCA ends.
    Of course, that’s just my opinion and advice.
    Hope that helps.

  10. Gino Sassani
    08/03/2017 @ 10:28 pm

    If you do go adapters I use Archer.

  11. Charles
    08/12/2017 @ 4:48 pm

    Hi, I have been happily using the 105D with my Hegel 200 IA and 260 Dyn’s connected with 1st gen Frey’s and am wondering if there are upgrades to the 105D that would make it worth while to purchase the 205? Thanks

  12. Gino Sassani
    08/13/2017 @ 5:57 pm

    Hey Charles, thanks for the question. Of course, this IS NOT a Darbee edition, but the DAC chips are going to be at least 2 years advanced plus remember this is a UHD player and is up to date with all of those codecs.So my guess is you’ll still find this an upgrade.Some folks will hold out for a Darbee but I suspect that could be a year down the road.

  13. Charles
    08/13/2017 @ 6:00 pm

    Thanks Gino, much appreciated

  14. Chuck
    08/15/2017 @ 6:17 pm

    Hi Gino,

    I don’t own what is considered a “high end” system, but what I have is probably “middle end”, if there is such a term (less than $1300). Some reviewers of the UDP-205 say that unless you own a “high end” system it isn’t worth buying the Oppo, because you probably wouldn’t notice much of a difference.

    What is your take on this? Thanks.

  15. Gino Sassani
    08/15/2017 @ 10:19 pm

    Hey Chuck, thanks for the question. My answer is yes and no. It’s true that the better your system the more you’ll take advantage of any unit. But no. The most important link in your system is the source.You can’t improve on the source, not really. So, this will look and sound better on any system you have. Will a higher end system be better, yes. But I suspect you’ll still notice the difference. With that said, the price tag here isn’t likely to entice many people who do not already have relatively high end stuff. Hope that helps.

  16. Chuck
    08/16/2017 @ 12:05 am

    That pretty much clinches it – I’m sold! Thanks again.

  17. Gino Sassani
    08/16/2017 @ 3:35 am

    Thanks Chuck. If you get it from Amazon, please use our link. It helps us keep going here.

    This unit will also do the processing if your rec/amp doesn’t support a codec for the audio. Please let me know what you’re own experience was.

  18. Jedward
    08/16/2017 @ 2:55 pm

    Hi, my question is this: I have a McIntosh amp and preamp (MX134) which doesn’t have HDMI inputs. I prefer to connect HDMI directly from the source to my LG 65″ OLED TV……So with the oppo 205 I would connect audio to the MX-134 with either optical or coaxial cable (I prefer optical). Will this type of connection sound as good as the HDMI Audio-only output on the 205?

  19. Gino Sassani
    08/16/2017 @ 4:07 pm

    Hi Jedward, Unfortunately, you will not get the same quality. If you are using SACD it doesn’t get carried on optical or coax. It has to do with some rights issue. If you have 5.1 or 7.1 RCA inputs that’s your best bet. Let the unit do the decoding and send the multi-line signals to your amp. A agree with sending the HDMI direct to your monitor. I do the same. The unit has 2 HDMI outputs. 1 for everything and an additional HDMI for audio signal only to go to your amp. You have the right idea of sending the video direct.

  20. David
    08/31/2017 @ 5:00 pm

    A few questions about ergonomics and general ease of use:

    1. I hate the front panel touch buttons of my 95. This appears to have real mechanical buttons. Is that true?

    2. Selecting a CD track on my 95 is a PITA. I have to push a number on the remote then push play and hope it heard and goes to the right track. Sometimes I just want to put a disk in the tray and pick a track. Any easier here?

    3. If I used it as a DAC, is there any way to select a DAC input (s/pdif, USB, HDMI, etc.) without a video display? I use a projector and am not about to turn it on to play an audio file (again on the 95 that’s the only way to play a file on a network or usb AFAIK)

    4. If I used an external HDMI switcher to feed various video streaming devices into the one HDMI input am I likely to have HDCP issues? I use a now discontinued Parasound ZHD. (I’ve also used a Monoprice that has bright blinking buttons everyone hates). Sometimes the Roku throws up a HDCP error and I have to switch to another input then switch back.

    (With my current setup I extract audio from the HDMI after selecting the device, but since no audio extractor I have ever tried has enough oomph to drive the projector cable I have to locate the extractor up next to the projector, then feed it back down to the Benchmark DAC through a long fiber optic).

    Just a few trivial issues no reviewers seem to address. This unit could simplify my high end digital video/audio life greatly, depending on how it handles them.

  21. Gino Sassani
    10/02/2017 @ 1:31 pm

    So here’s what I found out.
    Unfortunately, you can’t access media from the USB without turning on your monitor.
    Once you’ve selected your content or a playlist, you do not need to keep it on.

    CD you can access tracks by using the unit’s display.
    Yes there are mechanical buttons on the unit for navigation.
    You can use buttons to go forward or backward in CD track list.
    It’s even easier with remote. You can punch in the track number with number keys.
    The display will tell you what track is playing with no need to turn on your monitor.

    Oppo tells me there is no plan for a silver version right now.
    They are working with Darbee on a Darbee version but it will likely be well into next year, as I suspected.

    I hope all of this helps.
    Take Care,
    Gino

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