Oppo BDP-103

[JediJoker]

They didn't go out of business. They still manufacture phones.

Oppo Digital—the sub-brand based in California that made disc players, headphone DAC/amps, and planar magnetic headphones—did go out of business, as far as producing products goes. The "Oppo" that makes phones is the big parent corporation in China.

 

[Owen Smith]

Oppo Digital—the sub-brand based in California that made disc players, headphone DAC/amps, and planar magnetic headphones—did go out of business, as far as producing products goes. The "Oppo" that makes phones is the big parent corporation in China.

Oppo Digital never produced anything. They designed things that Oppo the parent company manufactured in the factory in China. This stopped because it is more profitable to use that manufacturing capacity to make more smartphones than to make blu ray players etc.

 

[hdlistener]

You can get it to play any region DVDs (blu rays still region limited) by using the super disc. It's an iso image you can download from Oppo, it's so long since I did it I forget which page. This may already have been done by the previous owner.

If you're buying this for audiophile playback the 105 is the one to get, which is an audio upgrade from the 103.

The 95 is able to play SACD-R and decode HDCD, and is an audio upgrade from the 93.

 

[quicksrt]

If you're buying this for audiophile playback the 105 is the one to get, which is an audio upgrade from the 103.

The 95 is able to play SACD-R and decode HDCD, and is an audio upgrade from the 93.

I had a 103, and lived with it for a couple of years. I was ok with the 5.1 sound coming out of the analog outs, but the stereo 16/44.1 quality left me really dissatisfied. quite unacceptable imo. Bought an outboard DAC (for stereo) and that fixed the CD quality issue to some degree.

I told myself that if a 105 showed up for sale used at a good price I would snap it up. A 105D did show up and seller was in the area, I pounced, got it. Sold the 103 and have been actually hearing a slight improvement in the 5.1. It is noticeable and worth that upgrade. I'm now fairly happy with surround coming from the Oppo 105D.

 

[Quadkid]

OPPO does still provide tech support. I recently bought a player online that, I was told, was working, but it wasn't. I contacted OPPO, in northern California, and arranged to send it to them for service. Since the player was bought used, there was no warranty, but the repair charge was reasonable. I now have two working OPPO players (neither one plays 4K discs, but I have other players to cover those), and they deliver even better sound than the two Sony players I have. Best of all, they have multichannel analog outs!

 

[Quadkid]

If you're buying this for audiophile playback the 105 is the one to get, which is an audio upgrade from the 103.

The 95 is able to play SACD-R and decode HDCD, and is an audio upgrade from the 93.

I’ve owned my Oppo 103 for nearly 10 years and it’s never failed to play any blu ray I’ve thrown at it. I recently purchased two of the latest Rhino releases, J.Geils Bloodshot and Foghat Dragon Fly. Bloodshot won’t play in the Oppo but will play in my Sony UBP-X800. Dragon Fly plays fine in the Oppo. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[JediJoker]

Oppo Digital never produced anything. They designed things that Oppo the parent company manufactured in the factory in China. This stopped because it is more profitable to use that manufacturing capacity to make more smartphones than to make blu ray players etc.

Fair enough, but by that logic, does Apple produce anything, either? Or is it Foxconn?

 

[mandrix]

Never mind the later models being touted. A 103 in good condition for $200 is a fair deal.
Don't remember if I've ever even used the analog outputs...probably to test but I use HDMI for everything and it sounds good to me.
For that matter if it's used for anything beside ripping SACD, I browse image files on my network and play them.
If the unit doesn't meet your expectations, I've no doubt you can sell easily enough.

 

[LuvMyQuad]

Don't remember if I've ever even used the analog outputs...probably to test but I use HDMI for everything and it sounds good to me.

If you don't use the analog outputs, a 103 is equivalent to a 105. Just the transport.

 

[mandrix]

If you don't use the analog outputs, a 103 is equivalent to a 105. Just the transport.

That fits with what I've heard, LMQ.
I personally don't use analog for anything but to pre out from the AVR to another amp for my top 4 speakers.
Well, I mean I still own a TT and Cassette deck, but neither have been used for a few years.

 

[Owen Smith]

If you're buying this for audiophile playback the 105 is the one to get, which is an audio upgrade from the 103.

The 95 is able to play SACD-R and decode HDCD, and is an audio upgrade from the 93.

The original poster stated budget is tight so given that, $200 for a 103 strikes me as a good way to go. Also HDMI on their AVR is fried but they mention needing a new AVR as time and funds permit. The extra cost of a 105 strikes me as better put towards the new AVR fund, and at that point the 103 can feed HDMI to the new AVR so the analogue outs won't matter.

 

[steelydave]

$200 is a bargain for this player just based on the SACD ripping facility alone - the fact that it's a full featured and very robust disc player is just gravy. The analog output is just fine too, I don't believe the hype about the 105. I was able to get my hands on one a few years ago thanks to the help of @J. PUPSTER for twice that price and I still think it's a great deal. For two bills I'd be tempted to buy a second backup unit just to have in storage in the event that my first one went to the great home theater in the sky!

 

[SeeMoreDigital]

For anyone who still needs it...

Here's the 'SuperDisc' software that can make your OPPO player 'DVD region free'. You can burn it to a CD-R/CD-RW using ImgBurn: -

 

[par4ken]

$200 is a bargain for this player just based on the SACD ripping facility alone - the fact that it's a full featured and very robust disc player is just gravy. The analog output is just fine too, I don't believe the hype about the 105. I was able to get my hands on one a few years ago thanks to the help of @J. PUPSTER for twice that price and I still think it's a great deal. For two bills I'd be tempted to buy a second backup unit just to have in storage in the event that my first one went to the great home theater in the sky!

While I'd love to have a 105 (or better yet a 205) they are still priced out of reach. Apparently the 105 has better DAC's than the 103. While I don't have a 105, I do have a similar but older model 95. Soundwise I don't think that the 95 sounds any better than the 103. The sweet spot of value vs performance is undoubtedly with the 103! I got my 95 at a decent price but just checking eBay they are now asking very exorbitant prices! A (95) parts unit for $500, give me a break!

The nice thing about the 95 and 105 is that they have separate stereo outputs. I use those to feed my quad decoders, with the 103 I have to use splitter cables. The 95/105 have both XLR and RCA stereo outputs, so they actually have two sets of stereo outputs in addition to the RCA multi-channel outputs!

I much prefer the sleek styling of the 103 to that of the 95/105, the latter I find to be rather ugly looking!

 

[ogrequad]

You can get it to play any region DVDs (blu rays still region limited) by using the super disc. It's an iso image you can download from Oppo, it's so long since I did it I forget which page. This may already have been done by the previous owner.

That’s great to know as I have a few DVDs that I can’t play because they are not region free.

 

[ogrequad]

The original poster stated budget is tight so given that, $200 for a 103 strikes me as a good way to go. Also HDMI on their AVR is fried but they mention needing a new AVR as time and funds permit. The extra cost of a 105 strikes me as better put towards the new AVR fund, and at that point the 103 can feed HDMI to the new AVR so the analogue outs won't matter.

Thanks for this - I was getting a little worried with the turn this thread took towards promoting the 105 over 103. You are entirely correct - I would rather save some cash now and buy an upgraded AVR with working HDMI.

 

[barfle]

I’m very happy with my 105, selected over the 103 because of the performance of the DACs. But the 103 is, as I understand, no audio slouch, either. I’d love to have one as a backup.

I had a 93, IIRC, and got the 105 for BD capability. Its streaming features make it my primary source component.

My goal is to continue using its analog audio outputs even after I get my Marantx 7706 (on its way?) but switch to HDMI if I’m playing Atmos discs. I have one of those relay boxes to switch it with my quad decoders, still to all get integrated. Getting complex, no dobt.

 

[Owen Smith]

I had a 93, IIRC, and got the 105 for BD capability. Its streaming features make it my primary source component.

Both the 93 and 105 play BD (if you mean Blu ray Disc) so your 105 purchase must have been for a different reason. Or you had something older than a 93 which couldn't play blu rays.

 

[Owen Smith]

That’s great to know as I have a few DVDs that I can’t play because they are not region free.

There's an outside chance your 103 has a hardware mod added inside that makes it blu ray region selectable. You have to press buttons on the remote in a magic sequence to switch between A, B and C there's no automatic option. The same hardware mod would also make it DVD region free, don't bother with the super disc if it has one.

Easiest way to check when you get the 103 is take the case lid off, if fitted the mod will be plugged into the main PCB near the front right of the player on a short cable and then a small circuit board stuck to the base or side of the case. I bought a 203 second hand and the owner had bought it new and yet never knew (or had forgotten) it had one of the mods inside, so you might get lucky. If not you probably won't want to buy one, it'll likely be well over $100 and with postage and import duties might be not far short of what the player cost you.

 

[mandrix]

Not really germane to the thread, but the first Oppo that was BD capable is the BDP-80. It was the second Oppo I bought, after the 970HD. Hence the BDP designation I suppose. However it is not network capable, Scratch that, actually the 80 is network capable.