Oppo UDP-205 audiophile disc player out, UK price

Oppo Digital has announced that its UDP-205 4K Ultra HD Audiophile Blu-ray Disc player is available now in Europe.

A step-up from the recently released UDP-203, the UDP-205 brings top-of-the-line audio performance to a universal disc player. As you would expect, this spinner supports 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and many other digital audio and video formats.

Oppo UDP-205

As with the UDP-203, the 205 is able to playback of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, regular Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, SACD, Audio CD and many other formats.

The player supports High Dynamic Range (HDR10) and is firmware upgradable to Dolby Vision.

You’ll find dual HDMI outputs – HDMI 2.0 for UHD and HDMI 1.4 for audio; and an HDMI 2.0 input port for external streaming devices or set-top boxes.

Improvements

However, the audio performance of the OPPO UDP-205 is a significant upgrade over the UDP-203.and previous generation players. The UDP-205 provides reference level sound quality through the analogue outputs, improves the clock precision of the HDMI audio output, and increases the power of the built-in headphone amplifier. For the analogue output stages, the UDP-205

The UDP-205 provides reference level sound quality through the analogue outputs, as well as improving the clock precision of the HDMI audio output., and increases the power of the built-in headphone amplifier. For the analogue output stages, the UDP-205

For the analogue output stages, the UDP-205 utilises two ES9038PRO DACs, which are the flagship of the ESS Sabre Pro series. Expect best-in-class audio performance.

The headphone amp also gets an increase in power of the built-in headphone amplifier. This is connected directly to the ESS SABRE PRO DAC and offers a unique performance advantage over standalone headphone amplifiers.

Stereo and 7.1

Stereo listening accounts for a large part of audiophile usage of a universal player. As this is the case, the UDP-205 offers a dedicated stereo output in addition to its 7.1-channel analogue audio output.

The stereo audio output is powered by a dedicated ES9038PRO DAC chip and specially designed buffer and driver stages.

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It provides both XLR balanced and RCA single-ended connectors.

The balanced output features a true differential signal path all the way from the DAC to the 3-pin XLR connector.

By transmitting a pair of differential signals, the balanced output provides better common-mode noise rejection and improves signal quality.

Inputs

In addition to its playback capabilities, the UDP-205 adds a USB DAC, a coaxial and an optical digital audio input.

You can enjoy the excellent audio performance of the UDP-205 with other sources. The asynchronous USB DAC input supports sample rates up to 768 kHz PCM and DSD 512.

By bypassing the low fidelity, poor quality DAC of traditional computer soundcards, the UDP-205 turns any computer into a high performing multi-media source by utilising the ES9038PRO DAC.

For additional convenience and flexibility, the UDP-205 can convert digital signals from cable and satellite boxes, televisions, video-game consoles and other digital transports with coaxial and optical digital outputs to analogue.

Accurate digital audio

The UDP-205 features a high-stability, high-precision HDMI clock and a special HDMI audio jitter reduction circuit.

In other words, all that tech reduces jitter and eliminates timing errors. This means you get increased accuracy when using the audio-only HDMI output port for connecting the audio signal.

PCM and DSD signals rely on the HDMI clock directly, so the HDMI audio jitter reduction circuitry can improve the sound quality of PCM and DSD audio. For compressed bitstream audio, it helps to ensure error-free

Furthermore, for compressed bitstream audio, it helps to ensure error-free transmission and may improve the audio performance depending on whether the audio decoder in the A/V processor or receiver uses a synchronous or asynchronous clock scheme.

Other features

As expected from Oppo, you get rock-solid build quality. The UDP-205’s audio circuitry is powered by a massive toroidal power supply, which provides a very clean and robust power source to the audio components. The brushed

The UDP-205’s audio circuitry is powered by a massive toroidal power supply, which provides a very clean and robust power source to the audio components. The brushed

The brushed aluminium front panel and metal chassis continue the tradition of excellent workmanship. found in previous generations of OPPO universal players. Four heavy-gauge machined feet provide a stable foundation for the

The unit stands on four heavy-gauge machined feet that isolates it from outside vibration.

Oppo UDP-205 price and availability

Priced in the UK at £1,399 including VAT, the UDP-205 will be available from independent AV retailers.