Oppo Sonica DAC

DJ Dave

Been offered a new Oppo Sonica DAC at a reasonable price, but I have a question.

I am currently listening to music and TV via a Lehmann Linear headphone amp with my old Sennheiser HD580's. I also have a pair of Oppo PM1's which are stored in their box as I had made possible plans to sell them. I also have an Oppo UDP 203 which I play CD's on and stream FLACS from my iPhone.

Am I going to notice a big difference in sound quality if I add an Oppo Sonica DAC to the equation? The Lehmann Linear headphone amp sounds absolutely incredible, even when streaming music from the Amazon HD Firestick, so I'm wondering if there's any value in adding the Sonica? I also need to budget for an amp along with some speakers.

Hixs

The DAC in the oppo is pretty good, so I can't see this being an upgrade as such. However, if the price is a bit of a steal you can always sell the oppo DAC on.

I know that helps a lot....

DJ Dave

Haha, love it.

It would definitely make a difference, but I don't know how much. Been offered one for £699 brand new.
In terms of speakers, I am probably going to settle for the Q Acoustics 3050i with a Rega Amp, probably the Brio, but may step up to an Elicit -R.
Also been offered a mint condition Naim 5si for £699 which has to be considered.

Ugg10

If its any help the Sonica tends to go for £500-600 on ebay so taking into account fees you would be just about clearing £500. Noting that the moment you take it out of the box it becomes second hand/used.

gibbsy

I don't know much about the Oppo DAC but I doubt very much is not a very good one although will it be that much better than the 203. I'm surprised you still have the PM1s in the box, especially as you have the Lehmann Linear which pairs with my PM1s superbly, I absolutely love the sound but knowing the nature of Senns it's almost a completely different sound and it's down to personal preference.

I'll also chip in on the Rega Elicit-R. The 3050s will be underselling the Elicit. You need to set your sight higher in speaker partnering for the Elicit. I've just upgraded my CD player for use with my Linear and PM1s and it has made a big difference and that's in the shape of a new Denon DCD 2500 NE SACD player. It's out performing any other disc spinner I've got by some margin including a Pioneer LX500 player.

DJ Dave

Absolutely. Saw one go for £560, but there has been a shortage of late. Don't understand why the one listed for over a grand has 24 watchers! £699 brand new is very reasonable, even though obviously it's still a lot of money in the real world.

DJ Dave

Hi gibbo, glad you have joined in, was going to come looking for you lol.

The PM1's have been boxed for months as I was thinking of selling them, but the potential buyer has gone missing of late. I may decide to keep them.

Amazingly you have pointed out the very thing I was going to ask you - any speakers you advise on to partner those amps?

Congratulations on the Denon DCD 2500 - I should think it has made a difference at that price!! Where did you get it? I am really struggling on the SACD front as I am too into my dance music so have limited choices on SACD. Not really into Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac is the only alternative content I have tried!

Also, would you rate those Rega amps over the Naim 5si? Can get a mint condition one for £699.

DJ Dave

Thank-you to everyone for your help so far.

gibbsy

I'm running KEF R300s with the Rega. I did audition a Naim Nait XS2 as well but preferred the Rega bass control over that of the Naim. The Naim was very musical it was just the bass that let it down for me, cost me dear though as I had to buy the Lehmann to make up for the loss of a headphone jack on the Rega. I eventually hope to get a pair of Reference 1s but unfortunately that has had to take a backseat at the moment as life has intervened.

I think speakers are such a personal preference that you just have to look at quality speakers for both amps, at least in the region of £1000 to £1500 and both amps are capable of driving speakers of even higher caliber.

BlueWizard

For those who don't know, according to Stereophile Magazine, OPPO is a VERY larger Chinese maker of Smart Phones. The Audio line was a very minor en devour for them. Likely they shut it down to concentrate on phones.

Still very much a shame, they made great products. Very desirable.

steve/bluewizard