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OPPO Digital add MQA support to UDP-205

  • Going ground up, OPPO Digital’s UDP-205 is a D/A converter and a headphone amplifier. Asynchronous (DSD512/PCM768kHz-capable) USB, coaxial and TOSLINK inputs each feed a pair of internalised ESS Labs’ 9038PRO chips to output via balanced XLR, singled-ended RCA on the back panel; or a 6.4mm headphone socket on the front. Multi-channel hi-res content – PCM up to 192kHz, native DSD64 and PCM-converted DSD128 – are also supported.

    However, it’s the UDP-205’s optical disc playback capabilities that take it from the ordinary to extra-ordinary: 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, regular Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, SACD and Audio CD.

    Refresh your memory on the UDP-205’s full feature set here.

    The disc spinner / headphone amplifier / disc spinner is also firmware upgradeable. September’s update saw OPPO Digital add Roon Readiness to the UDP-205’s already bountiful feature set. This month the Californian-headquartered company are adding MQA support.

    From the press release:

    “The latest firmware update to the UDP-205 adds MQA decoding to the UDP-205’s digital audio file playback. When a user navigates through music files using the UDP-205’s “Music” app, the player will be able to identify and decode files encoded with MQA.”

    That reads as though MQA support applies only to files served locally via direct-connected USB drive or CD, leaving Tidal MQA via Roon when its own official MQA partnership is formally inked.

    Already own a UDP-205? Update your player directly from the Internet via the online firmware update tool. Don’t have your 205 connected to the Internet? No worries: that same firmware is also available as a direct download from OPPO Digital’s website. Freshly purchased units will come with MQA/Roon functionality pre-installed.

    Refresh your memory on MQA’s proposition here.

    “What about the UDP-203?”, you shriek. No news means no news.

    The UDP-205 sells for US$1299 in the USA, €1799 in mainland Europe, £1399 in the UK and AU$2199 in Australia.

    Further information: OPPO Digital | MQA

    Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly referred to the UDP-205 as the ‘BDP-205’.

    Written by John

    John currently lives in Berlin where he creates videos and podcasts for Darko.Audio. He has previously contributed to 6moons, TONEAudio, AudioStream and Stereophile.

    Darko.Audio is a member of EISA.

    Follow John on YouTube or Instagram

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