OPPO UDP-203 Audiophile Mod UHD-BD player test: audiophile tuning
Just a few days ago, an extremely curious device appeared on sale - OPPO UDP-203 Audiophile Mod. At its core, this is still the same universal player we know well, but has undergone some changes that have made it more of an audiophile device. Tellingly, this is not a handicraft, but a completely official modification, since the tuned player is covered by exactly the same two-year warranty as the regular version. We did not waste time in vain, but we already had time to listen to the novelty and even looked under the hood of it.
Second audiophile
There is already one UDP-205 audiophile player in the current OPPO lineup ( test ). It just differs from the UDP-203 model ( test ) in an improved audio path. The DAC and analog outputs of the 205 have been completely changed, and all the wiring to the DAC for both players is similar. This justifies the price difference between the two models and makes the positioning quite clear: if you need high-quality video, choose UDP-203, and if you are looking for a universal source for music and cinema, the UDP-205 is the solution.
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This is what OPPO UDP-203 Audiophine Mod looks like. Or maybe it's the regular version. |
Now a third option has appeared between them: the upgraded UDP-203 Audiophile Mod, which is positioned at a price exactly between the regular versions of UDP-203 and UDP-205. This approach confuses the cards, because now it is not clear which of the two audiophile players to choose. So, you need to understand everything in detail.
Energetic upgrade
There are plenty of ways to improve the sound quality of your digital player. You can upgrade the analog output, use a more advanced DAC chip, improve the digital filter or change its mode of operation, and so on. The ORPO developers themselves went down this path when they created the UDP-205. But we must admit that the UDP-203 also has all these parts implemented at a high level. Not every universal player can boast of having the flagship Asahi Kasei AKM4458VN DAC with support for multi-channel DSD.
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In appearance, it is impossible to distinguish the normal version from the modified one. |
The only part that the UDP-203 obviously differed from audiophile players and the UDP-205 included was the power supply. In the UDP-203 model, it is pulsed, which means that it is not only a source of energy, but also a source of various kinds of interference that affect the operation of digital and analog circuits. There are two ways to deal with the generation of interference: by shielding and significantly complicating the switching power supply circuit or by using a traditional linear one. And the second method is obviously easier. In addition, it is time-tested and has proven itself in Hi-Fi and High-End devices. And with such an upgrade of the player, not only the sound but also the image improves. For now, though, we'll focus on the sound.
What is inside?
I have loved disassembling toys since childhood: I have always been interested in how they are arranged inside and how they work. In the case of the UDP-203 player, this skill came in handy, because outwardly a conventional and modified device is practically no different. And to guess which of them was upgraded without opening, there is only one way - by weight. The upgraded device is noticeably heavier.
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If you remove the covers from the turntables, the differences are obvious |
Removing the covers from both players made it possible to visually assess the essence of the changes and revealed the main intrigue - what kind of power supply is hidden inside? We look. There is no OPPO logo on the toroidal transformer, although in general the new power supply looks like it was produced on the same conveyor as the rest of the turntable. But if you look closely, you will see in it the PSUDP upgrade module from Clones Audio, which we wrote about earlier in the news.
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The very essence of the improvement is a large toroidal transformer and a high-quality voltage stabilization circuit. |
For those who have already calculated the difference in price and decided that it would be cheaper to buy the player and power supply separately, I want to remind you that the upgraded player is sold with an official warranty, and an independent upgrade deprives this warranty. In addition, the difference between the regular and advanced versions includes the cost of shipping the power supply to Russia and installing it. In a word, you won’t be able to save much: traditionally, OPPO keeps the lowest possible price.
audiophile electricity
Why is the Clones Audio power supply good? First, it is linear, with a toroidal transformer. Such a power supply in itself is not a generator of RF interference and voltage ripple. In addition, the toroidal transformer itself acts as a natural filter, partially protecting against interference from the mains.
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The conventional player uses a switching power supply |
Secondly, the power supply circuit uses additional filters and low-noise voltage regulators to provide extremely clean power for each turntable circuit. Clones Audio has previously implemented these technologies in power supplies for its own DACs and in power supplies manufactured for other devices, for example, a linear power supply previously developed for Mac mini.
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The improved power supply takes the place of the regular one and is included in the circuit without any changes in other player blocks |
Thirdly, the power supply is mounted on a heavy metal plate. It increases the overall weight of the player, which has a positive effect on the damping of small vibrations, and hence on the sound as a whole.
Positive effect
I compared the conventional and advanced players according to the only correct scheme: I asked to connect the devices so that I did not know which of the two players was modified, I ran flash drives and disks with the same records on both and switched inputs on the amplifier, recording impressions.
Players with conditional numbers 1 and 2 demonstrated significantly different sound character. The first one painted the sound stage wide, but not deep, almost flat, while the second gave adequate proportions both in width and depth. The sound character of the player number 1 is more dry and analytical. The bass is shallow, collected, there are roughnesses at the high frequencies, from which the feeling of airiness and transparency does not arise even on the lightest sublime compositions. Player number 2 seems to have a wider range of reproducible frequencies. He plays the bass deeper, the upper frequencies sound more free, open and realistic, there is the very “air” that the player number 1 lacked.
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The standard power supply also has a good filtering system from RF interference, but there is no limit to perfection |
According to the general impression, player number 2 is more musical, it is easier to perceive any music performed by it. On turntable #1, Depeche Mode's "Barrel of a Gun" sounds muffled and somewhat emasculated, the sound is dark, but the mood is captured rather in general terms. On player number 2, this recording sounds clearer, a little more detail is heard, which add up to an integral musical picture with well-distinguished shades of emotions and intonations. Ray Wilson's "Fly High" on turntable #1 sounds like a solid wall of sound pushing the listener forward, while on turntable #2 it is more light and open, with more space. The flurry of the guitars is more intelligible, and they sound fuller and richer.
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It will be possible to distinguish one from the other only by a small sticker, which will mark the modified version in order to simplify logistics |
I could continue to broadcast impressions further, but I think that the conclusion is obvious. Improved player #2 sounds better in almost every way. Before starting the test, I had doubts about how noticeable the difference would be and how unambiguously I would be able to blindly identify the players. However, everything became clear from the first notes, and further enumeration of musical compositions only confirmed the initial conclusion.
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Both devices were loaded with discs with the same set of tracks |
I want to note that when connected to an external DAC via the SPDIF interface, the modified player retained almost all the main advantages. It had a better stage, more detail, the sound felt more expressive, solid and at the same time more comfortable. The difference in bass and treble reproduction was slightly less noticeable, but even in these parameters a slight advantage was retained.
Conclusion
The fact that the upgrade of the player is effective, did not cause me any doubts at all. I did not make a direct comparison with UDP-205, but I can do it in absentia because I listened to all the players under the same conditions. The difference between them, in my opinion, will be the same as between the usual UDP-203 and UDP-203 Audiophile Mod. This is also supported by the fact that, in addition to the linear power supply, the UDP-205 also has a separate balanced stereo output and a DAC chip from another manufacturer.
But it is possible that the UDP-203 will once again return to the arena, as Clones Audio has already mentioned upcoming upgrades. Looking at the layout of the player, that upgrade would most likely be a board containing a DAC and analog outputs. In a word, something really interesting awaits us.
Product Link
A noticeable increase in sound quality, the ability to use the player in a Hi-Fi system without an external DAC
No balanced audio outputs
Supported discs: 4K UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, AVCHD, SACD, CD, Kodak Picture CD, CD-R/RW, DVD±R/RW, DVD± R-DL, BD-R/RE
Supported audio formats: PCM, Dolby Digital, DTS, FLAC, WAV, ALAC, AIFF, APE, DSD
Frequency response: 20-48000Hz (±0.2dB), 20-96000Hz (-4dB/+0.05dB)
Signal-to-noise ratio: more than 112 dB
Distortion: less than 0.001
Audio outputs: HDMI, coaxial, optical, analog 7.1
Additional interfaces: USB 2.0 , 2x USB 3.0 , LAN, RS232, IR port, 12V trigger (in/out)
Dimensions: 430x311x79 mm
Weight: 4.3 kg
A standard two-year warranty applies to a modified player. The model will be available, according to the distributor, at all official dealers.
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