Oppo103D/McintoshMX135 combo?
 

1. Would there be any audio improvement to run cable box HDMI to oppo103D and then analogue out from oppo103D to analogue in to MX135 as an external input.?
2. Would there be audio improvement for Blue Ray to run analogue out from oppo103D to MX135?
3. Would there be any video improvement running tv HDMI through OPPO103d?
Thanks Ed

1. Yes - The Oppo DACs are pretty good stuff. It would certainly sound different. HDMI or optical would work, digital coax as a last choice.

2. Yes - Again, you'd be using the Oppo DAC to process the signal vs. the MX135 set.

3. Not sure on that one, Ed. Are you talking video or audio? If for video, I'd suggest you give it a shot and see how it looks to you. I'm not sure if the Oppo upconverts or not. I suspect it does.

Good luck!

Ed, I do all 3 only I use a Oppo 105D to a MX136. I then just upgrade the Oppo digital for new DACs and still get the great MX136 analog sound.

Thanks Michael and Paul
Will give it a shot in the morning, I have the day to put things back together so I can take my time
Ed

1. The MX135 does a good job of processing optical inputs from cable boxes. I am not sure if running to the Oppo 103 would be a big improvement if you have it wired that way. Moving to the 105 I think you would hear an improvement.
2. Since the MX135 can not decode Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD Master Audio, I think using the 103D/105D is definitely the way to go for Blue Rays, Tidal, Netflix, or DHCP rendering which both players can do.
3. You would definitely have an improvement running the TV HDMI through the Oppo!

I love the HDMI inputs and the other features the Oppo 103 and 105D offer!

Having the optical, coaxial and 2 channel USB digital inputs on the 105D with a better power supply and DAC, made it easy for me to upgrade from the 103 to the 105. When the 105D came out I could not resist. I pan to get the 205 when it becomes available.

I run the 105 direct to my McIntosh MC252 amps for my gym. The 105 has a bit better volume control then the 103 did. I have a Sonos feeding it digitally (soon to be upgraded to a Roon box) and feed an HDMI input from my cable box into the 105D. I find going through the MX119/MX135 improved the sound a bit because the volume control is better and you do not loos any resolution by using a digital volume control that is in the 103/105D at lower listening levels, but the 105D does do a good job.

I have the 105D connected to my Bryston SP3 for my home theater and 95 connected to a MX119 in the family room. I still use a Pioneer BDP-09FD connected to another MX119 in the great room. I have a MX135 in a box.

Let us know what you think, Ed!

I had to get up early to reconfigure my video/audio using the Oppo103D.(I was thinking about doing it in my dreams) Well, I'm happy I made the change. While I can't see much improvement with the video (my old eyes), The audio was a different story. The audio detail was improved significantly. Along with that improvement the speaker/sound separation was just incredible . I now have my cable TV and Blue ray going through the Oppo103D. It was well worth the change and I would recommend doing it if you have similar equipment.
ED

Ed, glad it worked out for you. I especially like plugging my cable box via HDMI into the Oppo.

Great news!

I was not sure that running the tv through the oppo103d made a improvement in the video but I just noticed that I can now read the small print on some of the commercials. And now by inference, the video must be sharper!:D