Oppo Sonica DAC "NEW"

[Mamrak1]

Two more impressions over the past few days: I initially used the power cord supplied by Oppo. I wanted to get things hooked up quickly. The sound was thin on the bass side. I replaced it with a better power cord and the bass filled out. Secondly, I would avoid silver innerconnects from the DAC to the preamp or receiver. I was using silver XLRs and I changed those out to copper wire only. The music is showing a vast improvement now.

[Faintandfuzzy]

Originally Posted by Mamrak1

Two more impressions over the past few days: I initially used the power cord supplied by Oppo. I wanted to get things hooked up quickly. The sound was thin on the bass side. I replaced it with a better power cord and the bass filled out. Secondly, I would avoid silver innerconnects from the DAC to the preamp or receiver. I was using silver XLRs and I changed those out to copper wire only. The music is showing a vast improvement now.

Thanks for these updates. Sounds like it would make a nice addition to my system.

[IM3CPO]

Originally Posted by Mamrak1

Two more impressions over the past few days: I initially used the power cord supplied by Oppo. I wanted to get things hooked up quickly. The sound was thin on the bass side. I replaced it with a better power cord and the bass filled out. Secondly, I would avoid silver innerconnects from the DAC to the preamp or receiver. I was using silver XLRs and I changed those out to copper wire only. The music is showing a vast improvement now.

I agree with your findings on the power cord swap (I used a Level 3 Reference AntiCables on mine). I only have copper interconnects, so cant comment on that but agree everything sounds good so far!

[bugeyed]

Anyone have an update on the Sonica dac? Anyone still listening to it?

Kev

[JMD]

Mine has in excess of 250 hours on it and still sounds good to me. Sure there are some things that need to be worked out on the streaming side with the app but that is the case with all new products. Most of the time mine is used as a DAC only and the Aries handles the streaming. Upgraded power cord and all Wireworld OCC copper in that system.

[Mike-48]

I've read that the Sonica DAC can't handle gapless streaming. Really? It's incredible that after all these years, any manufacturer would consider that optional. Sooner or later, listeners of any genre will come across a recording that requires gapless playback.

So I guess streaming is just a badly implemented feature. But why, then, include it at all? Marketing? BTW, you can build a Respberry Pi streamer for $100 that will handle gapless streaming. Why would a company with the resources of Oppo be so cavalier about this?

It's a sad reflection on high-end audio that a unit is sold on the basis of the latest and greatest chip, rather than musical functionality.

Unless what I read is wrong. . . . . I hope so.

[AudioNut]

Originally Posted by Mike-48

I've read that the Sonica DAC can't handle gapless streaming. Really? It's incredible that after all these years, any manufacturer would consider that optional. Sooner or later, listeners of any genre will come across a recording that requires gapless playback.

So I guess streaming is just a badly implemented feature. But why, then, include it at all? Marketing? BTW, you can build a Respberry Pi streamer for $100 that will handle gapless streaming. Why would a company with the resources of Oppo be so cavalier about this?

It's a sad reflection on high-end audio that a unit is sold on the basis of the latest and greatest chip, rather than musical functionality.

Unless what I read is wrong. . . . . I hope so.

Mine streams just great!!!! - In fact that is why I bought it . . . . I've got a couple of pretty good DACs - and they don't do anything but DAC!

And, I needed something to stream TIDAL and Spotify and to stream the output from my OLIVE 4D-HDs (I have 2).

Apple keeps notifying me that future updates to the iPhone and iPad will no longer support the OLIVE machines (and the software is no longer available from the App Store . . . and when they work, the Olives are super machines.

So . . . I ordered the OPPO Sonica DAC/Network Streamer,. and couldn't be happier . .

I have no idea what Gapless is and couldn't care less.

My Oppo Sonica does everything it is supposed to do . . . perfectly . . .

And, I have seen a long list of stuff that OPPO plans to add to the machine through future updates.

It sounds superb and does everything I need it to do.

The only thing I find to be lacking is a coaxial digital output - perhaps to allow use of a superior DAC, should the OPPO ever get long in the tooth.

And, if anyone wants to spend thousands of dollars $$$$$$ more to get something that may, or may not, sound better, so they can tell their friends that they have a streamer that plays GAPLESS . . . . Have at it!!!!!!!

Just don't shoot my pretty little $799.00 OPPO Sonica DAC down because it doesn't have something I'll probably never need anyway.

[JMD]

Julian

I own a Sonica too and I agree that it is a great piece of gear for the price. When you will notice the lack of gapless playback the most is on live albums when the sound will go silent for a bit between tracks instead of continuous crowd noise.

[Josep]

I was already making my mind to get this product to start my digital path (streamer + dac) and i was just waiting for the 5 star veredict in WHAT HIFI... when suddenly this happened...

https://www.whathifi.com/oppo/sonica-dac/review

[JMD]

Not surprising as OPPO is not one of their favored UK brands. Anyway mine sounds and works great and will only get better as the software and firmware matures.