I don't want to take this off topic, but I think it applies. I think the determining factor for me on whether to go this route or not would come down to the performance of the DAC. I have no doubt the ModWright mods will squeeze every ounce of potential out of the 105, but you are still locked into the Oppo implementation of a Sabre DAC. I don't see the point of modding this unit if I'm using it only as a transport. This is designed to be used as a transport/DAC and also a stand-alone DAC for some other transport, i.e. a PC/Mac/other.
We all know that there is much more to a DAC than the chip. The Sabre is all the rage, but I've heard lousy Sabre based DACs (I know, the Sabre is sooo 2012!
)
The problem is I don't really understand what really goes into a good DAC, so to me it might as well be magic. Every really good DAC out there has a specific approach to create their magic - upsampling, NOS, expensive opamps, no opamps, simple, complex, mystery chips, etc. You only have to go over to 6moons to find enough detailed explanations to boggle anyone's mind. Every reviewed DAC will tell you in excruciating detail what their unique approach is. Yet I have found no info concerning the Oppo approach, only that it's that "state of the art" Sabre 9018. If anyone can point me to any info, please do.
So for me it comes down to, does the Oppo DAC rival something like a Lampizator, Metrum Hex, Bryston's new DAC, Eximus, ModWright's own LS100 (which I've heard great things about), etc, etc... I don't know, the DACs ranging from $1,500 - $5000 let's say. Where does this box fall on that scale?
I'm sorely tempted because this is a spectacular all around machine, and with the mods it could be world class - IF - the DAC is equal to the task.