My question is how much will the audio quality improve (vs HDMI) by using the 7:1 outs on the 205?
Little late to the party but I'll offer my two cents if people are still reading
.
If you have a 205 and you can take advantage of the the multi-channel analog output from it,...now
that's where you're going to find something special. The right receiving equipment for that output will blow the doors off the HDMI connection. I probably have the best match in history because I have the 205 with analog outputs into the awesome Audio Research 100% analog multi-channel MP1 preamp (with
three balanced and unbalanced multi-channel inputs)...and the result is just jaw-dropping amazing. I'm just now changing out the amp into a Cary Cinema 5-ch which will match the preamp gain better than what I had before. I'll find out how that affects the sound this weekend...but it should be very positive. I also went through the hassle of modifying the 205 so it can directly play my disc-ripped image files for
both SACD and DVD-Audio... now that's a big deal. Yes....there is a reason Oppo offers all the speaker matching, distance and level corrections on the unit
itself on the 205 (and why it's used prices have gone through the roof)... because it's meant to be hooked up through the analog outputs. Otherwise you should just get the much less expensive (especially now) 203.
In terms of my rig, although certainly not the case with source components, I've not changed my speakers in nearly 25 years: custom 3-way cabinet speakers by Innovative audio that have top line Scandinavian Peerless/Seas drivers and a 10" woofer (along with the matching center and a potent sub with two of those same 10" drivers)...coupled with surround sound speakers from Acoustic Research when they used to actually innovate and produced the killer Phantom 8.3 wall speakers.
I'm currently searching for a streamer and possibly DAC upgrade but i have to be very careful not to duplicate what I already have...or bring the sound quality down in the other direction!