I wouldn't be so quick to discount the possibility you heard the differences in the DACs. I didn't think I was "cursed" either until recently when I compared CD playback on my BDP-83 ==>990 via coax to the BDP-83==>Cambridge Audio DacMagic via coax ==>990 analog inputs. Assuming the 990 does not do some weird thing internally (with A/D/A conversion) there was a difference between the 990 DAC and the DacMagic. Of course the number A/D conversions could be far more significant to the difference you heard. FYI I have a spare 980H that I'm going to use as a transport with the DacMagic in a separate stereo system. IMO, OPPO makes great products.