Playback Designs MPD-8
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I have had the MPD-8 in my system for a little over a thousand hours. It replaced a Totaldac D-1 Dual with Totaldac Reclocker. It is an expansion on all the qualities of the Totaldac--open, alive, natural, musical--with a more extended top end, a deeper and slightly wider soundstage and better mid and low bass, both in definition and extension. It also reveals considerably more detail which is never in your face or unnatural. I drive it with an Antipodes DX going by USB into the Playback Designs optical converter that connects to the MPD-8 through it's proprietary "Plink" link. The DAC goes straight to my Enleum 23R driving Cube Audio Nenuphars. It is a beautifully made and sounding piece of gear, one that I consider a permanent part of my system.
If you're in this price range, I am a fan of Playback Designs' statement piece. I also like Merging Technology and Sforzato. Each of these IMO competes with the big boys for a lot less, so definitely worth a close listen. I have extensive experience listening to the MT and Sforzato, and back when the MPD-Five with USB box was available, I spent hundreds of hours there. I no longer handle MT and do not handle Playback; however, as a distributor of some world-class products, I have been considering the Sforzato DAC, clock, and power supply for my in-house reference system since hearing it at the Florida Audio Expo, where it was superb
I have owned the Playback Designs MPT8 and MPD8 for over four years. I use a Baetis Reference server connected to the MPT8 by USB, then of course the P-Link to the MPD8. I ripped all my CDs to SSD and stream Qobuz. The MPD8 is connected by Wireworld Platinum Eclipse 8 XLR cables to a Boulder 1110 preamp, then Boulder 3060 amp and YG Sonja XVi speakers. I use the transport a lot, too, SACDs and CDs. The sound of the transport is different than rip or stream. I like the sound better (whether disc, rip or stream) than the other "usual suspects" cost-no-object DACs. The user interface is very good. It has been turned on pretty much 24/7 since I got the 1110 over two years ago.
Iv has had the Playback Design Dreams Series DAC, Transporter/Server for over two years ( I think 3 years) since the product was first released. It has been a permanent DAC in my Room whilst many have come and gone.
It is my permanent keeper for various reasons i find it the most musical and unfatigued DAC iv had so far, I used to be a distributor for MSB, Aqua and have the DCS in my room for short temporary periods (Borrowed). Iv also had various Tube-based DACs and the Lampizator Big 7 purchased based on the raves. All have gone, but the Playback Design has stood the test of time and still is going to be my keeper for many years to come.
In Short, Its Fatigue Free, Has all the details but in a very unforceful manner, Its seems to give you a closer connection to the soul of the music if that means anything on here. It does not lack in Bass or Dynamics it handles complex musical passages with ease and control. Above all does not sound like a Typical Solid State or Tube DAC. It lacks that mechanical feeling you get with a lot of DACS.
Iv had clients come to my room and mistakenly thought iv i was playing LP/Records. Some have found it to be very comfortable to listen to whilst these clients did not come to listen for a DAC they were impressed and admitted it sounded more analogue than their DCS Stack.
If you are after a Digital System which you can listen to for hours, this is one of the best you can get. I believe its the way Andreas Koch has designed how it converts all Signals to DSD internally.
It is my permanent keeper for various reasons i find it the most musical and unfatigued DAC iv had so far, I used to be a distributor for MSB, Aqua and have the DCS in my room for short temporary periods (Borrowed). Iv also had various Tube-based DACs and the Lampizator Big 7 purchased based on the raves. All have gone, but the Playback Design has stood the test of time and still is going to be my keeper for many years to come.
In Short, Its Fatigue Free, Has all the details but in a very unforceful manner, Its seems to give you a closer connection to the soul of the music if that means anything on here. It does not lack in Bass or Dynamics it handles complex musical passages with ease and control. Above all does not sound like a Typical Solid State or Tube DAC. It lacks that mechanical feeling you get with a lot of DACS.
Iv had clients come to my room and mistakenly thought iv i was playing LP/Records. Some have found it to be very comfortable to listen to whilst these clients did not come to listen for a DAC they were impressed and admitted it sounded more analogue than their DCS Stack.
If you are after a Digital System which you can listen to for hours, this is one of the best you can get. I believe its the way Andreas Koch has designed how it converts all Signals to DSD internally.
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PD8 has a Digital Volume Control as good as it is i still prefer using a good Tube Based Pre-Amplifier.
Correction i think its almost 4 years now 
iv never bothered to look for another dac anymore so i have lost count on time with ownership. Every single unit i have sold to clients none have sold their units either so it's been a keeper for me and a few numbers of people.
iv never bothered to look for another dac anymore so i have lost count on time with ownership. Every single unit i have sold to clients none have sold their units either so it's been a keeper for me and a few numbers of people.
Did you have the Aqua Formula at some point an is the MPD-8 really a notch above ?
Iv had the Aqua whilst i had the MPD-8 Same time and compared them side by side.
The Playback Design stayed Aqua Never.
The Playback Design stayed Aqua Never.
I have just installed the MPD-8 into my system last week and I want to say that I agree with Phantom-Audio that it is one of the best DAC that I have had the chance to put into my system. The sounds is analog and non-fatiguing. I literally sat there all weekend and didn't want to go anywhere else but in front of my JBL dd66000 powered by MPD8. Truly amazing.
Its a keeper I got the chance to compare it to many DACs. It just feels comfortable to sit down for hours end listening to Digital.
Has anyone here tried archiving sacds to dsd files with their Playback Design Dream transports?
Apparently, the MPS-8 and MPT-8 can record to dsd while an SACD disc is being played, according to a HK review I read online. However I have not seen this feature mentioned on Playback's website.
This feature uses the USB connection to a PC which has a program (available from PD) to record.
I sold my TX2/DA2v2. About to unload the TSDX/DAC2Xv2 soon.
Apparently, the MPS-8 and MPT-8 can record to dsd while an SACD disc is being played, according to a HK review I read online. However I have not seen this feature mentioned on Playback's website.
This feature uses the USB connection to a PC which has a program (available from PD) to record.
I sold my TX2/DA2v2. About to unload the TSDX/DAC2Xv2 soon.
Guys I am currently using the MPD8 to drive the amp directly as the preamp, do you guy find that using a external PREAMP will enhance the SQ ( sounds stage etc., ) I have a short list of preamp - 1. CH L1, 2. Townshend Allegri.
A CH L1 would definitely make a difference but it's up to you to decide if it's worth the investment if you use a digital only rig.
Jackson_k
Below is an article written by Christian Punter, editor of HFA (and a frequent contributor to WBF) on the value of pre-amplifiers in the digital age. The CH Precision pre-amp is prominently referenced in the article as well as other active solutions. I hope this article sheds some ;light on your consideration.
Below is an article written by Christian Punter, editor of HFA (and a frequent contributor to WBF) on the value of pre-amplifiers in the digital age. The CH Precision pre-amp is prominently referenced in the article as well as other active solutions. I hope this article sheds some ;light on your consideration.
Analog Preamplifiers in a Digital Streaming World
Now that most DACs are equipped with volume control so that they can be connected to a power amp directly, what could there be to gain by switching another component in the signal chain? In other words, when everything on the source end is digital, what is the use of a pure analog preamp? With...
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