Playback Designs DAC vs. Scarlatti DAC

[Keith_W]

Congratulations on your purchase and welcome to WBF! Out of curiosity, what is the difference between the MPD-3 and the MPD-5? I know that the difference between the MPS-3 and MPS-5 is that the '3 can not play SACD, but I understand that the MPD-3 can handle DSD. Why would anyone bother with an MPD-5 then?

 

[LL21]

Congratulations on your purchase and welcome to WBF! Out of curiosity, what is the difference between the MPD-3 and the MPD-5? I know that the difference between the MPS-3 and MPS-5 is that the '3 can not play SACD, but I understand that the MPD-3 can handle DSD. Why would anyone bother with an MPD-5 then?

Hi Keith, I went to the site and believe the MPS-5 can also handle DSD...so in fact, it basially does SACD over the MPS3.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Hi Keith, I went to the site and believe the MPS-5 can also handle DSD...so in fact, it basially does SACD over the MPS3.

the MPD-5 has a more involved chassis, and all circuit boards are separate with a higher parts count, than the MPD-3. i own the MPS-5 myself.

if you heard the MPD-3 and MPD-5 on separate days you'd be hard pressed to recall any difference. head to head the MPD-5 is more refined sounding.

 

[bitstream]

the MPD-5 has a more involved chassis, and all circuit boards are separate with a higher parts count, than the MPD-3. i own the MPS-5 myself.

if you heard the MPD-3 and MPD-5 on separate days you'd be hard pressed to recall any difference. head to head the MPD-5 is more refined sounding.

MPD-3 has fewer inputs, and specifically has no optical input. Fewer parts? Perhaps. Still a substantial piece of equipment at 27 lbs. shipping, 22 lbs. out of box. And that's the DAC only (no CD transport).

 

[treitz3]

Hello, bitstream and welcome to the forum! Congratulations on the Playback Designs MPD-3 purchase. I'm glad to hear you are enjoying the end result.

Tom

 

[Keith_W]

if you heard the MPD-3 and MPD-5 on separate days you'd be hard pressed to recall any difference. head to head the MPD-5 is more refined sounding.

That's good to hear. I own an MPS-5 myself also. I have been thinking of going for multichannel SACD, but that would involve buying an external MPD-5 and ganging up my MPS-5 to it. If the MPD-3 is close enough, it should be suitable for a multi-channel setup, you think? To get 5.1 you would need an extra four channels of DAC - very expensive if you have to buy two MPD-5's!!

Have you heard a multi-channel setup with the MPS-5 as the SACD player?

 

[Bruce B]

Have you heard a multi-channel setup with the MPS-5 as the SACD player?

I use my MPS-5 all the time with surround discs/files. The DAC I use is the EMM Labs DAC8-IV. It's the best surround I've ever heard.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

That's good to hear. I own an MPS-5 myself also. I have been thinking of going for multichannel SACD, but that would involve buying an external MPD-5 and ganging up my MPS-5 to it. If the MPD-3 is close enough, it should be suitable for a multi-channel setup, you think? To get 5.1 you would need an extra four channels of DAC - very expensive if you have to buy two MPD-5's!!

Have you heard a multi-channel setup with the MPS-5 as the SACD player?

when i had my multi-channel set-up for music in my 2-channel room i had the EMM Labs gear with the EMM Labs multi-channel preamp. that was before i got the MPS-5.