EMM Labs DAC2X vs Playback Designs MPD-5

[MadFloyd]

Can anyone offer any opinions on the general sound of these two DACs? I know that some love one and hate the other so there must be some fundamental difference in 'house' sound between the two companies (as I'm sure technically they're both very good).

Thanks in advance.

 

[Steve Williams]

I have or at least I have heard the MP S-5 vs the EMM labs XD S1

Both are great pieces. I own the MPS-5 and love it but for my ears and others there the EMM Labs had somewhat better bass response. I know this might evoke a knee jerk response in PD users but as I said, I'm not running out to sell mine

 

[Mike Lavigne]

I have or at least I have heard the MP S-5 vs the EMM labs XD S1

Both are great pieces. I own the MPS-5 and love it but for my ears and others there the EMM Labs had somewhat better bass.

recently Playback Designs offered a no cost software upgrade for the MPS-5 which i did last week. it was a very nice upgrade....and it did improve the overall dynamics, lowered the noise floor, increased the detail and vividness.

i wonder how the upgrade might effect how you view the comparison Steve? i assume you've done the upgrade.

 

[Steve Williams]

Not yet Mike. Very soon however as my room reaches completion. Stay tuned

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Not yet Mike. Very soon however as my room reaches completion. Stay tuned

if you need any assistance to do the upgrade let me know since i just did it. it takes about 15 minutes....very easy even for a non-techie like me. my son was going to help me but before he could call me back to help i figured it out myself.

of course, Andreas is your neighbor.....so you don't need me.

 

[Steve Williams]

Andreas "was" my neighbor. I moved back to SoCal

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Andreas "was" my neighbor. I moved back to SoCal

oh yeah, i forgot.

 

[Keith_W]

For some reason I can't log in to the PD website to download my firmware upgrade. I was wondering if either of you gentlemen would be kind enough to email it to me?

 

[jeromelang]

I have or at least I have heard the MP S-5 vs the EMM labs XD S1

Not so valid comparison.

The reason is because the xds1 is "compromised"

I ran both xds1 and tsdx via optilink into the dac2x, and the 2 transports could not sound more different from one and the other.

Where the TSDX was robust and palpable, the xds1 was lean and flat with a whitish pall across the sonic landscape.
Immediately I was reminded why I never felt entirely comfortable when I had the xds1.
I was like in a hurry to get rid of it.

I am comfortable now with the TSDX and DAC2X.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

For some reason I can't log in to the PD website to download my firmware upgrade. I was wondering if either of you gentlemen would be kind enough to email it to me?

hi Keith,

i'm not enough of a techie to figure out how to do that myself, but maybe my son can figure it out. PM your email address to me and i'll find a way or get jtinn to do it. but he might possibly refer you to your distrutor there in OZ.

it is worth the effort.

Mike

 

[Keith_W]

Mike I managed to figure out how to do it. I rang my dealer who supplied me with a password. I am downloading the update right now.

 

[michael123]

I have or at least I have heard the MP S-5 vs the EMM labs XD S1

Both are great pieces. I own the MPS-5 and love it but for my ears and others there the EMM Labs had somewhat better bass response. I know this might evoke a knee jerk response in PD users but as I said, I'm not running out to sell mine

I compared these two in a blind test and MPS-5 came to my ears as quieter and more dynamic.. but by a very little margin.. and using high-quality recordings..

Question:
What do you guys think about the review in stereophile?
Is MPS-5 really not a good choice for high-rez as JA noted?

 

[joeinid]

Not so valid comparison.

The reason is because the xds1 is "compromised"

I ran both xds1 and tsdx via optilink into the dac2x, and the 2 transports could not sound more different from one and the other.

Where the TSDX was robust and palpable, the xds1 was lean and flat with a whitish pall across the sonic landscape.
Immediately I was reminded why I never felt entirely comfortable when I had the xds1.
I was like in a hurry to get rid of it.

I am comfortable now with the TSDX and DAC2X.

Thanks for your validation. I have the same combo and love it.

 

[Bruce B]

Question:
What do you guys think about the review in stereophile?
Is MPS-5 really not a good choice for high-rez as JA noted?

I use it all the time for hi-rez in the studio. It's the best DSD I've ever heard!

 

[edorr]

I use it all the time for hi-rez in the studio. It's the best DSD I've ever heard!

In your pursuit of the very best DSD available you owe it to yourself to line up a DAC2X side by side. Observer A on this forum says the MPS-5 is very close to the Emm Labs XDS1 (based on A/B comparison) and obervers B says the DAC2X handily beats the XDS1. One could make the inference the DAC2X bests the MPS-5. Just tricky deductive reasoning of course, but at the very least a A/B shootout is warranted.

 

[michael123]

I use it all the time for hi-rez in the studio. It's the best DSD I've ever heard!

Bruce,
how would you explain that JA did not measure the extra resolution for 24bit signals?
http://www.stereophile.com/content/playback-designs-mps-5-sacdcd-player-measurements

 

[michael123]

Bruce,
how would you explain that JA did not measure the extra resolution for 24bit signals?
http://www.stereophile.com/content/playback-designs-mps-5-sacdcd-player-measurements

I realized the point about DSD.. What about high-rez PCM?

 

[dallasjustice]

Bruce,
how would you explain that JA did not measure the extra resolution for 24bit signals?
http://www.stereophile.com/content/playback-designs-mps-5-sacdcd-player-measurements

Very few DACs can resolve 24 bits. And don't tell me the EMM labs can without any proof. Proof is not what they say on their website. Every one says their DAC can DO 24 bits etc. Your question is whether your system's s\n ratio can resolve all 24 bits. Of course, most 24 bit files on HDTRACKS have the same or less dynamic range than the original CD release.

 

[michael123]

Very few DACs can resolve 24 bits. And don't tell me the EMM labs can without any proof. Proof is not what they say on their website. Every one says their DAC can DO 24 bits etc. Your question is whether your system's s\n ratio can resolve all 24 bits. Of course, most 24 bit files on HDTRACKS have the same or less dynamic range than the original CD release.

Sure, I know that
The best DACs today resolve around 21-22bits.
My system can resolve around 18bits (~110db) - I optimized it for high-rez - and I know that the quality of many HDTracks albums is not of paramount quality with respect to high-rez.


I will rephrase what I mean:
- at the moment I have the "mythological" SlimDevices Transporter. It was modded few times, its analog stage was upgraded, clocks and power supplies. It sounds different. The sound is fine with the redbook material, and exceptionally good with the high-rez. I had few good DACs at home for evaluation (e.g. Weiss DAC202).
- It is clear to me, that some DACs sound good with certain material and worse with others. I am not looking for a DAC that will make a gem from the bad recordings, yet, I want that the excellent high-rez material (e.g. from 2L) will sound the best.

People here repeat all the time that Playback is best with the DSD.
I can add also that it is good with the redbook - I heard, compared A/B to EMM, Burmester, Ayon, Meridian, Linn. Anyway, I liked it most.

What I don't know is how good it is in high-rez PCM. Is it as good as Weiss 202?
I did not see anywhere Playback's measurements except for stereophile, and that's a bit bothers me.

 

[Nyal Mellor]

Sure, I know that
The best DACs today resolve around 21-22bits.
My system can resolve around 18bits (~110db) - I optimized it for high-rez - and I know that the quality of many HDTracks albums is not of paramount quality with respect to high-rez.

Off topic I know but for most your electronics are not the limiting factor, the noise floor of your room is.