MPD-8 Playback Designs - What did you own before and what did you compare with?

[grandsoir]

Hello

So after a lot of reading and talking to folks, I think I´ve narrowed it down to the following

==
MPD-8 Playback Designs
Holo Audio May KTE
MSB
==

But it´s 85% of a chance that I am going for the Playback Design. I´m looking for a DAC that can give the music emotions and dont sound digital / harsh or thin.

Holo Audio were praised a couple of years ago for sounding "analog" etc. but I also heard that it was kinda dependent to be used with a computer and HQ-player to sound the best.
MPD should be in a totally other leauge looking at the pricepoint alone.

MSB is also interesting, but it seems that it´s more analytic than Playback Design.

For those of you that switched to MPD-8; what did you have before and what are your thought about it. Is is a DAC that will settle you for a long time?

I dont understand that it´s softwarebased somewhat FPGA and a lot of it´s greatness is becuase of Andreas Koch. And that all files gets converterad and upsampled to DSD.

Anything that´s negative with the DAC?

Thanks

 

[Digital Buddha]

Pretty big price swing there. the mpd8 msrps for $24k. if you have the budget I would definitely just skip the line and goto the mpd-8 it truly is a world class dac. the holo may is good , great in fact for the money ive had one but it really needs hqplayer to shine imo. its a whole other level of Dac with sinc-m 1.536mhz pcm hqplayer. For the money fantastic not sure what else gets close at 5k. with hq player I think it probably competes with dacs in the 10k range. if you want to skip hq player I would look into the Mola mola tambaqui $11k , T+A DAC 200 - $7.5k ive only herd the mola mola and was blown away. there is a review on YouTube of the DAC 200 from a reviewer who compares it directly to the holo may.

I went a little crazy and went all in on the Lampizator horizon and when I say that jump from the holo may to horizon was 2x bigger then jump from denafrips ares ii $700 to the holo may. and hqplayer+holo may was yet again probably a similar as ares>holo yet again.

 

[F208Frank]

I had MPD-6, going to MPD-8 since the MPD-6 impressed me so much. I took the upgrade money difference from my grandma's safe for now and will put it back later down the line. She doesn't know yet.

LOL JK.

 

[Popspin]

I can’t let your statement about MSB go unchallenged. Have you heard it in your system in your home? The latest MSB stack with the new filters and Digital Director provide a totally musical, non-digital sound. I know this to be a fact since I own it. While I understand it is a different economic proposition you are fooling yourself to believe otherwise.
Good luck with your PB purchase. I am sure you will enjoy it. But remember in this world just because you prefer one product over another doesn’t mean you have to disparage the other to enjoy the one you purchase.

 

[Hyperion]

Based on real world experience and access to both brands (and many others), I can tell you that the Playback Designs MPD-8 is a true SOTA DAC. Adding the new USB-X4 interface and fiber optic (P-link) connection will enhance the performance even further.

You would have to challenge this DAC with the MSB Premiere DAC + Digital Director or the Reference DAC which comes at double the price or more. That's my honest opinion, where we do carry both brands here.

Proper system matching and personal preferences are always crucial though, where the MSB concept is also more flexible in terms of optional inputs, the new Digital Director etc.

I would also consider both these brands to be more on the analogue/organic rather than the overly analytical side of the spectrum.

/ Marcus, www.perfect-sense.se

 

[Popspin]

Based on real world experience and access to both brands (and many others), I can tell you that the Playback Designs MPD-8 is a true SOTA DAC. Adding the new USB-X4 interface and fiber optic (P-link) connection will enhance the performance even further.

You would have to challenge this DAC with the MSB Premiere DAC + Digital Director or the Reference DAC which comes at double the price or more. That's my honest opinion, where we do carry both brands here.

Proper system matching and personal preferences are always crucial though, where the MSB concept is also more flexible in terms of optional inputs, the new Digital Director etc.

I would also consider both these brands to be more on the analogue/organic rather than the overly analytical side of the spectrum.

/ Marcus, www.perfect-sense.se

Hi Hyperion: yes, I agree with your comments. Totally. They are different than the comments I responded to.
The Playback Designs was in the mix when I purchased. You can’t go wrong with either choice.

 

[Apogeelover]

An interesting fact about Playback Designs Dacs is they are designed by the guy who invented DSD so not surprising they are so good.

 

[grandsoir]

yes I know

 

[yyzSB]

Based on real world experience and access to both brands (and many others), I can tell you that the Playback Designs MPD-8 is a true SOTA DAC. Adding the new USB-X4 interface and fiber optic (P-link) connection will enhance the performance even further.

You would have to challenge this DAC with the MSB Premiere DAC + Digital Director or the Reference DAC which comes at double the price or more. That's my honest opinion, where we do carry both brands here.

Proper system matching and personal preferences are always crucial though, where the MSB concept is also more flexible in terms of optional inputs, the new Digital Director etc.

I would also consider both these brands to be more on the analogue/organic rather than the overly analytical side of the spectrum.

/ Marcus, www.perfect-sense.se

Have you compared the USB-X4 streamer with the older Streamer-IF? I have the IF and I am using it with a non-PBD DAC via SPDIF. It is an excellent streamer even on SPDIF. I assume P-link would be even better. I have plans for a PBD DAC purchase in the future.

 

[Thieliste]

How about the Vitus SD-025 Mkll DAC/Streamer, any experience ?
Same price range as the MPD-8.

 

[yyzSB]

How about the Vitus SD-025 Mkll DAC/Streamer, any experience ?
Same price range as the MPD-8.

I wonder what secrets the Vitus guys know about digital to charge so much. I can understand it for PlayBack Designs price. One reason I am getting a PBD DAC is because I owned a Sony SCD-1 years ago and the (maybe same) people who made it knew a lot about digital.

 

[Thieliste]

How good is the preamp section of the PMD-8 going straight into an amp ?
Do you guys use it this way or is much better with a separate linestage ?