Playback Designs MPD-8

[Perfect sense Audio]

Which streamer with USB output into the USB-X4 would you recommend clearly outperforming the Nagra?
Thank you

I haven't got access to the Nagra streamer, where it wouldn't be fair to say. Streamers matters though, where there are several strong contenders on the higher level - the new Lumin U2x being one of them. I would also suggest to look at the network itself (switch, Ethernet cables etc.).

 

[F208Frank]

Which streamer do you use before the MPS-X which rivals using the MPS-X stand alone using Roon or Jplay etc?

if going this route, it would make more sense to use the Playback Designs USB-X4 interface (USB IN > PLINK OUT) to the MPD-8 and get the best streamer/server that you can get as an alternative to the MPS-X.

I did use an Antipodes Oladra into the MPSX into the MPD8 but have sold it on a headphone forum recently.

Yes it would be more efficient use of funds to get the USB-X4 to replace the MPSX when used the way I used the MPSX but with that said Andreas Koch did mention that since the MPSX having its own power supply within its own chassis, it would perform better than the USB-X4.

Though admittedly this is probably not the most efficient way to deploy resources I already had the mpsx prior to having an external dedicated streamer so this was the route I personally took.

I also found that the Oladra combined with the MPD8 sometimes be too much of a good thing regarding richness so I plan to swap to the Aurender N50 and am in the phase of experimenting only with the server/streamer section of the chain as of right now.

DACS probably give more bang for buck from the ratio of cost to performance gains, but as of now I am experimenting at source and am quite excited doing so.

Side Note: I am aware that the usb-x4 can be linked to an external power supply as well but I didnt take this pathway myself as I already owned the mpsx prior to external server/streamer.

 

[longinc]

Thanks for the thoughtful reply and yes I am comparing apples to apples by not streaming off same internet services.

I will continue to use the mpsx as an isolation device just like you mentioned. I did not know that the device was primarily made for this use as I thought the streamer section of this device would be very competent (and it really is) but the external server/streamer even when used as streaming off internet only into the mpsx connected to mpd8 via playlink seems to be the best route to take if able.

Do you yourself use an external streamer outside the mpsx?

Lastly have you compared your mpd8 dac to msb dacs by any chance? Any impressions and opinions you can share?

One really cool thing about the mpd8 is that it claims it does not need external clocks.

I didn't mean to suggest the streamer in the MPT8/MPSX is bad (subpar) in any way. It is very good and many would be happy with it. The playback streamer + the digital processing/buffering + reclocking in the MPTs/MPSX together ensures very high quality SQ when streaming. But as a few have experienced, having an external high end streamer sounds better - i suspect in some of these high end streamers, they (1) do a great/better job dealing with the incoming noise/jitter on ethernet (you are paying for that); (2) optimized (in some cases custom silicon) streaming processing resulting in lower electrical noise floor and lower jitter (again you paying for that too); (3) the 3 layers of buffering/reclocking that happens (external streamer -> mpsx/mpt8 -> mpd8) helps to improve the overall SQ.

I don't use an external streamer. I use the streamer in my MPT8 to explore music to ultimately buy in CD/SACD form. My primary use case is the CD/SACD transport. I have consistently found playing a disc to sound the best. And in one of my email exchanges with Andreas he did suggest that CD/SACD or playing off a local file sounds a tad better than streaming off the network. To my ears, I think CD/SACD sounds the best (caveat, i have not invested heavily in networking treatments to improve my streaming chain - perhaps that might change my perception).

I have heard the MSB reference (though not side by side and so subject to the unreliability of my aural memory and differences in the downstream components) at a show. It did not have the MSB digital director (for source isolation and additional processing) and it had a CD transport as source) The MSB sounded very smooth and organic. But I find the MPD8 sounding more natural (in tone) and an overall increase in presence of the performers (i have a newer MPD8 with the latest output stage that was released starting in the Sept/Oct'24 production run, and that might be a contributing factor) .

 

[F208Frank]

Thanks for

I didn't mean to suggest the streamer in the MPT8/MPSX is bad (subpar) in any way. It is very good and many would be happy with it. The playback streamer + the digital processing/buffering + reclocking in the MPTs/MPSX together ensures very high quality SQ when streaming. But as a few have experienced, having an external high end streamer sounds better - i suspect in some of these high end streamers, they (1) do a great/better job dealing with the incoming noise/jitter on ethernet (you are paying for that); (2) optimized (in some cases custom silicon) streaming processing resulting in lower electrical noise floor and lower jitter (again you paying for that too); (3) the 3 layers of buffering/reclocking that happens (external streamer -> mpsx/mpt8 -> mpd8) helps to improve the overall SQ.

I don't use an external streamer. I use the streamer in my MPT8 to explore music to ultimately buy in CD/SACD form. My primary use case is the CD/SACD transport. I have consistently found playing a disc to sound the best. And in one of my email exchanges with Andreas he did suggest that CD/SACD or playing off a local file sounds a tad better than streaming off the network. To my ears, I think CD/SACD sounds the best (caveat, i have not invested heavily in networking treatments to improve my streaming chain - perhaps that might change my perception).

I have heard the MSB reference (though not side by side and so subject to the unreliability of my aural memory and differences in the downstream components) at a show. It did not have the MSB digital director (for source isolation and additional processing) and it had a CD transport as source) The MSB sounded very smooth and organic. But I find the MPD8 sounding more natural (in tone) and an overall increase in presence of the performers (i have a newer MPD8 with the latest output stage that was released starting in the Sept/Oct'24 production run, and that might be a contributing factor) .

Thanks for the response.

If you ever decide to take the streaming up a notch may I highly suggest the tempus switch combined with the muon pro filter system from the company network acoustics, these items would go right before your streamer (in your case mpsx)

They have a free trial, and they are getting more and more acknowledgement recently. I was lucky to be one of their very first batch of customers.

I discovered them via talking to one of the co owners of the company via a headphone forum as that was where my audio hobby started. He never once actually tried to sell me anything, it was more so me asking random questions and it led to me realizing he owned Network Acoustics.

 

[longinc]

Thanks for

Thanks for the response.

If you ever decide to take the streaming up a notch may I highly suggest the tempus switch combined with the muon pro filter system from the company network acoustics, these items would go right before your streamer (in your case mpsx)

They have a free trial, and they are getting more and more acknowledgement recently. I was lucky to be one of their very first batch of customers.

I discovered them via talking to one of the co owners of the company via a headphone forum as that was where my audio hobby started. He never once actually tried to sell me anything, it was more so me asking random questions and it led to me realizing he owned Network Acoustics.

Thank you for the recommendations!

 

[F208Frank]

I haven't got access to the Nagra streamer, where it wouldn't be fair to say. Streamers matters though, where there are several strong contenders on the higher level - the new Lumin U2x being one of them. I would also suggest to look at the network itself (switch, Ethernet cables etc.).

The JPLAY recommendation for the mpsx when using it as a streamer is pretty darn good. JPLAY is a really clean beautiful app. Just wanted to thank you for reminding me it exists.

 

[longinc]

The JPLAY recommendation for the mpsx when using it as a streamer is pretty darn good. JPLAY is a really clean beautiful app. Just wanted to thank you for reminding me it exists.

Was the improvement primarily in the user interface, or did you hear significant sonic improvements too? thanks.

 

[F208Frank]

Was the improvement primarily in the user interface, or did you hear significant sonic improvements too? thanks.

Both.

Edit: I am really impressed by the interface, arguably even cleaner looking than Roon dare I say.