What a coincidence, all the players mentioned in my post are on demo at Adelphi. It should be worth a visit.
BTW, my point of reference while evaluating digital has always been CD only, I am not yet into hi-rez digital.
Playback designs
- Thread starter sidvee
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What a coincidence, all the players mentioned in my post are on demo at Adelphi. It should be worth a visit.
BTW, my point of reference while evaluating digital has always been CD only, I am not yet into hi-rez digital.
Ok, my main lookout, is the performance of the DAC during playback of standard rez digital files (and ocassionally hi-rez when I find my type of music in this format), FLAC, WAV what have you. Having made a shift into file based playback my CD listening has dropped considerably.
Cheers,
Sid
p.s. personally, I am curious about this: introducing LEVEL 6 DAC - the Fikus DAC - much more so than the level 4/5
The only worry is the restriction of only one input. My current one has two and I use both.
The only worry is the restriction of only one input. My current one has two and I use both.
Hi,
I had the opportunity to audition the DAC 5 at a friends place.At that time he was toying with the idea of using this DAC in his system.
To me this DAC favours the midrange and if that is what you are looking for then this DAC is worth auditioning.Having said that there is a bit of a trade off at either end of the frequency spectrum - I thought that the highs were rolled off and the bass lacked that last degree of bite and slam.
I suspect that the design favours a relaxed, tubey sound. To me, it ain't a million miles away from the Skylla (which I have also heard a couple of times)
My two bits...
I had the opportunity to audition the DAC 5 at a friends place.At that time he was toying with the idea of using this DAC in his system.
To me this DAC favours the midrange and if that is what you are looking for then this DAC is worth auditioning.Having said that there is a bit of a trade off at either end of the frequency spectrum - I thought that the highs were rolled off and the bass lacked that last degree of bite and slam.
I suspect that the design favours a relaxed, tubey sound. To me, it ain't a million miles away from the Skylla (which I have also heard a couple of times)
My two bits...
Superb:clapping:
bhagwan
Well-Known Member
CES 2013 - Newsletter :-
Another CES / THE Show has come and gone and as usual we had a great deal of fun. It was a pleasure to see and spend time with those of you who attended.
We always try to do something a little bit unusual and this year was no different. This year we focused on head to head comparisons with analog. We chose arguably the finest analog setup available today; the Wave Kinetics NVS turntable ($45,000), the Durand Telos tonearm ($19,500) and the Ortofon MC-Anna cartridge ($8,500). Our comparisons started with playing records followed by DSD or DSD 2X files of the identical titles, being played from our hard drive via J River Media Center and being fed into the DAC section of our MPS-3. The results were fantastic.
Jaws dropped when people heard Acoustic Sounds release of Shelby Lynne's Just a Little Lovin' being played on the turntable. But what really shocked the listeners was when we immediately followed with a DSD 2X version of the same track. People were commenting how they could not believe that digital could sound so close to analog and how they thought a company that makes digital players would be insane to do these comparisons. It really was a lot of fun.
You might start hearing some rumors of a new product we will be launching some time this summer. Although, due to the target shipping date, it was very premature to show it at C.E.S. / T.H.E. Show this year, the pre-production unit was completed and passed all tests just prior to us leaving for Las Vegas and we could not help ourselves. It was actually the first time any of us really got to listen. Wow!
Thursday and Friday, the final two days of the show, we disconnected everything and pretty much ran the new product exclusively. It is an integrated analog amplifier, preamplifier and DAC built in one chassis. It is identical in size to any of our current 3 Series products. Here are some preliminary specs:
130+ wpc RMS into 8 ohms / 260+ wpc RMS into 4 ohms
7 inputs: 1 - USB / 1 - AES/EBU / 1 - S/PDif / 1 - RCA / 2 - XLR / 1 - PlayLink (Proprietary)
As more information is available I will post it on the website and send out further announcements. Again, please look for it's release some time this Summer.
Best Regards,
Jonathan Tinn
(503) 221-0465 | [email protected] | Playback Designs
Copied & Pasted from Newsletter / Playback Design
Another CES / THE Show has come and gone and as usual we had a great deal of fun. It was a pleasure to see and spend time with those of you who attended.
We always try to do something a little bit unusual and this year was no different. This year we focused on head to head comparisons with analog. We chose arguably the finest analog setup available today; the Wave Kinetics NVS turntable ($45,000), the Durand Telos tonearm ($19,500) and the Ortofon MC-Anna cartridge ($8,500). Our comparisons started with playing records followed by DSD or DSD 2X files of the identical titles, being played from our hard drive via J River Media Center and being fed into the DAC section of our MPS-3. The results were fantastic.
Jaws dropped when people heard Acoustic Sounds release of Shelby Lynne's Just a Little Lovin' being played on the turntable. But what really shocked the listeners was when we immediately followed with a DSD 2X version of the same track. People were commenting how they could not believe that digital could sound so close to analog and how they thought a company that makes digital players would be insane to do these comparisons. It really was a lot of fun.
You might start hearing some rumors of a new product we will be launching some time this summer. Although, due to the target shipping date, it was very premature to show it at C.E.S. / T.H.E. Show this year, the pre-production unit was completed and passed all tests just prior to us leaving for Las Vegas and we could not help ourselves. It was actually the first time any of us really got to listen. Wow!
Thursday and Friday, the final two days of the show, we disconnected everything and pretty much ran the new product exclusively. It is an integrated analog amplifier, preamplifier and DAC built in one chassis. It is identical in size to any of our current 3 Series products. Here are some preliminary specs:
130+ wpc RMS into 8 ohms / 260+ wpc RMS into 4 ohms
7 inputs: 1 - USB / 1 - AES/EBU / 1 - S/PDif / 1 - RCA / 2 - XLR / 1 - PlayLink (Proprietary)
As more information is available I will post it on the website and send out further announcements. Again, please look for it's release some time this Summer.
Best Regards,
Jonathan Tinn
(503) 221-0465 | [email protected] | Playback Designs
Copied & Pasted from Newsletter / Playback Design
bhagwan
Well-Known Member
Interesting obsevation;
I owned the Ayon Skylla [1st piece in India - I think] - Gerhad is a friend [Ayon]
& I also got the 1st MP-5 into Mumbai - 2nd into India & have heard them both extensively & I am not so sure if the 2 dac's sound the same - then again these are my observations;;;
My Two Bits i.e. !!
square_wave
Well-Known Member
From what I hear, they should send out a piece to you. It would be great to hear your experience.
I was also extremely impressed by the Trigon Chronoloq. One piece player which will rip and store and then play from a hard disc at all resolutions. This player is part of the highest lineup from that company. This is available at the listening room in Bangalore.
bhagwan
Well-Known Member
Night & Day
The Ayon is relaxed & rounded
The PD is precise & fast - rather accurate
The Ayon is forgiving & the PD is not
The PRAT on the PB is better than the Ayon - in my opinion.
The USB implementation on the PD is perfect & on the Ayon it is better on the other digital inputs.
I personally would go for the MP-5 hands down over the Ayon;;
I found the PD to be @ 85 % of the dCS Scarlatti.
IMHO it is the BEST VFM DAC in the Audio World right now;;
I recommend it very highly....
:yahoo:
Thanks Bhagwan, I am sure the MPD5 is a great DAC, as should a product costing $11k US retail or INR 6 lakhs (direct conversion not including all govt. taxes) should, but that is way above the budget range I am looking at (about 50% more) - and as you know the law of diminishing returns will kick in quite hard here. So right now my comparison will be between the MPD3 and the skylla. Of-course as you know there is hardly any preowned market at these levels in India. I can pick up a slightly used MPD 3 from A'gon for about 1.8lacs right now, whereas here I will have to pay full retail. Anyways I will take my time to try and audition the 3 if possible and then take a call. Some members from other forums have cautioned me that for 16bit 44khz rips the MPD3 is not that great in comparison to the skylla and it excels in DSD for which there is not a lot of source material.
Cheers,
Sid
Thanks square, based on how my sale for the Cd2s goes, I will follow up with them.
Cheers,
Sid
bhagwan
Well-Known Member
Sir,
I am not sure, but the 'latest' version on the PD - MP-5 is listed @ 18K US & at Rs. 10 Lacs here in India - Audire sells it, I think...However all prices are not 100 % confirmed. These have been told to me by persons that own & use the MP-5 - I have not asked Audire for the prices direct & Mr. Tinn had quoted for the MP=5 [older model] about 2 + years back;;;Sorry.
bhagwan
Well-Known Member
Correct;
I had the 'initial' model of the Skylla I - I think.
The model was changed later...
2010 is when I let it go - sold to someone in Punjab - I think.
He has it with the GamuT L5 Speaker - I think...
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bhagwan
Well-Known Member
The Skylla is a Super Machine.
No 2 ways about it.
It is just that the MP-5 is a 'superior' machine..
MP=3 - I do not want to comment on.
I have not heard it @ Home. I have only auditioned it @ Shows & 'friends' houses. However, the system is alien to me; Hope you can understand...
If you want to change - then upgrade from a Skylla II to a used PD-5 [there is 1 for sale in India @ 3.5 Lacs - mail me for the details] The PD-3 will not be much of an upgrade - imho.
I have a different take on Diminishing Returns & will not get into that here.
The PD-5 is a super machine with 16/44.1
It takes all to DSD & DSD X 2
I refute what ever any FM has said. The PD plays 16/44.1 very well.:licklips:
Sir,
I am not sure, but the 'latest' version on the PD - MP-5 is listed @ 18K US & at Rs. 10 Lacs here in India - Audire sells it, I think...However all prices are not 100 % confirmed. These have been told to me by persons that own & use the MP-5 - I have not asked Audire for the prices direct & Mr. Tinn had quoted for the MP=5 [older model] about 2 + years back;;;Sorry.
Not sure what links I can post here (mods please delete if this is an inappropriate link)
DSD-Ready DACs (a short list) | AudioStream
Here are the US list prices updated as of Dec 2012. Not sure of Indian pricing.
Cheers,
Sid
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Thanks Bhagwan,
Actually I have a Cd2s - so I am planning to upgrade either to a skylla or PD MPD-3. So what you are saying is that there will be not be much of a difference between the skylla II and MPD-3. It appears that is the general impression of other users as well. Oh well, I guess I will have to try and audition one and see where this goes.
Cheers,
Sid
That is correct!
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