Playback designs

[Staxxx]

Hi Staxxx i did not mean it in a negative way. I do love the Esoteric transport sound, it is able to bring out the smallest nuances very clearly unlike the Pro2 which while brings it out , is more "broad" than incisive

Ahhh...Sorry...got it!

 

[sidvee]

i meant after customs sidvee. it was 1200 USD..comes to 1500-1600 landed with Duty and customs.

Not Sure Arj - this is the price on the link you provided:

Price list
Model_2 tube D/A Converter US$650 590Euro 68000Yen
Model_3 CD Player / CD Transport US$1500 1360Euro 150000Yen
Model4 Phono Equalizer Amplifier US$650 590Euro 68000Yen
Model5 made by Metal film resistor US$340 310Euro 34000Yen
Model5 made by Carbon composition resistor US$380 345Euro 38000Yen

Have to add shipping & customs to the above.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[arj]

I think the price of the transport only is lower than the cdp which is at 1500 at least that's how it was when I bought it


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[sidvee]

I think the price of the transport only is lower than the cdp which is at 1500 at least that's how it was when I bought it


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Or perhaps the prices have gone up. Anyways will get in touch with them.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[square_wave]

I haven't really checked their lineup recently but Staxxx has already replied to your query.
See here for more Audire : High End Audio, Video and Automation

I was in touch with Sharath some years ago when I was interested in some of their gear so I still continue to be on their mailing list. I'm pretty sure I can't afford whatever they sell these days (Magico, Dartzeel, Playback Designs etc)

Yes - really esoteric gear

I was always intrigued by Belles gear. Happy to see them in town.

 

[awedeophile]

Can any PBD owner mention how much better the unit sounds with the add on UB-X box ($2K) for normal red book 16/44.1 playback, as compared to the USB1 input at the back of the player?
I have assumed that there is a significant lift in performance and thus there is then no need to get Off -Ramps.

Hi.. Sorry for the late reply; I visited the forum after a long time for something else and found this topic.

I own the MPD-5 and think it is an excellent DAC for the price. I have not compared it with all the DAC's in the world, but having heard different DAC's (albeit in different setups), I personally feel it is one of the top DAC's out there.

The USB input on the DAC is only for convenience sake and is NOT audiophile grade at all. Jonathan Tinn has posted this on some other forum too. Which is why they came out with the USB-X. The MPD-5 cannot be compared using it's internal USB - you have to use one of the digital inputs with an external USB/SPDIF or the USB-X box from PD.

I use mine with a M2Tech EVO which I find to be very good. I have tried a Weiss Firewire/AES interface too.

 

[HMV]

Thanks for your insights awedeophile.

I have had the pleasure of hearing the MPS-5 with Empirical off-ramp combo connected into the AES/EBU unit.
But what is it that is stopping the PB owners from getting the UBX box- Is the cost associated with it too dear to justify for an USB input?
The 4 owners that I have heard off through forums, only one has invested in the UB-X box and that is mainly because of the high quantity of hi-rez files they have.
Hence the query of what others have found in performance through the UBX attachment. Does it go beyond or levels performance like the Empirical attachment (so far the best in my books) for any of the other inputs?
Hence would one say that to really take the best out of a PBD Level 5 Dac you would need to spend anywhere from 500 dollars to $2K on a converter.
Thanks
HMV

 

[awedeophile]

I bought the PD before the USB-X Box was released although I was informed about it.
I have been using it with the EVO since then. Also, over the last year, I have been spending increasingly less time listening to music, due to which I haven't thought of upgrading or trying the USB-X.
For someone doing Hi-Rez / DSD, the USB-X is needed.

"Hence would one say that to really take the best out of a PBD Level 5 Dac you would need to spend anywhere from 500 dollars to $2K on a converter."

If you want to do USB, then you need to spend on a Converter. I spent $300 and am very happy with the results and am able to play tracks up to 24/192 without a hitch.
Then again, people spend more on Power Cables, etc. to get the best out of their equipment.

Many are using sound cards that output AES/SPDIF in which case you do not need a converter and can go direct to the MPD.