Playback Designs MPD-3

10-17-11: Ghasley
The playback designs upsamples everything to 6.1 MHz DSD so it sounds amazing, spacious, ALOT of air around the performers.

too bad there isn't an option for Native playback. I find upsampling to degrade the sound of redbook.

10-19-11: Ghasley
Rockitman, I was in your camp as well....a bona fide play it back in its native sample rate kind of guy.....until I heard the MPD-3. the playback designs upsampling all the way to DSD is something of a revelation. You should listen for yourself, you might change your opinion. One simply can't make a blanket assertion until you hear it for yourself.

I have the PS Audio Perfect Wav system that allows me to compare playback natively or upsample to whatever sampling frequency, bit rate I want. Perhaps the MPD-3 is different...on the PS Audio I found native to be more true and pure to the sound...especially in the treble region. Perhaps I will look into the MPD-3 down the road, especially if I could get a trial and do a head to head comparo with my current system. I am mostly a vinyl guy now, but have a large collection of live digitally recorded music....In most cases with studio recordings, I will stick with my turntable/vinyl.

Thanks Ghasley...the DSD conversion sounds very compelling. Now you are starting to get me to think about spending more money...LOL

10-19-11: Ghasley
How funny.....it would be less expensive over the long haul if we had a different hobby/passion/addiction. Are you near a dealer? It's worth a listen, whether you are in the market or not. I think as more and more hear what's possible, more manufacturers will be going back to the drawing board.

If you like vinyl, I haven't heard anything that comes closer to my ears. To those who have been raised on MP3's, there is a "listening curve"....my niece sat and listened for a while and then it just snapped, playing some of her music for her through my system and the Playback Designs she was totally digging it. Then through the turntable she understood why it was so different. Good luck.

I live in upstate NY...A high end doldrum...I would have to go to NYC to audition, yet store auditions don't necessarily give you the whole picture when we are talking about high end dac's where sound quality differences become more subjective....it is critical to hear the dac in your system. It would behove dealer's to buy said DAC themselves and loan it out demo with credit card security of course. If hi-end dealers got that through their heads, they would sell a lot more units...Not marketing rocket science considering the intelligence level of people with $$$ to spend on expensive gear. My Pass dealer does this and he probably sells the most Pass gear in the country. The Boutique Mfg'd/Distributors are hurting themselves by not providing this level of service and disclosure of technicalities on why their equipment is conceived in such a way and constructed better than said competition...OK rant off. :-}