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Playback Edelweiss in the house

So, after a long wait my Playback Edelweiss MPS-6 just arrived.  This unit is the DAC and SACD Player in one and I have had the Stream X added.  It is not Roon Ready at this time but the streaming function via MConnect Controller worked just fine.  

Build quality is obviously brilliant.  Nice chassis with simple, understated displays.  SACD controls are on the remote and the top edge of the DAC.  The remote is metal and well constructed.  

They say that it will take 500 hours to break-in.  Out of the box, this is clearly an elite DAC with what feels like unprecedented levels of detail in my system.  I am connected via Digital Coax from my Nucleus+ through a Chord 2Go/2Yu (K50 is on loan).  

The plan over the next 4 weeks is to keep it running most of the time and do a variety of tests once fully broken in and a few tests on the way.

One will be the standard five songs from the DAC Shootout connected via USB but I will also plan to put it through its paces as an SACD Player, Streamer and DAC with the K50 as the source.  

With less than an hour on it, all I can say is HOLY CRAP this thing sounds good.  

128x128verdantaudio

Showing 5 responses by lalitk

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,053 posts
 

Holy Crap…$21K and did you say it’s not even Roon ready 😳 

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,053 posts
 

$21K with Stream X Streamer Option. 

 

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,053 posts
 

“Hard to think of immediate competitors.”

@metaldetektor

To your point, this segment of the audio industry is rapidly evolving. I replaced my digital front end comprising EMM Labs DA2 and Aurender N20 with Merging Technologies +player.

The +player is a impressive piece on its own even before you consider the external power supply and clock options. I really appreciate the fact that +player eliminates the need for external device like Nucleus to run Roon core. The onboard internal CPU runs RoonCore and is controlled by Roon remote app on a tablet or smartphone. All this simplicity, the DAC’s superlative transparency and realism comes at a bargain price of $14K 😊

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,053 posts
 

@verdantaudio 

I believe you’re a dealer for Playback Designs…I may be interested in demoing the MPS-X. But I couldn’t tell if MPS-X uses Roon or has proprietary app to stream music from Qobuz or Tidal natively….what is your understanding? And most importantly have you heard it and what are your listening impressions of MPS-X. 

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,053 posts
 

@verdantaudio 

Appreciate your quick reply. While it is disappointing to hear MPS-X as ROON end point only, it is still worth exploring with JPLAY app. I recently tested the app and came away impressed with its native and seamless integration of Qobuz. The app is well laid out and gets very close to my favorite, Conductor App. 

MConnect sucks in my opinion. I have tested it with EMM Labs DA2 + NS1 :-) 

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