Playback Designs MPD-8 Dream DAC
Review organized by Marc Loubeau / Prestige Audio Diffusion
Review sample provided by Prestige Audio Diffusion
Retail prices including VAT:
MPD-8: 30.990 euro (as reviewed)
MPD-8-AI (analog inputs): 35.990 euro
MPT-8: 23.990 euro
MPT-8 with Stream-X2 option: 27.580 euro (as reviewed)
USB X4 Interface (converts USB to PLINK): 3.990 euro
This review will focus on the MPD-8 Dream DAC in combination with a range of sources, one of which will be the MPT-8 Transport with the Stream-X2 option and PLINK interface.
About Playback Designs
For detailed information about founders Andreas Koch and Bert Vogt, the origin of Playback Designs, and the Edelweiss design philosophy, please see my earlier Playback Designs MPS-X review.
Dream Series Design Philosophy
The from-ground-up new architecture is the result of multiple prototype generations over two years where the experience of digital and analog algorithms and circuit designs from Andreas Koch’s and Bert Vogt’s expertise, refined over many decades, has been combined and perfected to create a genuinely no-compromise, flexible, and programmable product platform that can deliver ultimate performance and can grow for many years as technology keeps evolving.
Expandability
Playback Designs products are known for their expandable architecture. For instance, the MPS-5 SACD player received 20 free software and one hardware upgrade over its lifetime of ten years. The Dream Series has been architected with the same philosophy in mind: Software upgrades for performance improvements and also new features can be installed by the end user at no cost.
MPD-8 Description
Part of Playback Design’s Dream Series, the MPD-8, along with the MPD-8AI (with analog inputs), are the company’s highest-tier DACs. The DAC-8’s architecture is specifically designed to eliminate and isolate anything that might hurt its analog performance. For instance, left and right output channels are built on separate circuit boards powered by completely separate power supplies. For the audio sample clock, Playback Designs uses a proprietary generator designed to eliminate any correlated jitter that can negatively impact the sonic performance. All digital input signals are filtered, cleaned, and processed with Playback Designs’ proprietary algorithms to keep any negative influences away from the hyper-sensitive DAC. Special care has been given to the design of the clock generator to make sure it is not exposed to any potentially harmful influences from external sources.
The DAC features a Discrete architecture with Playback Designs’ proprietary digital algorithms. The analog outputs can be set to fixed values of -6db, -3db, 0db, +3db, +6db, or to variable for fully analog volume control.
Compared to the Edelweiss series MPD-6 DAC that I reviewed in 2023, the Dream Series MPD-8 DAC offers, among others, three regulated analog power supplies, each fed from its independent toroidal transformer, a separate power supply for the front panel display, a single clock source to drive every circuit from control processor, to signal processor, to digital input, to display, extensive mechanical shielding including with Mu-metal shielding, completely separated core D/A and associated analog output circuitry, and a Double-Differential Discrete DAC (two completely separate circuits for each channel, instead of “regular” differential).
The Dream Series DACs incorporate the same basic digital signal processing algorithms that already made Playback Designs’ earlier products famous and well-liked worldwide. New frequency and time-based filters are working in concert to optimize performance during transients in the music signal – and the music signal is generally full of such transient signals.
While the core DAC is built with discrete components (no off-the-shelf chip sets), just like all previous products by Playback Designs, the Dream Series DAC section is built with a much more elaborate architecture and layout, more precise and powerful components, and with strict separation between sensitive circuits and anything that could impact its performance negatively.
The analog output stage of the DAC is designed with the finest components of 0.1% metal film resistors and film capacitors combined with the lowest noise precision impedance converters. This new design features a true double differential structure, which means that one audio channel is actually built out of four fully differential digital signals that are driven by a FPGA dedicated to the analog section only. Further, the data transfer from the digital board to this FPGA is also differential, without any galvanic ground connections.
The Dream Series incorporates a very high-quality analog volume control developed and refined over many years. Even the volume control is laid out differentially.
When looking at the inside photos, it is evident that the designers have not simply enclosed the MPD-6 electronics with minor changes in a more elaborate enclosure. Instead, the circuitry is entirely different and occupies nearly all available space. Due to the new layout, it was not possible to add the Stream-X2 board. Naturally, this board can be added to other components, the MPT-8 being the prime example.
Chock-full: MPD-8 Dream DAC:
Room to spare: Edelweiss MPD-6 DAC:
The MPD-8 is equipped with a range of digital inputs to serve as a stand-alone DAC with any digital source. These inputs are automatically switched off internally if not selected to prevent any adverse effect of asynchronous data streams from reaching the DAC. Additionally, the user may deactivate any inputs that are not used to shorten the list of selectable inputs.
Optional Analog Inputs
The MPD-8 can also be ordered as an MPD-8 AI version with analog inputs to complete its fully analog preamplifier functionality. Please note that upgrading an MPD-8 to an MPD-8AI is not possible as there are significant differences in the chassis between these two products.
The MPD-8 AI is the same MPD-8 Dream DAC but with the addition of two analog inputs, one balanced and one single-ended. The MPD-8 AI helps to simplify the system setup as no external pre-amp is necessary. Any analog sources can be connected to the analog inputs of the MPD-8AI, which is then connected directly to the power amp. The MPD-8AI then handles volume control for all analog and digital sources in the system.
Updated Analog Output Stage
Recently, the analog output stage for the MPD-8 and MPD-8AI has been upgraded with a selection of new components. The design is otherwise unchanged, and although the change results in a worthwhile improvement, the designers did not feel the change was significant enough to change the product to a Mk2 version. According to the manufacturer:
“The overall performance has improved audibly. Higher volume listening is cleaner, the dynamics are punchier, and the sound stage seems even livelier than with the original MPD-8”.
In short, the consensus is that if one likes the original, one will enjoy the updated version even more.
Due to high demand by reviewers, the demo sample was not yet equipped with this new board, but any MPD-8 or MPD-8 AI delivered since September 2024 has been fitted with the upgraded analog output stage.
Next: PLINK, and MPT-8 Description
Hi Christiaan,
thanks for a great review. You mentioned on page 2:
“This is worth noting as there are currently no CD/SACD or Streamer Transports in the NAGRA catalog.”
What about the NAGRA streamer?
Thanks for spotting that, Matt. I have now updated that to mention only CD/SACD transports.
Hi Christiaan,
how does the Stream-X2 compare to Oladra for streaming from streaming services like Qobuz or Tidal?
Thanks
That’s something for a potential follow-up review of the MPT-8. But in short: Qobuz sounds superb with Stream-X2. As much as I like the Oladra, Stream-X2 with the MPT-8 sounds faster-paced, more communicative and more direct, while retaining fluidity and flow. To my ears, it is the best streaming source yet.
Thanks Christiaan, very interesting…
It might be fun to try both the Nagra streamer and the USB-X4 via PLink with the MPD-8. Both are less than 5k and get some good reports about their SQ.
Hi Christiaan,
Playback Designa’s presentation of the MPD-6 DAC says: ”The Edelweiss DAC borrows technology from our flagship Dream series in a more compact
package.” I know that a long time passed since your MPD-6 review, and I also know that comparisons from memory are not very reliable; but from the feelings that you may have had, are they two DACs with fairly comparable performance, or does the Dream DAC offer such important differences as to justify a not small price difference? I have half a mind to replace my Bricasti M1SE that I bought a few years ago (even after reading your review), and among the possible candidates there is Playback Designs, but what is the real ”deal” between the two?
Regards
Roberto
Hi Roberto, that is indeed a hard one to answer precisely without having them side by side. From memory, they have a similarly agile and neutral sound. However, I have a strong feeling that the Dream Series sounds more well-rooted, confident, and realistic. Perhaps most telling is that I loved the MPD-6 when I reviewed it, but I did not want to trade my CH C1.2 for it. With the MPD-8, it is a different story. In this case, I could happily trade. It is that good.
I have huge respect for Bricasti and I like their ultra-refined sound (similarly to how I perceived the Levinson 360S and 390S), but to my ears, their gear can be a little too polished and polite. Playback Designs manages to tick all the technical boxes just like the Bricasti does, while sounding more upbeat and realistic, as well as more organic.
fwiw i own both and am selling the edelweiss (no reason to keep when you have the dream).
dream is appreciably better in bass depth / articulation (while the midrange is the magic, the foundation of music is in the bass), dynamics and overall PRAT (read: that better power supply has its benefits).
dream has slightly better resolution BUT both products have the same “house sound” that permits LONG listening sessions without fatigue. i’ve never gotten tired listening to a PD dac. and i listen for hours on end. they both have a great even-handed way with the treble region where its extended but sweet.
Also, both products do quite well normalizing sources by way of the jitter rejection tech as Christiaan wrote of (makes lower quality sources very listenable).
is the dream better? of course.
is it worth your $ is a personal ? only you can answer.
Hi Christiaan! During your review of the MPD-6, you also had the stand-alone streamer MPS-X at your disposal. This time, with the Dream products, it concerned the Stream X2 module. My question: Did you notice (yes I know, MPS-X was quite a while ago, but maybe you remember
a difference with the module compared to the stand-alone version? It’s exactly the same, but the MPS-X might profit from having its own power supply, which could be audible. What’s your take on this? Thanks in advance and best regards, Arnaud
That’s a question more fitted for the MPD-6 or MPS-X review… but in short: the MPS-X has the advantage of reclocking and PLINK.
Hi Christiaan,
my apologies, from recollection I thought you didn’t have the Stream X2 at the time, I actually thought this was the first time. So I should have asked (cause that’s what I’m curious about, and hopefully this is a better fit for this review):
“MPT-8 + StreamX2 vs. MPS-X stand-alone”. Because in that comparison, there is P-link to DAC in both cases, and it only comes down to separation / power supply shared or dedicated etc. It might be that with the MPS-X, there is a second PDFAS reclock, but of that I’m not sure and if so, if it matters. Anyway, maybe you have an opinion about the above. Thanks anyway for another detailed PD review. Best regards,
Arnaud
Hi Arnoud, indeed, This review concerned the Stream-X2, whereas the earlier review concerned the Stream-X. I extrapolated my impressions to provide some information for you. It is impossible for me to make a mental comparison between Stream-X and Stream-X2. However, in all my comparisons so far, the separate chassis (whether Stream-X or MPT-8) further increases the expression and realism. Just why that is, is a question for the good people at Playback Designs:-)
MPD-8 + MPS-X fixed the harshness that I head from the RAAL Immanis. I was going to kick the Immanis to the curb and had wanted a PBD DAC for a long time. I thought why not give it a shot. No more harshness, was previously using Chord DAVE. I only listen with headphones and IEMs (PMG APX SE). I have no interest in speakers at this time. My Chain is: Shunyata Everest –> Macbook pro–> MPS-X –> PLINK into MPD-8 –> Feliks Envy 25th AE w/ TM300B & Melz 1578.
I cannot overstate the improvement that MPD-8 has had. Most the timeI listen to bandcamp streaming but I also listen to HD Audiophile recordings via Jriver & Macbook Pro. Not only does simple streaming from bandcamp sound absurdly good, those well reocrded audiophile albums, never heard anything so good and I have this in my house all day everyday as I work from home.