I originally purchased the MU1 for its amazingly pure-sounding AES/EBU output. However, I found that while successive firmware updates had increased its resolution and refinement, they had also made it more sensitive to (or revealing of) the typical Roon downsides, which vary with every Roon update. As a result, I started experimenting with using the MU1 purely as a server, streaming to other endpoints.
The first candidate, of course, was the CH C1.2 DAC, which had me 100% convinced of its superlative performance via AES/EBU and streaming via UPnP. However, as with most DACs, the Roon Ready input was always less convincing. When using the Grimm server to stream to the CH DAC directly, the sound remains fluid and natural, with increased purity and delicacy compared to using the Grimm’s AES/EBU or S/PDIF output. However, it still lacks stature, conviction, and expression, essentially the typical Roon downsides, and this eventually led to the addition of the Aqua LinQ Network Interface.
The MPT-8, however, provides a fresh perspective. To be fair, the MU1’s digital output section is special in that it offers excellent resolution and transparency while remaining fluid and refined, avoiding sounding stereotypically digital. Come to think of it, it has some resemblance to classic Meridian CD players such as the 507 and 808. In any case, the MPT-8 retains all of the MU1’s “non-digital” qualities while further increasing the naturalness with improved purity, texture, deepened saturation, and an altogether more organic flow. Additionally, and this is what truly sets it apart for me, the MPT-8 sounds much more concrete, dynamic, and confident, successfully offsetting the undesired Roon signature.
As a relatively affordable but brilliant and almost endlessly expandable network interface, the Aqua LinQ has consistently provided the best streaming performance in my system. It reigned supreme until I reviewed the Playback Designs MPS-X, which performs even better in certain key aspects. For instance, the MPS-X sounds lusher and more liquid and refined. However, these benefits come at the expense of a reduction in incisiveness, solidity, and articulation. As such, I felt both interfaces offer a valid perspective.
The LinQ sounds best using UPnP or Squeezelite. Fortunately, Roon is compatible with Squeezelite. To that end, the software emulates a Squeeze server and can then stream directly to a Squeezebox or Squeeze-compatible product. Note that only one Squeeze server may be active at any time, so any hardware or software Squeeze servers must be switched off, or Roon will not work.
Using native Squeeze or Roon with Squeezelite to the Aqua LinQ sounds really great, and I’ve waxed lyrical about this in the LinQ Squeeze Module review. Alas, as much as I like the LinQ, the MPT-8 is in another league. It sounds significantly cleaner and purer and, at the same time, more natural. Whereas I usually need the LinQ for Roon to become acceptable, the MPT-8 achieves its superior rendition using native Roon RAAT!
What’s more, the MPT-8 achieves all the accolades so deserved by the MPS-X (using Stream-X2) and “simply” adds the aforementioned advances to them, resulting in the best Roon performance I have achieved in this system so far.
Regular readers know that I love the Roon interface and its extensive functionality, but ultimately prefer the clean and direct sound of UPnP. So, as the final experiment, let’s see how the MPT-8 performs compared with the Aqua LinQ using this protocol. With the Oladra in UPnP/MPD mode, controlled with the excellent JPLAY iOS app, the LinQ provides a familiar sound that is convincingly robust, tight, and concrete. However, it is also darker, rougher, and considerably less refined than the MPT-8 has achieved using Roon and Squeezelite.
Oh, boy, that pretty much set the stage already. Indeed, when streaming to the MPT-8 using UPnP, it further emphasizes its supremacy, effectively dethroning the LinQ as the best streaming endpoint. The MPT-8 outperforms it with massively increased airiness, spaciousness, and fluidity. Simultaneously and amazingly, the MPT-8 significantly increases resolution while remaining liquid and ultra-refined. To be clear, Roon still sounds slightly fuller and more relaxed, while UPnP sounds somewhat cleaner and more incisive. But at this level, I would argue that the format no longer matters much, as the MPT-8 is superior whether streaming from Roon or UPnP.
Conclusion
Do not assume the MPT-8 Dream Transport merely provides a beautiful enclosure for the Stream-X2 option with additional functionality and connectivity. While it certainly does these things, the MPT-8 dramatically enhances the performance of any source while also throwing in a superb CD transport.
The Dream Transport does not take its moniker lightly. By a massive margin, it is both the best Streaming Endpoint and CD Transport I have heard.
To entirely do it justice, it receives the HFA Magnificent Masterpiece award.
Try out Roon for yourself
External Links
Manufacturer: Playback Designs
PRESTIGE AUDIO DIFFUSION
Distributor for France & Monaco / Belgium / Switzerland
Contact : Marc Loubeau
Tel : +33(0)6 49 89 68 88
Email: contact@prestigeaudio-diffusion.fr
Website: www.prestigeaudio-diffusion.fr
More About Playback Designs
Interview with Andreas Koch about the future of CD and SACD (feverSound.com)
DSD Seminar by Andreas Koch (blogspot.com)
Hi Christiaan,
thank you, great review as usual.
One question:
Only considering streaming from Qobuz, after this review which set-up (upstream to the DAC) provides the best performance when using MPD-8 as DAC?
Thank you
Matt
You mean which server? I will leave that to the reader to decide as they all have their unique characters, which I described in the MPD-8 review. The beauty of Qobuz is that you can also stream directly, without a server, directly from an app. This also sounds really good.
Hi Christiaan, I appreciate your review. I had a MPS-8 + Stream X2 and used it for some months with MPD-8, connected by P-Link. The sound was really impressive, better to all my previous digital set up. Listening to CD or SACD proved that PLAYBACK DESIGNS has realized a fantastic player at quite an expensive price but not stratospheric. Then I use TAIKO Extreme + MPD-8 with USB and the sound from Qobuz or server is much more open, more realistic in soundstage and dynamics increased to an unpredicted level of realness. I much recommend to use MPT-8 or MPS-8 with better feet than the original that use felt. Remove the 3 felts, use top rank cones + base and the sound will improve greatly.
Best
Hi PHP,
thanks for your info that Taiko Extreme outperforms MPS-8 + Stream X2.
I think you will not get a comment by Christiaan about Taiko since he works for this company.
ATB
Indeed, I cannot get into deeper comparisons between the Extreme and other servers, as that will pose a conflict of interest. This is why I rarely use the Extreme Server in my reviews.