Playback Designs MPD-8 Dream DAC
PLINK and USB X4 Interface
The MPD-8 can interface directly with a wide range of digital sources, including Coaxial and Optical Toslink S/PDIF, AES/EBU, and USB. The DAC also offers two fiber optical PLINK inputs. An MPS-X can be added to separate the USB source from the DAC, add streaming functionality, and provide a PLINK output. Alternatively, the more cost-effective and compact USB X4 Interface adds a PLINK output to any USB source to take optimal advantage of the MPD-8’s PLINK inputs.
More about PLINK
PLINK is a variation on ST glass optical, specially adapted by Playback Designs to carry the delicate music signal from component to component whilst supporting all sample rates for PCM and DSD natively. PLINK is an optical format but uses an entirely different interface than Toslink. Instead of relying on an LED source, PLINK uses a high-quality, low-jitter, Laser ST fiber optic interface. This interface is normally used for very high bandwidth communication links where receivers require an extremely low-jitter signal for reliable decoding. The music signal travels over PLINK using a much lower bandwidth protocol than the specified limit of the media, further increasing robustness against jitter and allowing for extremely long cable lengths (up to 300m). Cables for PLINK are specified for multimode, 62.5/125µm.
The first version of the PLINK interface was launched more than 15 years ago and supported DSD up to 5.6MHz. This version is called “Classic” and is implemented in the Playback Designs 5-series products and IPS-3 (unless they have been upgraded). As technology never sits still, the DSD sample rate has been expanded to 11.2MHz several years ago. Accordingly, Playback Designs also expanded the PLINK format and called it “Sonoma” reminiscent of its Sonoma workstation origin.
It’s worth noting that PLINK is compatible with NAGRA LINK, meaning that the MPS-X Network Transport is compatible with NAGRA DACs with a NAGRA Link input. And the same logic applies to the MPT-8 Transport. This is worth noting as there are currently no CD/SACD Transports in the NAGRA catalog.
MPT-8 Brief Description
The MPT-8 is primarily a CD / SACD Transport (with native mode DSD via PLINK). However, it is also designed as an ideal platform for the Stream-X2 option, making it a Universal Transport.
The Stream-X2 option enables a wide range of Playback Designs components to include very high-quality streaming over an RJ45 network connection for local library- and cloud services, such as Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, vTuner, NAS, and Roon. Any DLNA/UPnP-compatible app will work with the Stream-X2 option, but the best ones are JPLAY for iPad and Bubble UPnP for Android.
The Stream-X2 option is also available for the Dream Series MPS-8 CD/SACD player/DAC, as well as the Edelweiss series MPD-6 DAC and MPS-6 CD/SACD player/DAC.
BTW, the Edelweiss series MPS-X Network Transport / Streamer is the standalone version of Stream-X2 board inside an Edelweiss series chassis ; plus PLINK interface.
Contrary to the MPD-8’s single-clock system, the MPT-8 is designed to allow multiple clock generators but then re-clocks all digital signals through the proprietary high-precision clock generator. Extensive buffering, re-clocking, filtering, and cleaning is applied to all sources to prevent any inter-modulation effects from reaching the DAC. As the last step, the digital data is encoded in its native format onto a fiber optical carrier (PLINK) to be decoded to analog by the MPD-8 DAC.
As the MPT-8 transport is a natural partner for the MPD-8 DAC, it makes perfect sense to review the two components together. However, the MPD-8 is also said to work formidably with any other digital source. Thus, I will assess it using various sources, including another CD transport, three different servers, and a network endpoint.
Next: Review Context and Listening
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.
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.