allears
New member
It's tough to drag myself away from my rig and get some things done today.
First new toy of 2017 - Musical Paradise MP-D2
- Thread starter joeinid
- Start date
- Thread Author
- #82
I know exactly how you feel. I was totally captivated as it started to break in and open up.
It's tough to drag myself away from my rig and get some things done today.
Jack
Active member
Roy
It will keep getting better over the next week or so.
It will keep getting better over the next week or so.
allears
New member
I'm getting very excited about this DAC! Its losing the vestiges of the initial edge. Getting smoother and smoother ...more musical. If its this good with the stock tubes I'll have a nice ride.
Jack
Active member
Roy
Other than the 5AR4's you can try pretty much all of the other rectifiers buying NOS on Ebay for usually less than $25 a piece and less if you are patient. If you want to stay in the 6 volt family with the input tubes since like me you are only swapping two the Tungsram PCC88 or the 6n23's from Reflektor or Volskod are a good place to start. Also the Phillips and Mitsubishi 7DJ8's are good for not much. The European 6DJ8's are a lot pricier.
Other than the 5AR4's you can try pretty much all of the other rectifiers buying NOS on Ebay for usually less than $25 a piece and less if you are patient. If you want to stay in the 6 volt family with the input tubes since like me you are only swapping two the Tungsram PCC88 or the 6n23's from Reflektor or Volskod are a good place to start. Also the Phillips and Mitsubishi 7DJ8's are good for not much. The European 6DJ8's are a lot pricier.
- Thread Author
- #87
I'm not sure what that is. Can you explain a little? It's auto switching and lets you know when dsd is active.
Lot of DACs up-sample internally to higher sample rate - the AK4490 does 256x over sampling. Depending on the internal clock and its placement relative to the DAC chip, this may or may be optimal. If you up-sample it in the software, like the HQPlayer then the up-sampling is done twice. You loose the benefit of filters/modulators applied in the s/w and you are limited to what the DAC provides you. The bypass mode enables the DAC to bypass the internal up-sampling/processing and couple the input to the DAC's output stage. This is the cleanest signal path a DAC can provide. When in this mode, you would up-sample to DSD256 in your software and choose filters/modulators to fit your taste.
I have sent a mail to them couple of mins back and will post back what they reply.
Yes, I don't think it does but thought of asking. I am especially interested in the tubes/caps output stage of the MP-D2 versus discreet class A opamps which my DAC currently uses. With the right combination of the s/w based modulators/filters and putting the DAC chip in bypass mode can sound phenomenal.
- Thread Author
- #91
Please post your findings. I am curious what they say and what you end up doing, dac-wise. Please let us know.
Joe, sure will.
On the dac-wise question, I have Mike (Blizzard) Purestream which also uses AK4490 in bypass mode and it sounds phenomenal, the best I have heard in my system. It uses 4 discrete class A opamps and just like the Nords, you can experiment with different ones. Conceptually this is also similar to the MP-D2 where you can tailor the sound based on the tube instead of SS. All I can say is if you looking for sound purity, you can't go wrong with the Purestream. MP-D2 peaked my interest for the output stage - if they are willing to support the bypass feature, I might get one. Let see what they reply back.
Re: First new toy of 2017 - Estimated Delivery: Tuesday, January 03, 2017 By End of Day
Hahaha!
I dont see any DHTs so blood pressure very stable.
Just got back my upgraded GG that now has latest of everything...except I forgot to add HDMI input for i2s (future proofing). Just plugged it in and have the tubes breaking in. I have that Tube depot 274b in there as well as the much ballyhooded KR242. I am expecting to have some fun getting to know the Dac again.
Hahaha!
I dont see any DHTs so blood pressure very stable.
Just got back my upgraded GG that now has latest of everything...except I forgot to add HDMI input for i2s (future proofing). Just plugged it in and have the tubes breaking in. I have that Tube depot 274b in there as well as the much ballyhooded KR242. I am expecting to have some fun getting to know the Dac again.
CPP
Active member
Re: First new toy of 2017 - Estimated Delivery: Tuesday, January 03, 2017 By End of Day
hey Norm whats the cost for a upgraded GG these days for us normal people ?
hey Norm whats the cost for a upgraded GG these days for us normal people ?
CPP
Active member
Norm did you get the DS512 upgrade as there isn't much left to add to the GG as it come pretty much top shelf. ?
Kt77
New member
Re: First new toy of 2017 - Estimated Delivery: Tuesday, January 03, 2017 By End of Day
Your welcome Joe.
Much respect, and best wishes on your endeavors. As it seems you've began to use common logic on a lot of this overly priced stuff......., I for one am proud of you.
Your welcome Joe.
Much respect, and best wishes on your endeavors. As it seems you've began to use common logic on a lot of this overly priced stuff......., I for one am proud of you.
- Thread Author
- #98
Re: First new toy of 2017 - Estimated Delivery: Tuesday, January 03, 2017 By End of Day
:blush:
Ha! If you only knew. No, seriously. There are some amazing products for not too much money or a sane amount of money that need to get talked about more.
My MP-D2 is absolutely wonderful and for the price, a true home run!
:blush:
Ha! If you only knew. No, seriously. There are some amazing products for not too much money or a sane amount of money that need to get talked about more.
My MP-D2 is absolutely wonderful and for the price, a true home run!
CPP
Active member
Re: First new toy of 2017 - Estimated Delivery: Tuesday, January 03, 2017 By End of Day
Folks over at Headfi are reporting with some tube changes even better sonics.
Folks over at Headfi are reporting with some tube changes even better sonics.