First new toy of 2017 - Musical Paradise MP-D2

Re: First new toy of 2017 - Estimated Delivery: Tuesday, January 03, 2017 By End of Day

Jack said:
The AKM chips are every bit as capable as any ESS chip just a different flavor. Their newest chips, announced at CES the same time as the newest ESS ones, are also just starting to get used in gear. Many manufacturers favor them like Esoteric. That same chipset is used in an $8000 Esoteric player. The newest chip the 4495 is used in the $12,000 and $20,000 models above it. So they think it is O.K.
Click to expand...

Also the Astell & Kern players are using AKM, as well as the Questyle QP1R.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Re: First new toy of 2017 - Estimated Delivery: Tuesday, January 03, 2017 By End of Day

joeinid said:
Nice, it's already sounding better than when I first powered it up. Stay tuned.
Click to expand...

Congratz Joe!...looks awesome!............I believe Musical Paradise is in my neck of the woods?Edmonton if I recall?
 
Thank you Michael. I think so but it ships directly from Hong Kong via DHL. Well packed and and shipped quickly. I can not believe what a bargain it is.
 
Re: First new toy of 2017 - Estimated Delivery: Tuesday, January 03, 2017 By End of Day

audio.bill said:
Randy - Didn't you initially have a Teac UD-503 DAC back in the day? It uses the same AKM 4490 DAC, but you've had so many other DACs since then I can understand you forgetting about it! :lol: Sorry, but I just couldn't resist.
Click to expand...

You know Bill, this chip the AKM 4490 is the same chip used in the new Bryston BDA-3 and the Teac UD503
 
Re: First new toy of 2017 - Estimated Delivery: Tuesday, January 03, 2017 By End of Day

CPP said:
You know Bill, this chip the AKM 4490 is the same chip used in the new Bryston BDA-3 and the Teac UD503
Click to expand...
Thanks, I realize that since I currently run the Bryston BDA-3 DAC! :audiophile:
 
Joe, will be following this thread with great interest. It's getting really expensive to play the DAC game (more than other gears) and MP-D2 type of DACs could really quench some thirst.
 
I already give my blessing. This is a killer deal. You do not have to upgrade like I did and even the basic model will get you in the door. Jack can help with upgrades. All the tubes and caps are a tube/cap rollers wet dream.

I am serious about how wonderful it sounds. It will do DSD through the USB input and you can upgrade in stages.

kzhtoo said:
Joe, will be following this thread with great interest. It's getting really expensive to play the DAC game (more than other gears) and MP-D2 type of DACs could really quench some thirst.
Click to expand...
 
Joe

Has any of the "edge" started to come off the top end after running constantly? The tubes shouldn't take long but the Mundorf's may take a while longer. Since I've already done the rectifier and 6 volt tube rolls I will probably try a couple of different caps after I finish rolling the 12 volt tubes. I'm running the DAC single ended due to the 6v gain from balanced so I only need to roll two capacitors. The cheapest place I have found for the Mundorf's is Sonic Craft and with shipping they are only about $10 cheaper than just letting the factory install them. The stock Obbligato's sound fine but I am pretty sure at some point the urge to try something different will get the best of me. And yes even with the shipped Russian 6H6 tubes and the Obbligato caps the MP-D2 is impressive.
 
Hi Jack,

It does seem smoother but I had it off when I left the house this afternoon and back on when I got home. I was not 100% comfortable leaving it on when not home although it seems extremely well made. So I will be power cycling it as necessary. I personally think some downtime may help the break in process, but that's me.
 
joeinid said:
I already give my blessing. This is a killer deal. You do not have to upgrade like I did and even the basic model will get you in the door. Jack can help with upgrades. All the tubes and caps are a tube/cap rollers wet dream.

I am serious about how wonderful it sounds. It will do DSD through the USB input and you can upgrade in stages.
Click to expand...

Joe, did you do any other modding than the upgrades you indicated in the order configuration?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
No, I just picked all the options from the order page and maxed it out. Delivered it was $1400 with the initial sale savings. I'm using mine balanced. I could have easily saved more and used my own tubes to upgrade and then add the caps later on.

Kuoppis said:
Joe, did you do any other modding than the upgrades you indicated in the order configuration?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
 
Dizzie

It is a binding post system for the caps.

I'm sure Garry does Amazon for the same reason as KEF, PS Audio and others. The exposure they get there is much cheaper than the magazines and they pay Amazon when an item actually sells. Plus some people think buying through Amazon is like a security blanket.
 
It's an absolutely wonderful dac. Auto switching for DSD and PCM. Sounds even better than when I first hooked it up. OMG! MQA files played through the Tidal desktop app via the USB port is amazing. I think we have had a few members place an order for theirs, I hope they speak up. It's really a game changer.

arthurs said:
Any update Joe?
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
joeinid said:
It's an absolutely wonderful dac. Auto switching for DSD and PCM. Sounds even better than when I first hooked it up. OMG! MQA files played through the Tidal desktop app via the USB port is amazing. I think we have had a few members place an order for theirs, I hope they speak up. It's really a game changer.
Click to expand...

I got mine yesterday evening. Still burning in; about 12 hrs. I left it on overnight.
When I first fired her up, she was fairly rough with the channels out of balance and with an edge to the highs. Its starting to mellow out presently. I ordered my MP-D2 with the stock tubes. Just out of curiousity, I rolled in an old stock Westinghouse 5R4; didn't sound much different than the stock tube. Hard to tell now as I'm sure the caps are still going through their changes too. I suspect that the output tubes will have more impact on SQ.

The first effects I noticed were the greater detail, greater extension and more distinct separation/imaging vs. my modded MHDT Constantine. It needs more hours before I can come to an overall conclusion but so far so good. The sound seems to be changing as I write. Its tempting to go ahead and order replacement output tubes so that I'm using this burn in time to break in some of the more highly rated tubes. Maybe I'll order a quality rectifier at the same time.:) I bet this DAC will present big classical works well.
 
~ 40 hrs. on the clock and she's opening up with the imaging locking in more. The MP-D2 fills the room much more than my reference DAC. A more enveloping soundstage to be sure. Played Alison Krauss and Union Station Live 2002 last night and it almost brought tears to my eyes. A truly great live recording. The proverbial Veil of Maya has been lifted another notch. The MP-d2 is big, bold and colorful. <br>

Listening to Bill Evans -Complete Village Recordings presently and I'm hearing more of everything. I've always wondered about the placement of the drum set in relation to the bass. It sounds like the bass is to the left and the drums are also on the left but slightly more towards center stage and back a bit. The bass,of course, is more difficult to localize but Scot LaFaro plays in the upper registers quite a bit. I'd like to get a higher rez version for comparison. Just doing
PCM 44.1 kHz here.
Has anybody tried bypassing the output caps yet?
I have a couple well burned in 0.1uf Russian teflons on my MHDT that I tempted to try on the MP-D2. Now I'm trying to decide which output tubes to roll in first.<br>   
The MP-D2 is a keeper but my opinion is probably not as well informed compared to others on this forum who have owned/auditioned many more quality DACs.

EEEK....I truly hate the timing out function and the 10 posts before allowed links that threw a wrench into this post.

...Roy
 
Roy,

Thank you so much for the input and validation. It is a remarkable dac and performs amazingly well. I love mine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top