Jack
Active member
2 and 4 on the tubes and 1 and 3 on the caps.
Musical Paradise MP-D2 AK4490 XMOS BALANCED DAC DSD DOP 384Khz
- Thread starter joeinid
- Start date
Aaaaarghhhh! After probably six months of looking for the best DAC option, the input from you guys was the last nudge I needed to decide that this was clearly the DAC I needed for my office/den system. And the idea of being able to roll a lot of mostly inexpensive tubes, and even choose the caps seemed too good to be true. I was just about to order one and was getting very excited about hearing it in my system. I spent numerous hours today just researching tubes and caps for it. Very unfortunately, I just realized that there is no way I can make it work in my system. It is currently using a Marantz NA8005 Network Player to access the NAS on my network. The issue is that the Marantz can only output digital via coaxial or optical. The Musical Paradise MP-D2 DAC only offers PCM 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz via coaxial or optical. What a disappointment. And I really can't afford to replace both the network player and the DAC at the moment. 
JC
JC
Jack
Active member
Not sure what you need that is in reality a problem with the MP-D2 but then I am not a hi-rez guy.
If it can't do above PCM 96khz, and can't do DSD over coaxial/optical, a LOT of my musiclal library is unplayable, including many very important recordings.
JC
Maybe spdif/Optical to USB converter can help?
If not, BMC PureDac/Gustard/Lampi Amber 2/ Vinshine Dac/ Denafrips/ PS Audio Directstream Junior/Soekris Dac/iFi micro iDac2 or iDSD2/used Chord 2Qute. All are around $2k give or take $500 or so.
The Ifis are very very versatile. Chord will play DSD via any input (but is not the best at DSD - decimates).
- Thread Author
- #46
http://www.sonore.us/microRendu.html
Would adding a microRendu help solve the problem? You could sell the Marantz player.
Would adding a microRendu help solve the problem? You could sell the Marantz player.
You would need a nice linear PSU with that too. Not sure f only an ifi iPower would be good enough Uptone audio has stuff too.
SoTM SMS200 is another option....both both of these need a NAS or other PC feeding them....which he has!
Great idea Joe, and something I had also been pondering. But when you add up the MicroRendu (and I would almost certainly go with the upgrade to the new UltraRendu), plus power supply, plus a new DAC, which is what I need most urgently, that would just about take things up to the $3000.00 total cost range. Not something I can manage at the moment, financially. About all I can do for now is make a decision on a DAC for $1500.00, or hopefully less, and just get by with the Marantz Network Player for a while.
I'm still disappointed in not being able to go with the Musical Paradise, and roll all the tubes and caps to optimize it, though. If not for the technical issue, I'm pretty certain it would have been a great solution for me. Thanks to everyone for their input.
JC
To perform optimally, the MicroRendu truly needs a high quality power supply. The iFi is not going to get it there. The LPS1 that Uptone makes is a great power supply at a bargain price.
JC
Jack
Active member
Take a look at the Auralic Aries Mini, especially used, the combo of it and the MP-D2 will get you within you budget. You can later add an internal HD to the Mini and transfer your files to the Aries.
Jack
Active member
Go for it!
Appreciate the advice, but I've already been there (full blown Aries). Requires too much effort to optimize, and too much computer/server interfacing. And, while not knocking Auralic, who are good people, there are things that simply sound better, including, by a large margin, the MicroRendu.
JC
Jack
Active member
Didn't know you had been there but since you have just buy one of the refurb MicroRendu's with the iPower with the MP-D2 and you are still close or just look in another direction like the Amber II. Also not sure what you mean about too much computer interfacing. If you transfer your music files to the streamers internal HD then the server/NAS is out of the equation altogether.
I have AK4490 DAC now in DSD bypass mode. The 4497 is better on the pcm side but the [FONT="]ES9038Pro will be interesting with this DAC.[/FONT]Jack
Active member
Curious how they are going to be able to adapt the input buffer side to accept two different sounding series of DAC chips. To my ears the base sonic signature of the ESS and AKM chips is different and require different input designs to shine so we will see.
nc42acc
New member
I wonder how the MP-D2 compares to the Bryston BDA-3? Guess I need to order one........
CPP
Active member
opcorn:Agreed. If we have learned anything in the DAC technology explosion over the past five years, it is that the implementation of the DAC chip is what truly matters, anyone can buy one and stick it into their design hoping for the best.
JC