Musical Paradise MP-D2 AK4490 XMOS BALANCED DAC DSD DOP 384Khz

joeinid

joeinid

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It's on sale for a little while. Rave reviews.


http://www.musicalparadise.ca/store/index.php?route=product/product&path=61&product_id=80

http://audioreview.ca/default.aspx?pagename=review&reviewID=7664


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Features and Specs
•Asynchronous transfer mode for dual USB input.

•DSD and PCM input over USB.

•USB and clock isolation.

•Short delay sharp roll off 50Khz digital filter.

•AES, Optical, Coaxial digital inputs.

•Zero-feedback, fully-balanced full tube circuitry.

•Selectable low gain and high gain output.

•Power-line RFI filter.

•Pre-amp output feature (10V Max)

•Tube Rectification

•Signal tubes - 6.3V series: 6N11 (stock), 6H6, 6H30, E88CC, E188CC，6922, 6DJ8.
12.6V series: 12AU7, 12BH7, E80CC.

•Rectifier tubes - 6.3V series: 6Z5P (stock), 6X5.
5V series: 5R4, 5AR4, 5U4G, 5Y3, GZ34



Frequency Response

DC to 50khz


DR / SN

126 dB


Output Level

6 volts balanced XLR, 3 volts single-ended RCA


Input

2x USB

PCM 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz, (384kHz only in Mac and Linux). DSD64, DSD128, DSD256


1x Coax, 1x AES, 1x Optical

PCM 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz


Dimensions

W 34.5cm x D 38cm x H 15cm


Gross Weight

12.5 kg
 

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Wow, that looks like quite a find Joe. Haven't heard about it before, but the build quality looks excellent and even with all optional upgrades comes in under $1,400! Uses the same AKM 4490 dual DACs which the Bryston BDA-3 and some Esoterics use. Excellent power supply design as well, and definitely supports extensive tube rolling between the audio tubes and rectifier. I've included a picture of the internals for those interested. So who's up for being the first here to try one? :exciting:

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There might be owners here on the forum already. :blush:
 
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You can even roll the capacitors if that's your thing as they are mounted with binding posts instead of soldered. Sounded excellent at full price better deal yet at the sale price. Must be in anticipation of the next run with a newer generation of DAC chips.
 
Joe

I would love to compare the MP-D2 to the new Lampi Amber II. Don't know if Fred has one of those in house that you could hear. For tubes any of those sets of 6DJ8's you have or the 12AU7's will be better than the stock tubes. So which ever ones you are not using swap them out. I just left the top off will I was experimenting. For the rectifiers I have tried one of every kind on the list. I prefer the Mullard 5AR4 but it is also the most expensive. Gary the owner prefers the 5U4G and good NOS ones are on Ebay for less than $20

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5U4GB-NOS-N...740039?hash=item2826afb087:g:w4cAAOSwo4pYKyQB
 
Me too. I'll have to ask Fred. I have some rectifiers left over from the Lampi that I could try and lots of tubes laying around. :D

Jack said:
Joe

I would love to compare the MP-D2 to the new Lampi Amber II. Don't know if Fred has one of those in house that you could hear. For tubes any of those sets of 6DJ8's you have or the 12AU7's will be better than the stock tubes. So which ever ones you are not using swap them out. I just left the top off will I was experimenting. For the rectifiers I have tried one of every kind on the list. I prefer the Mullard 5AR4 but it is also the most expensive. Gary the owner prefers the 5U4G and good NOS ones are on Ebay for less than $20

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5U4GB-NOS-N...740039?hash=item2826afb087:g:w4cAAOSwo4pYKyQB
Click to expand...
 
I forgot you had the big Lampi and I think it takes all of the same 5v rectifiers. If you still have that quad of Reflektors try a pair of them in place of the SE pair of the stock tubes. They were really good when I tried them. I've got Siemans in there now but could easily live with the Reflektors.
I've got a pair of the Raytheon's sitting out to try like I sent you, but just haven't gotten around to flipping the switch and trying them. Been preoccupied with rearranging gear, adding room treatments and getting the BHK settled in since the Siemans were doing their job. Just remember to flip the rectifier switch to the 5AR4 position if you try the Lampi rectifiers or you may get a POP. While the NOS tubes are better the stock tubes are what the unit was voiced with and are really not that bad. They will give you a feel for what the unit is capable of.
 
With DAC technology changing so quickly, this makes perfect sense (to me).

CPP said:
Now this is cool a great way to get into a tube dac and play around with capacitors and tubes
Click to expand...
 
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Jack said:
You can even roll the capacitors if that's your thing as they are mounted with binding posts instead of soldered. Sounded excellent at full price better deal yet at the sale price. Must be in anticipation of the next run with a newer generation of DAC chips.
Click to expand...

This is from the owners manual:

Output coupling capacitors voltage must be at lease 450V or up; capacitance must between 1uf and 4.7uf. Stock one is 630V 2.2uf.

I'm wondering because as you go up in uf value, so does the price.

Can anyone explain what the difference would be using a 1uf vs up to 4.7?

For example, the Vcap CuTF in 1uf 450v is $365.
The 2uf 450v is $613...

Is there a sonic difference in uf values? I don't know the technical aspects of caps.. but I can add and subtract :)
 
Welcome to the forum Mikko, thank you for joining.
 
I just pulled the trigger on a barely used D2 off audio asylum. My mod juices are flowing now!

Here's what I'm thinking:

* New 2 box Enclosure, splitting the power supply off into a separate box.
* Power Supplies will be choke, mercury tubed ( space tech super Rec ) lundahl transformers and a vacuum state super regulator. Bybee Music Rails.
* removing the pre amp / volume control / Toslink / extra USB
* see if I can remove the current xmos chipset and drop in the guts from my Singxer SU-1 and it's state of the art xmos chipset, and then I'll have all the outputs including configurable IS2
* high Q Silver point to point wiring
* all resisters upgraded
* remove the binding posts for the Capacitors and directly solder in CuTF Vcaps in whatever size for ultimate performance.
* remove / replace all electrolytic caps with film and foil.
* Silver WBT RCA Jacks for SE output.
* Neutrick PowerCon to replace ice inlet
* ear-iso damp both enclosures
* Herbie's tender feet
* nos tubes and displayed "store front window" style ala Shindo

thats pretty much it for now. I will start a thread detailing the build!
feel free to chime in with ideas! This is going to be epic!!
 
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