Playback Designs vs. Berkeley

"If you've compared the MH UNL-8/LIO-8 to the PD MPD-5, what
was system?

Most audiophiles that are using the MH UNL-8/LIO-8 as a DAC/preamp are feeding it via firewire from a Mac using Amarra playback software"

The system was a Mac Pro using FW to the MH unit. The sofware was Sonic SoundBlade. We also used the MH with AES/EBU so we could quick A/B with the other converters.

Crna39-

"The system was a Mac Pro using FW to the MH unit. The sofware was Sonic SoundBlade. We also used the MH with AES/EBU so we could quick A/B with the other converters."

What MH unit did you use and what soundcard was in the Mac Pro to output AES/EBU?

Where the DACs connected directly to active monitors/amps?

We're comparing a $5000 DAC to a $15000 CDP here, isn't that kinda like apples and oranges?
It's not surprising that the PD sounds better, it should.

Su,

Did you run the intergrated wide open and use the dac's volume control?

Tab110s

Usually I set Berkeley DAC volume at 55 and use ASR volume control. I also tried setting ASR volume at 51 which according to ASR is a neutral position where there is no active gain and use Berkeley volume control. However, Berkeley gain is rather low and at full volume on Berkeley sometimes it still was not enough.