AMR / EMM / PLAYBACK Designs

hi Sam,

you are always welcome and it would fun for you to make another visit.

yes; it was a treat and learning experience spending time with Andreas.

the King/Cello is sitting on the right side of the room with the Studer and Ampex. it's setup with the darTZeel BNC interface and really sounds lively and vivid. i need to get a better rack for it (it's sitting on a plant stand for now) as i'm sure it would benefit. i've pulled out some of my pre-GPA treatments to optimize it's situation for now.

currently it's only being used as a tape repro. however; i'm tempted to add another tt over on the right side as Myles and Rich Brown assure me it's an excellent phono stage too. i was thinking of a Technics SL-1200 Mk? with a modest arm and cartridge.

a few months ago Ki wired the switch into the heads on the Studer and that is still the way i'm using it. one of these days i'll have Ki wire a switch into the Ampex ATR-102 too so i can play that through the King/Cello.

FYI; there is a new review on the Playback Designs MPS-5 in this month's Absolute Sound (i saw it and read it last night) written by Jacob Heilbruun.

Jacob has a first class system with top level analog as a reference (he owns a Continuum Caliburn tt).

I think the comment regarding EMM sounds more similar (or accurate) in comparison to Lyra Titan/Rockport is interesting. I have not heard Lyra often enough and never heard A90 but I do think that Lyra house sound certainly seems to be in the same family or closely related to EMM.
Tonally, in my system, PD has more in common with my Dynavector XV-1s (running through Ortofon T100 SUT) than EMM although I think Dyna has even fuller body and more weight as a whole and a bit more of the thick (in a good way), smooth extended top. EMM is probably more similar to my old Ortofon Jubilee but not quite as punchy but similar leaner sound than Dyna. I do not find PD excessive in the bottom end nor unnatural sounding. However, personally, I am more interested in stereo system that makes everything sound more listenable. There is no reason to sacrifice great performance that happens to be poorly recorded. Just my own preference....

Frank,
How would you compare the PD with the APL?

Two things:

1. In my opinion, Andreas Koch is not only a very skilful designer but also a very nice person.

2. Several NWO owners have the PD at home and, from what I know, they like the way it sounds.

Hope this helps!

Best,
Alex

Suteetat,

Thanks for the well thought out response to my posting. I think that the PD and the XDS1 are both great machines but that they will appeal to different buyers. Likewise, the choice may in the end be somewhat system dependent. A lengthy review of the XDS1 will soon appear in www.dagogo.com.