Playback Designs MPD-3

10-19-11: Ghasley
Rockitman, I was in your camp as well....a bona fide play it back in its native sample rate kind of guy.....until I heard the MPD-3. the playback designs upsampling all the way to DSD is something of a revelation. You should listen for yourself, you might change your opinion. One simply can't make a blanket assertion until you hear it for yourself.

I have the PS Audio Perfect Wav system that allows me to compare playback natively or upsample to whatever sampling frequency, bit rate I want. Perhaps the MPD-3 is different...on the PS Audio I found native to be more true and pure to the sound...especially in the treble region. Perhaps I will look into the MPD-3 down the road, especially if I could get a trial and do a head to head comparo with my current system. I am mostly a vinyl guy now, but have a large collection of live digitally recorded music....In most cases with studio recordings, I will stick with my turntable/vinyl.

Rockitman, indeed the Playback Designs is entirely different. I may be splitting hairs here technically but upsampling on your PS Audio(which I have heard although not in my system) and the MPD-3 resampling from whatever the native sample rate directly to DSD is simply crazy good. The PSAudio (and most other DACs) will upsample in PCM to a higher rez PCM format....basically just moving the noise into a different frequency spectrum. Resampling from a native PCM sample rate directly to 1 bit DSD removes so much of what we dislike about digital rather than just moving it. My opinion only, but it is so different and analog like that I believe you would be pleasantly surprised.

best wishes and happy listening.

Thanks Ghasley...the DSD conversion sounds very compelling. Now you are starting to get me to think about spending more money...LOL

How funny.....it would be less expensive over the long haul if we had a different hobby/passion/addiction. Are you near a dealer? It's worth a listen, whether you are in the market or not. I think as more and more hear what's possible, more manufacturers will be going back to the drawing board.

If you like vinyl, I haven't heard anything that comes closer to my ears. To those who have been raised on MP3's, there is a "listening curve"....my niece sat and listened for a while and then it just snapped, playing some of her music for her through my system and the Playback Designs she was totally digging it. Then through the turntable she understood why it was so different. Good luck.

10-19-11: Rockitman
10-17-11: Ghasley
The playback designs upsamples everything to 6.1 MHz DSD so it sounds amazing, spacious, ALOT of air around the performers.

too bad there isn't an option for Native playback. I find upsampling to degrade the sound of redbook.

Right on. Fortunately there are alternatives, such as a DAC that has dual DAC chipsets, with automatic detection and no performance degradation, for the best of both worlds, with no need for conversion.