Playback Design Dream DAC

Dream DAC

MPD-8 Playback Designs Digital Analog Converter

DAC WITH INTEGRATED VOLUME CONTROL

• Up to 384kHz PCM and up to 11.2MHz DSD
• USB I/O, AES, Coax, TosLink, PLink I/O
• Balanced and unbalanced analog outputs
• digitally driven, analog volume control
• double Differential discrete DAC
• double Differential ultra high end analog stages per channel
• three regulated analog power supplies with three transformers
• Software upgradeable by end user
• Recording software for file creation on computer
• Easy and intuitive remote control via iPad or Android

MPD-8 DREAM DAC
This product has been designed for ultra high end performance. Its architecture is specifically
designed to eliminate and isolate anything that might hurt its analog performance. For instance,
left and right output channels are built on separate circuit boards with completely separated
power supplies. All digital input signals are filtered, cleaned and processed with Playback
Designs’ proprietary algorithms to keep any negative influences away from the hyper sensitive
DAC. Special care has been given to the design of the clock generator to make sure it is not
exposed to any potentially harmful influences from external sources.

The MPD-8 is the companion DAC product for the MPT-8 transport which is designed to further
isolate the MPD-8 DAC from the influences of digital sources by connecting to the DAC via a
proprietary fiber optical link with galvanic separation (PLINK). As we all know too well, digital
sources bring various degrees of “pollution” in form of correlated clock jitter, asynchronous
clocks (disk drives, CPU, displays etc) and many other negative effects. When these sources
are connected directly to the DAC, there is always the chance for some of this “pollution”
reaching the analog circuitry of the DAC. However, with the MPT-8 receiving and processing
all digital sources and then sending a cleaned up digital stream to the MPD-8 via a completely
galvanically isolated link, our proprietary fiber optical cable (PLINK), the MPD-8 is left alone
performing what it is designed for: converting digital signals to super high end analog.

However, the MPD-8 is also equipped with a series of common digital inputs so that it can
serve as a stand-alone DAC with any other digital source as well. These inputs are automatically
switched off internally if not selected to prevent any negative effect of asynchronous data
streams from reaching the DAC.
Digital inputs: USB (PCM up to 384kHz, DSD up to 11.2MHz)
AES (PCM up to 192kHz, DSD via DoP)
Coax (PCM up to 192kHz, DSD via DoP)
TosLink (PCM up to 96kHz)
PLINK optical (PCM up to 384kHz, DSD up to 11.2MHz)
PLINK optical (reserved for direct connection of MPT-8 transport)
Analog outputs: Balanced on XLR connectors
Unbalanced on RCA connectors
Both analog outputs can be set to fixed values of -6db, -3db, 0db,
+3db, +6db and variable for full analog volume control.
DAC architecture: Discrete with Playback Designs’ own proprietary digital algorithms and
dual differential analog output stage. Each analog output stage (for
each channel) is completely separated on its own printed circuit board
with its own independent linear power supply for maximum performance.
Volume control: An ultra high end analog volume control can be activated for each
channel.
Software-update: Playback Designs already created an excellent reputation with its
program to offer free software upgrades with new features or new
algorithms that the end user can upload into the DAC without the need
to return it to the dealer or manufacturer. This will keep the product
always up-to-date with the latest trends and, therefore, will help in
keeping the value high for this product.
Remote control: A hand-held IR control set is provided in a sleek case with lit buttons.
The MPD-8 is also equipped with a network interface for remote
control via networked apps (future expansion).