MP-D2 MK1 & MK2 AK4490 AK4497 XMOS BALANCED DAC DSD DOP 384Khz
*Discontinued. Firmware upgrade and new DAC modules support will continue.
Latest MCU Firmware Upgrade: MP-D2-Firmware-2019-4-25.zip, MP-D2-Firmware-10-9.zip, MP-D2-Firmware-8-15.zip
We are excited to announce Musical Paradise MP-D2 MK2 DAC. The first DAC in the world supports user changeable DAC modules. At this moment, it can support AKM AK4490，AKM flagship AK4497 and ESS flagship ES9038PRO DAC modules. Since MP-D2 MK2 is a future-proof modular design DAC, we will continuously develop more new DAC modules in the future.
Musical Paradise fans around the world were anticipating MP-D2 for a long time. We put in our best effort to pursuit the excellence of MP-D2. The moment you listen to MP-D2, you know you have never experienced anything like it. With native DSD support, it brings you the most high definition listening journey in a powerfully vivid way. Take a deeper look, you will find more innovation.
USB and Clock Isolation
USB line interference form dirty computer side always affect DAC performance. MP-D2 introduces innovative isolation technology to completely isolate between the dirty PC side and the clean DAC side, so it gives you the most pure USB PC-HIFI performance you have never experienced before.
Power Supply
150W toroidal transformer for analog section. Additional 80W toroidal transformer for digital sections. They provide more than 6 times power pool redundancy to support to most critical surge current requirement. They are magnet shielded in the compartment underneath the motherboard. The most advanced lowest noise LDO regulators are employed. In addition, more than 50000uf of total filtering caps are onboard. All of these deliver the highest standard of power performance once found only in leading edge lab equipment.
Technology
MP-D2 is powered by latest XMOS U8 asynchronous USB chip and 2x AKM flagship VERITA AK4490 32bit DAC chips. XMOS Incorporated with three super high precision TCXO clocks deliver lowest jitter performance. Dual AK4490 in mono block configuration and custom voltage setting deliver 126db dynamic range performance. MP-D2 supports PCM up to 384Khz and DSD64, DSD128, and DSD256.
Analog Output Stage - Tubes and Caps
MP-D2 output stage only employs vacuum tubes. No solid state component, zero feedback and fully balanced circuitry. Tube rectification circuit delivers more analog sounding. The unique design of the MP-D2 supports multiple series of signal and rectifier tubes. It is also the first one in the world offering user changeable output stage coupling capacitors. No soldering is required! You owns the freedom to select the tubes and caps. You have never felt anything like it.
Exterior
The full chassis is built with aluminum alloy. Even the legs, knobs, tube protection rings and buttons are made with solid aluminum alloy. The simplicity of front panel design allows you get used to it in minutes.
How it sound in General?
Extremely dynamic, vivid and detailed sounding. Excellent bass weight and extension.
Smooth, liquid and airy mid-range and high. Deep and wide sound-stage.
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 AK4490 & AK4497)
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
Fully-Configured Foobar2000, instruction and driver: MP-D2.zip
Manual: MP-D2-Manual
Web Reviews: AudioReview.ca
PS Audio PerfectWave MKII DAC with Bridge
his has been one of my most difficult reviews in more than a decade of reviewing audio gear. While the PS Audio PerfectWave MKII DAC (PWD) is primarily a DAC, with its multitude of inputs and options, it can be much more than just a DAC. The PWD is part of PS Audio's PerfectWave system. The other source components that complete the system are the PerfectWave Transport (which is reviewed separately) and the PerfectWave Bridge, which allows the DAC to stream audio from a computer network or play music from a disc. My review sample had the Bridge installed, as it was the network audio streaming capability that the Bridge provides that really piqued my interested in the PerfectWave system. Many purists will be pleased to know that the PWD is also a preamplifier, making a separate preamplifier unnecessary (unless you want the option of listening to other sources).
Additional Resources
• Read more DAC reviews from the writers of HomeTheaterReview.com.
• See related reviews in our Media Server Review section.
The unit reviewed here is the MKII version with the Bridge. The PWD itself retails for $3,995 and the Bridge is an additional $795. Owners of the MKI version or one without a Bridge can easily upgrade their units, as discussed below in The Hookup section. The PWD is an extremely sophisticated DAC built around a Wolfson WM8741 stereo differential DAC. Seven digital inputs, including I2S over HDMI, toslink, S/PDIF, AES/EBU, USB and network inputs, are available. The inputs are all asynchronous, with the network input accepting up to 192 kHz/32-bit data and the USB accepting up to 192 kHz/24-bit signals. This should allow users to play just about any high-resolution audio file. Most types of audio file will work, including FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC and many more.
The PS Audio website details many technological highlights, including an array of audiophile components and selectable filters, but the piece of technology that really makes the PWD stand out is the Digital Lens. The Bridge has had its own Digital Lens since its introduction, but the PWD only received its own Digital Lens with the MKII iteration. The Digital Lens is PS Audio's proprietary jitter-reduction device. I was first introduced to the idea of jitter reduction with Theta Digital's Timebase Linque Conditioner and long discussions with Theta's lead designer, Mike Moffat. I became a believer in jitter reduction then and PS Audio's Digital Lens reaffirmed my belief in it. I note that the Bridge has its own Digital Lens because, when the Bridge is selected as the input, the signal is run through two Digital Lenses.
Input selection, as well as phase, volume, balance, filter and sample rate selections, can be made from either the included remote control or the generously-sized touch screen that dominates the front panel of the PWD. The PWD is a full-sized audio component with rounded corners and a horizontal accent line bisecting the front panel. The aluminum and steel chassis is made in Boulder, Colorado, and is available in black or silver with a polished black MDF top. The chassis does not have the jewel-like finish of a Rowland, but it is clean, attractive and feels very solid. The PWD has the same industrial design as PS Audio's PerfectWave Transport; the two look nearly identical, with the exception of the disc drawer on the transport.
While the above provides an overview of the PWD's features and some information on the technology utilized, there is a lot more information available on the PS Audio website. PS Audio also has a very active forum that Paul McGowan, the head of PS Audio, actively participates in, allowing owners or those interested in PS Audio gear access to loads of information. The company has a well-deserved reputation for excellent customer service, which is accessible via telephone or Internet.
The Hookup
The PerfectWave components are packed in a unique, environmentally responsible manner. The PWD was sandwiched between two flexible sheets of clear plastic, suspended by cardboard frames. (I note that this system was very easy to unpack, but an extra set of hands was very helpful with repacking.) When I originally received the PWD, it was a first-generation unit. Just as I was finishing the first version of this review, the MKII version of the PWD was announced. The end user could upgrade existing units with no need to send it in to the dealer or factory. The difference between the MKI and MKII units included moving from a 24/96 USB input to 24/192, which meant improved power supplies, balance control and a Digital Lens for the remaining inputs (the Bridge already had its own lens).
The MKII upgrade kit came with everything necessary to perform the upgrade: parts, tools, a soft cloth to place the PWD on and even new screws, so that the upgraded unit would have unmarred screw heads. The process was relatively simple, with easy to follow written and video instructions. The increase in performance was significant, and my listening notes below are all based on my listening to the upgraded MKII version of the PWD.
My review system changed over my extended review period with the PWD. The PWD was always placed on a Billy Bags rack, with no additional damping or vibration control. Power conditioning was by Richard Gray. I did not have an opportunity to try out PS Audio's new PowerBase, which combines power conditioning and vibration control. Disc transports included PS Audio's PerfectWave Transport and an Oppo Digital BDP-95, respectively connected by Kimber Cable's HD-19 (I2S via HDMI) and DV-75 cables. Computer audio files were played back two ways. First was through a MacBook Air running Amarra and connected to the PWD with Kimber's B Bus AG USB cable. Second was by using a DLNA server over an Ethernet connection to the Bridge input. I used this method with both OSX- and Windows-based machines, and with PS Audio's eLyric Music Manager and J River Media Center 18. Entire articles can be, and have been, written on DLNA music server software, so I will not go into them here. If you are interested in learning more about these programs and how they perform with the PWD, I recommend browsing the PS Audio Community forum. The PWD also has wireless network connectivity built in, but as my main network switch was only a few feet away from the PWD, I did not try the wireless connection.
There have been numerous firmware updates to both the PWD and the Bridge, all of which were simple to perform. The Internet forums are abuzz with discussion as to which firmware versions sound the best. I did hear some relatively small variations between versions and ended up using PWD firmware 2.2.0 because it worked best with 176.4 kHz/24-bit files.