Playback Designs MPD-5

Playback Designs' new MPD-5 uses a proprietary technology called PDFAS (Playback Designs Frequency Arrival System), which claims to completely eliminate jitter.  With an external box, it also connects via USB and can accept up to 24/384khz PCM, as well as 6.1Mhz DSD files.  This is 32 times the resolution of players with the ability to playback 192kHz high resolution files.

Also featuring is a new Apodizing upsampling filter for 44.1 and 48kHz sample rates, which compensate for some of the ringing effects caused by brickwall filters in the Analog to Digital Converters (A/D) used during recording. Depending on the recordings, apodizing filters can provide audible improvements. This is not a new technology and is used mostly to improve reception signals from the edge of dish antennas (satellite). Since brickwalls in A/D converters are akin to edges on dish antennas the same principle holds for digital audio and similar filters can be used in DACs with noticeable improvements.

The high resolution USB connection is through an Extender Box (USB-X) which now is included with the purchase of either of any 5 Series products. This external device gives 5 Series products the ability to playback the super high resolution files of up to 24/384kHz PCM and 6.1MHz DSD.  The USB-X technology is deliberately built into a separate chassis to properly isolate the asynchronous clock from the analog circuitry.

Digital inputs:

• AES: XLR connector for AES/EBU formatted stereo linear PCM data, up to 24bits and up to 192kHz.
• S/PDIF: same as AES, but S/PDIF formatted on RCA connector.
• TOSLINK: same as S/PDIF, but on optical connector.
• PLAYLINK: Proprietary links to future Playback Designs equipment.
• PC: Direct USB connection to computers for sample rates up to 48kHz.
• PC: External USB-X connection to computers for sample rates up to 384kHz (PCM) and 6.1MHz (DSD)