"THE BIG DAC SHOOTOUT MY TAKE"!!!🎧 

Excellent explanation of each DAC. Thank you.

❤ Thanks for your work in sharing your experience

I have wanted to hear about how the MPD-8 DAC performs for quite a while now. Thank you for these wonderful reviews!

A comprehensive summation Shane, and a great process which led us to this point. Three terrific DACs. The pricing on the AM DAC1 in Australia is fascinating. That DAC in the UK is advertised retail at 13,000 Pounds Sterling. On today's conversion rate, that converts to just over $24,000 (AUD). That puts the price offered by Greg Osborn into perspective. At the full retail price for the AM DAC overseas, if I was shopping in that price range, there are a LOT of DACs which I would be looking at/auditioning, before making any decision, including for example (but not limited to) the Aqua Acoustics Aqua Formula DAC. Even at the price offered in Australia, I can think of a number of DACs which I would want to audition before pulling the trigger on around $15,000 (AUD). So - three great DACs, each with a different sound signature, each with their fans etc. Well done bringing this comparison to us. Looking forward to hearing the next lot of DACs, speakers etc which you get into your listening room.

Happy Boxing Day!! I trust that everyone had a good time. I’m very curious as to the differences …and as you’ve pointed out they all represent the attainable..in a world where you can spend multiples of tens of thousands of dollars on them. Take care and have a great year end week🥂

Can’t wait!

Great video. Would be nice to know where some of the 300 dacs you have heard fall into position. A review of the Weiss 501, Aqua LaScala mark 2 and T+A Dac 200 would be of real interest.

Nice review. The next challenger here may be the DAC built into the Daniel Hertz Maria with its mighty cat thing

It would great if you could take a Lampizator horizon or EMM Labs DA2 V2 Reference Stereo D/A. I really appreciate someone with a tonne of experience in this domain sharing their thoughts. Keep up the great work !

Great feedback.. Grimm Audio MU2 is all the talk of the town . Would love to see you review that

Very nice review. Thanks for posting. New Subscriber.

Thanks for the clear explanation of why the dac's ranked how they did. Told the wife that I'm getting my dream DAC and she's not thrilled, lol. There's a reason I picked-out the MPD-8 correctly in all 4 test tracks. I have a good headphone setup with Focal Utopia's and your recording setup was excellent. Very appreciative of the work you put into it and I look forward to future equipment sound demo's! Curious if you've heard the DCS Lina with the Lina Clock too? I heard it's a bit better than the Bartok. Would love to see that comparison to the MPD-8.

Will have to try MPD8 in my system , I have Grimm MU2 on order it’s been said that MU2 also sounds very Analog tape like , would be interesting to run those side by side .

Need to start saving up for MPD-8

Hello Shane, I’m totally ready to believe you when you talk about the Playback Design MPD8 virtues. Unfortunately I was not in your listening room for the DAC shootout - listening to RU-vid, I guess has its limitation. I am really looking forward to hearing the MPD8 perhaps at the audio show here in Montreal in march. I will let you know when I do. My own DAC setup is a combination of the Chord QUTEST with the Chord MScaler. I’ve upgraded the QUTEST PSU and added a Ifi dc Ipurifier 2. I also added a Ifi dc Ipurifier to the MScaler and when these dc Ipurifier were added it did remove the last bit of digital feel remaining in my listening experience. But still, I was really considering replacing this combo by the Holo May KTE. But now, after the DAC shootout, before I make any change, I have to listen to MPD8 to understand I good things can sound.. What I can afford is another question! 😄 So thanks again for your hard work!

When everything sounds polished, isn't it unrealistic? Some musical instruments sound harsh naturally or the voice of a singer is harsh. What is your take on this? Thanks

Your description of the MPD-8/MPT-8 is right on the money ( at least to my ears as that’s why I bought the two pieces). I am curious if you have had experience with the Lampizator Horizon? Having heard both I think ( to my ears) I find that the Horizon bests even the PD as it offers a clarity that I have yet to hear from any DAC. Perhaps Lukasz has a better analog output stage? I’d love to know what your thoughts are.

Hey there, first time here, great explanations and all around good vibes. Good job you earned a new sub. 👍 I'm not shopping at this tier of stuff any time soon but just out of curiosity, have you heard TotalDac stuff ? And if so, do you mind sharing how does that compare to your MPD-8 ?

Aussie Audiophile, have you tried the top Dacs from french manufacture Jadis? The JS1 and JS2 models.

Entertaining and fun. Thanks. My ears hear differently than yours. I’d suggest another go at MSB, this time with the matching Digital Director piece. Yes, it’s more $. The new filters may be able to change your perception about their dacs. Hope you continue to enjoy yours.

I would love to here your take on audionote uk dac level. 5

Have you ever heard the Cary Audio DMS-800PV? I've heard good things about it in the forums.

Waiting for the comprehensive video on your DAC journey with your choice at different price points

Is the Playback using a R2R ladder or a delta sigma chip?

Hi, what are You are personally thinking about the PS Audio Direct Stream Dacs? Do You know them? They convert everything to DSD as well, and I enjoyy one of them a lot! Thanks!

Great video. I'm so close to pulling the trigger on an MPD-8. I don't know if it's been mentioned in the comments, but the Aries Cerat DACs are reportedly as good or better than the MPD-8. They are absolutely gigantic though and range from about $30k (U.S.) to over $150k. They're R2R type DACs, NOS, and use an "inverted triode tube" in the output stage. Have you heard any of them?

Since the MPD-8 is the reference. Will there be a shootout of sub $1000 dacs that get the closest to that reference point?

dear sir. i loved the video. you say you listed to 300 dacs. have you heard the totaldac r2r dac?

Thank you for sharing this info for us. You are awesome! Have You tried Spectral? Gryphon? Nagra?

I can't afford any of these and they'd be overkill for my system, but I'm curious what dac or price point should I be looking at with say, an accuphase integrated and mission 770 speakers. Not "high end" enough for these dacs I know, but a what dac(s) would be a good match? Thanks

God bless your $20000 hearing......

HQPlayer can convert to DSD, how would that compare to the May DSD?

If my memory serves me well, this DAC shootout used a streamer connected to each DAC via a USB interconnect. Is that correct? What did you use as your streaming device and USB interconnect?

G'Day Shane, I assume you are using the MPD8 with a preamp. According to OCD Mikey the MPD8 sounds as good, or better without preamp. I have a very, very nice sounding preamp and am considering the MPD8 at some point in the future. It would be nice if I could sell my preamp to help fund the dac. Have you tried using the MPD8 without preamp? If so, could you please tell me your impressions?

Excellent video Shane. Just wondering have you heard the Spring 3 KTE before and whether you could comment on how much better the May is? I’ve currently got the Spring 3 with Accuphase e480 and monitor audio Platinum 3G. I’m considering May as my next upgrade.

Hello, what are you using for a streamer?…I have tried a lot of streamers against the $170 Wiim Pro into an external Dac and it just beats them…your thoughts?…

MSB Discrete?