Puccini+Uclock vs APL NWO 4.0 SE vs PD MPS-5

Hi Rafael,

Thanks for the kind words. While I have always been a lover of tubes, I would say that one of the worst places to have them is in a DAC. A properly done solid state analog output stage can sound much better than a tube DAC. There is too much distortion and noise produced by tubes. Really I would not even focus on tubes versus solid state here. There are much more critical things going on like the conversion itself.

Currently USB is not ideal nor is it that important for use with a music server. Our unit accepts anything up to 24/192 through either AES or SPDIF. We have many customers that are very satisfied using USB to SPDIF converters in order to achieve 192kHz if they cannot use AES or SPDIF sound cards.

Right now we are extremely back ordered and focusing on filling orders. When there is something to announce, I will let you know.

Best Regards,

Jonathan Tinn
Playback Designs

Jonathan,
This is a very interesting comment: "There is too much distortion and noise produced by tubes." considering that the second and third order harmonic distortion that John Atkinson measured during his measurements for the Stereophile review of the Playback Design unit appears to be a deliberate attempt to add and emulate an exciter/enhancement tube-like distortion, in firmware. Would you please comment on this observation?

"There is too much distortion and noise produced by tubes."

Thank you Carlos for your astute observation. Let me also to add something.

Noise: I have new Joule-Electra preamp which got Harry Pearson's 2010 HP Editor Choice Award. OK, when I place my ear next to my speakers I hear...nothing, nada, ziltch. Total silence as in SILENCE. (The measured noise was of about 50 uV).

Distortions: The best BAT, CAT, Joule-Electra preamps have measured distortions (THD) less of 0.01%. Not much!!!!!!

All The Best

Rafael

The long outdated (3-4 years old) NWO-2.5 featured 20 per channel AKM DACs and differential/balanced tube output stage with 6H30 tubes and Lundahl transformers (no negative feedback). Some measurements below.

Here is a graph with 1KHz at 0dB

Second harmonic at 0.003%, third at 0.001%, noise is at below -120dB or 0.0001% above 60Hz. You can see some 60Hz interference picked-up by the output transformers, but at -100dB or 0.001% it is something you cannot hear.

Another graph with 1KHz sine this time at -90.31db showing the resolution at this extremely low level.

All of the above measurements made with CD (44.1KHz/16bit).

Hope this helps!

Best,
Alex Peychev

I suggest you also listen to the new Wadia S7i or the new Burmester 089 or even better the Burmester 069 if your budget can allow it. I personally prefer these over dCS. I have not heard PD.