[rajacat]

I've owned the MP-D2 for almost six months.

How does it compare to your Aqua La Voce S2?

[rajacat]

A friend of mine just ordered one (while it was on sale).  I'd imagine I'll get to hear it very shortly (not sure if he has gotten it yet last exchanged emails two days ago and he told me he ordered it).

The MP2 is definitely on my watch list along with the Holo Spring. R2R vs Delta Sigma.
It, the MP2, looks very mod friendly.
Actually, I had placed an order for the Spring but canceled after waiting more than a month.

[Phil A]

I think (from memory) he told me they had a sale and he got it for $720 and grabbed it.  I'd imagine either today or early next week he'll get it and after he gets some hours on it, I'll go over to his place.  He's got a YBA CD player so I don't think he's had the opportunity to hear hi-rez at his place yet and I may bring stuff over for him to hear.

[rajacat]

Ordered the MP-D2 last night.
This getting to be OT for this thread. Maybe I'll start a new Mp-D2 thread when my unit arrives. It weighs ~ 25 lbs. $999 delivered.

[JackD]

Congrats rajacat, I think you will enjoy it.  As to your question about the La Voce I just saw, to my ears equal but different and a third of the price.  Plus the MP-D2 does DSD if important to you and the La Voce is an R2R and doesn't. I've rolled through all of the rectifier types on the list as well as about a dozen different 6 volt tubes.  I started on the 12 volt family the first of the week with the Raytheon Triple Mica Black Plate 5814.  Biggest difference from this family of tubes is reduced gain which could be a positive in some situations.

[rajacat]

Congrats rajacat, I think you will enjoy it.  As to your question about the La Voce I just saw, to my ears equal but different and a third of the price.  Plus the MP-D2 does DSD if important to you and the La Voce is an R2R and doesn't. I've rolled through all of the rectifier types on the list as well as about a dozen different 6 volt tubes.  I started on the 12 volt family the first of the week with the Raytheon Triple Mica Black Plate 5814.  Biggest difference from this family of tubes is reduced gain which could be a positive in some situations.

Hi Jack,

Thanks!
I've been looking for a new DAC for the last year or so. Finally it came down to the R2R Holo Spring, which is DSD capable in its own way,  or the MP-D2. I've been scouring the forums and haven't found any negative words about the MP-D2 whatsoever. And, as I'm sure you know, that includes some high end forums where owners of much more expensive DACs have lavished praise. My main concern was that the MP might sound too "tubey" but from careful reading of the reviews I've concluded that this wasn't an issue. Being a tube man, I do enjoy rolling valves so between my, soon to be delivered, MP-D2 and modded 6L6/KT66//6CG7/5R4 Heathkit W5ms monoblocks, I'll have lots of fun options as well as more ways to spend money. I do like having the DSD option although I haven't formed an opinion whether it's for me or not.
I can rationalize the future tube/cap rolling because I saved ~$1000 by purchasing this unit instead of the Holo.
   Since you've owned this behemoth 6 months, I guess you're one of the early adopters. I'll definitely want to plumb your knowledge base since you seem inclined to share.

Best regards,

Roy

[JackD]

Ask away Roy, glad to share what I can.

[rajacat]

Ask away Roy, glad to share what I can.

The other forum (headfi) is starting to talk more about tubes now. I thought that it would be cool to introduce  the MP-2 to this forum with a separate thread. I'm still awaiting my DAC. I got my tracking # yesterday.
That said, what are your  favorite 6V and 12V output tubes?
Rectifier tubes, I noticed that you favor the Mullard 5AR4 over on Shark forum. I have some spare, from my W5m, old stock rectifier (GE 5R4GB) tubes that I'll try. It would be nice to have a tube tester. I've also considered upgrading the output caps too. Did you get the Mundorf SGO? Maybe I should start with the cap upgrade.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

The big gold caps look like Obbligato Gold Caps in the MP.  They are not cheap if they are.  I just bought some for $27 each for a Pass BOSOZ preamp that I am building. 

[arthurs]

I may end up with an extra one of these with upgraded tubes and caps if anyone is interested, PM me.  Thanks, Art

[rajacat]

The big gold caps look like Obbligato Gold Caps in the MP.  They are not cheap if they are.  I just bought some for $27 each for a Pass BOSOZ preamp that I am building.

Yes, they are Obbligato gold.
http://www.musicalparadise.ca/store/index.php?route=product/product&path=61&product_id=80
This isn't a cheap DAC but it's a lot of DAC the money. I don't have mine yet so I can't comment first hand about the SQ. However, check out HeadFi and Audioshark forums where it's getting rave reviews.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/802557/musical-paradise-m2-d2-ak4490-balanced-dac-reviews

http://www.audioshark.org/computer-digital-audio-11/first-new-toy-2017-musical-paradise-mp-d2-11092.html

[rajacat]

I may end up with an extra one of these with upgraded tubes and caps if anyone is interested, PM me.  Thanks, Art

A couple of days too late for me.

[JackD]

Roy

I haven't done anything with the caps and won't until I finish with the tubes. I am quite happy with the Obligatos though and may just stick with them. 

For the rectifiers I find the 5AR4 to be the most neutral with the strongest bass and use a Mullard in the MP-D2 and the Modwright preamp.  The most "tubey" of the bunch was the 5U4GB. The others are in between.  Good thing is that other than the 5AR4's you can find NOS samples of the others NIB for less than $20 on Ebay.  I generally stay with Tungsol and Raytheon for rectifiers other than the 5AR4. My favorites of the 6 volt tubes were the Seimens  that Garry recommends along with the Reflektors and the Tungsram 7DJ8's.  The Tungsrams were bought for the PS Audio BHK amp so that's were they ended up.  May order a pair of the 6H30's as I have never used that tube. 

I ran a Line Magnetic LM-502CA DAC for a while and it took 12AU7's so I started out with my favorite Raytheon 3M BP's and will go from there.  In my system the lower gain of the 12AU7 does come in handy.

[rajacat]

Roy

I haven't done anything with the caps and won't until I finish with the tubes. I am quite happy with the Obligatos though and may just stick with them. 

For the rectifiers I find the 5AR4 to be the most neutral with the strongest bass and use a Mullard in the MP-D2 and the Modwright preamp.  The most "tubey" of the bunch was the 5U4GB. The others are in between.  Good thing is that other than the 5AR4's you can find NOS samples of the others NIB for less than $20 on Ebay.  I generally stay with Tungsol and Raytheon for rectifiers other than the 5AR4. My favorites of the 6 volt tubes were the Seimens  that Garry recommends along with the Reflektors and the Tungsram 7DJ8's.  The Tungsrams were bought for the PS Audio BHK amp so that's were they ended up.  May order a pair of the 6H30's as I have never used that tube. 

I ran a Line Magnetic LM-502CA DAC for a while and it took 12AU7's so I started out with my favorite Raytheon 3M BP's and will go from there.  In my system the lower gain of the 12AU7 does come in handy.

Jack,
 I think that I'll hang on to the Obbligatos too for the time being. I upgraded my MHDT DAC with the earlier Copper versions thought they were fine. I'm getting ahead of myself a bit. I need to get the DAC here and burned in before I get too excited about tube rolling. Good to get the knowledge base nevertheless. My diyTortuga passive LDR pre is RCA only so tube rolling will 1/2 the cost vs. balanced . Excess gain in my system won't be a problem.

..Roy

[JackD]

Roy

The stock Russian 6H6pi is actually a pretty good tube.  You may be happy with it for a while.

[bacobits1]

That looks like a really nice DAC for the $$.
Cool how you can easily swap the caps out.
Keep us posted.

[Syrah]

Very cool.  I would love to hear how that compares to a good DAC with the new gen 9038.

[Rocket]

Hi Guys,

So the 4 obbigatto capacitors can be removed and other types installed?  Is any soldering necessary?  I had obbligatto capacitors installed in
a phonostage and they sounded wonderful.

Happy listening.

Cheers Rod

[JackD]

Caps are installed using binding posts. No soldering.

[arthurs]

Caps are installed using binding posts. No soldering.

Is there any compromise in this approach?  If not, it's a really smart idea.