Musical Paradise MP-D2 MK3 DAC

why don't buy one, and then report back

nice to give back sometimes, yes?

btw i have the m-p d1 tube dac... nice piece, very harmonically rich and analog like

at that price i'd go for a MHDT Dac

I am purchasing a tube preamp from Don Sachs and we discussed all things audio. He currently uses a modified Musical Paradise that he feels is much better than a Schitt Yggy.

garry at musical paradise in canada (chinese sourced equipment) doesn’t get much fanfare and certainly doesn’t do much marketing, perhaps to his own detriment, but he really knows what he is doing in designing/specifying his pieces, he has a very good ear for natural spacious organic sound -- his stuff does not disappoint and delivers a ton of value

I’ve owned an MP-D2 for over four years, the original and now a Mk III Deluxe. They are great DAC’s for the money and allow for limitless experimentation with caps and tubes. Don’s praise for this DAC is justified. I own one of his preamps too. Looks like the stock was just replinished.

I have the mk2 version. I’m under the impression it could be modded to mk3 status with a board swap, but honestly the performance is so good, I don’t feel the need. If my Mk2 died today, the Mk3 would be at the top of the list for replacement. 

Modestly priced, high value gear doesn’t receive as much attention here as other audio forums, and as mentioned earlier, Garry doesn’t really advertise much.

If you’re considering the mk3, these DACs really benefit from NOS tube swaps. In my experience, signal tubes, followed by the rectifier tube make the largest improvement. I landed at a pair of NOS Amperex signal tubes and a new production Psvane 5u4g rectifier. Cap upgrades offered negligible improvement in my system.

I have been very interested in this dac, but I find it difficult to see which price tier it compares too, can it compare with the PrimaLuna dac 100, the higher end Denafrips models and the higher end Chinese Sigma dac’s ?.
Would be interesting to hear if anyone has downgraded $ vise to this dac because it sounded better !

garry's $1000 dac is an interesting head on competitor to jian's mhdt dacs... similar organic coherent natural sound, treble is presented effortlessly, not like it is shot at you through a fire hose

garry uses modern ess or akm chips, jian uses old tasty r2r chips - both with output stages with beautifying tubes -- i personally like these dacs (and vlad's audio mirror) more than denafrips, which, while well built and discrete r2r, use ss output stages and thus present music with a bit more of solid state amp clean and lean signature with slightly elevated treble

Would be interesting to hear if anyone has downgraded $ vise to this dac because it
sounded better !

I have moved through a few DACs and this one is definitely something special.
I’ve owned DACs that have costs over 6 times this one and I cannot say this one is any worse.
There is this sense of Organic Nature to the sound and background is very quiet.
I listen with headphones and find the soundstage depth to be such that they are placed somewhere in between each other just like our planets in the Solar System.
In my opinion it’s one of the best kept secrets in audiophile world. 

I have the  MP-D2 MK3 and I'll repeat much of what has already been mentioned above.  Organic and natural is a good place to begin. And I will add  relaxed,  detailed  with loads of timbral integrity  when  film caps and tubes are replaced with high quality parts. Garry is a real gentleman and honors his customers with real world audiophile respect. I bought this instead of a Denafips Pontus because I could tweak it without having to breakout my soldering iron,  I highly recommend you give this a listen before dropping thousands more on a hyped up audiophile (forums) DAC (s).

@jjss49 I appreciate the comparison to MHDT DACs and this is my precise position, looking toward these two entities and their products. Clearly, these two companies are building gear that surpasses such notables as the Schiit Bifrost and the Denafrips Ares, which seem to be the top contenders in the sub-$1000 SS column. So, can anything MORE be said about the comparison between the MHDT orchid, for example, and the MP-D2 MK3?

Thanks!

IMHO, after reading the 6 Moon's review of the MHDT Orchid you could easily switch names to the Musical Paradise MP-D2 MK3 as the description appears synonymous. I have not heard the Orchid but they share similar sound design elements though the MP-D2 MK3 is larger and is tube rectified and has APT-X HD for when you're feeling lazy or you just want background music while cooking/dining that can be changed from the dining table. Hope this helps.

@jackd I have the D2 Mk2 as well and I am considering getting the 701 Preamp. Do you feel like the two would be overlapping if used together on the same system or do you think it will take it to the next level in musicality? I do have the YS Audio Balanced A3 preamp now, which is also a tube preamp but I wouldn't mind trying the 701 to for it's versatility. Thanks.