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PLAYBACK DESIGNS MPD-6 EDELWEISS DAC Any reasonable price, please PM me! Condition: no required Payment Method: Region/State: (VIC) Victoria/Australia By SHeoldjh 0 Comments Secure Ad AUD $13,000 Date: April 6Apr 6
At AUD 13,000 for a used Playback Designs MPD-8, this is a solid bargain under the typical AUD 15,493–20,825 range for comparable recent listings (median AUD 18,159). Solid-state DACs like this hold value well, but pricing dips here suggest possible cosmetic wear, missing accessories, or extended use—still a steal if it's in good nick.
Buyers, verify the digital output board for jitter issues (common after 5+ years) and test all inputs/outputs thoroughly. Insist on original remote, power cord, and any USB/Ethernet upgrades; without them, walk unless steeply discounted further. Probe hours of use and service history to dodge recap jobs.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Playback Designs emerged in 2008, founded by Andreas Koch, a pioneering digital audio engineer with roots tracing back to the early days of the format. Beginning his career at Studer ReVox in Switzerland in 1982, where he built the world's first fully asynchronous digital sample rate converter, Koch later honed his expertise at Dolby Labs, Studer Editech in California—creating the enduring Dyaxis hard disc recorder—and EMM Labs, developing revolutionary sample rate conversion algorithms, discrete D/A converters, and clock management architectures. Blending Swiss-German engineering precision with American entrepreneurial drive, the California-based brand launched with an integrated SACD/CD player incorporating 25 years of Koch's innovations.
The company specializes in high-performance digital playback systems, focusing on DACs, network players, and integrated processors like the MPD-6, MPS-X, MPD-8, and series such as Edelweiss and Dream. eschewing off-the-shelf D/A chips, Playback Designs employs custom Xilinx FPGA-based designs programmed with Koch's proprietary code for jitter-free, ultra-high-resolution conversion. Their expandable architectures unite digital signal processing with meticulously crafted analog output stages, often designed in collaboration with engineers like Bert Vogt or Bert Gerlach, prioritizing sonic purity over conventional components.
Positioned firmly in the high-end audiophile market, Playback Designs commands respect among discerning listeners for delivering reference-level transparency and musicality in digital sources. Known for from-the-ground-up innovations that outperform mass-market rivals, the brand appeals to buyers seeking no-compromise performance in a niche boutique realm, where proprietary algorithms and modular platforms ensure future-proof excellence.
See all Playback Designs listings on RADAR.
