DAC
The core converter uses a discrete FPGA-based architecture, for which all Playback Designs‘ DAC products are already well known, and its algorithms are based on the same ones already used in its bigger sibling, the MPS-5. But they have also been enhanced to support new formats such as quad DSD.
FUTURE PROOF
The algorithms for all Playback Designs products are constantly being researched and updated with performance enhancements and new features. These software updates are made available to all users free of charge and can be loaded into the Merlot by simply playing a specially encoded wave file into one of its digital inputs. This virtually guarantees that the Merlot can be kept up-to-date as new audio formats become available and Playback Designs finds new ways to improve the performance.
CLOCK MANAGEMENT
Playback Designs started using MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical system) based oscillators (instead of crystal based oscillators) already years ago, and with astonishing results. These are custom made devices with Playback Designs‘ specifications and offer a jitter performance beyond what is possible with crystal based oscillators.
But that alone was not enough: Playback Designs developed a very unusual algorithm to control the frequency of the oscillator which was already used for the MPS-5 and enhanced several times through the years. This algorithm and the associated audio buffer provide maximum isolation from any digital source by rendering any Associated jitter irrelevant.
DIGITAL INPUTS
In order to support quad DSD the USB and PLink input formats had to be expanded and redesigned. Both interfaces now support any PCM and DSD format up to 12.1MHz sample rate. PLink is Playback Designs‘ proprietary optical interface standard to connect its various products with a fully clock synchronous link and galvanic isolation. We found there is no other interface standard with the same sonic performance and flexibility in audio formats. Both the AES and Coax inputs support DSD via DoP.
ANALOG SIGNAL PATH
The analog signal is processed by impedance matched fully differential filters before passing through a low impedance very wide bandwidth gain stage. The fully differential line level output stage is a much improved version of the one already used in the 3-series products and is based on a discrete class A/B architecture similar to what has already been used for the MPS-5. The overall circuit is linear phase (bessel) with a constant group delay for all frequencies to beyond 200kHz. The ultra low distortion level of the analogue circuit makes it possible to reveal music ingredients never heard before.
HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER
The Merlot includes a very high performance headphone output with a discrete power amplifier architecture with ultra precision control. The input to the amplifier is driven directly by the DAC and offers an analogue discrete volume control via a knob on the front panel, separate from the fixed line level outputs. You will be amazed how good your headphones sound!
POWER SUPPLY
The Merlot uses a newly developed linear power supply with a custom toroidal transformer
FRONT PANEL DISPLAY
All products from Playback Designs use a fully synchronous architecture. This means that there is only one single clock source in the chassis and all digital devices are driven from this same clock source. There are many switching power supplies and displays that have their own built-in clock source. For high quality digital audio products, however, these devices are not suitable, because their internal clock generators would be asynchronous to the audio sample clock and, therefore, cause sonic artefact's.
It has always been Playback Designs‘ design rule to strictly use components with no internal clock generator. They have to be able to be clocked externally by the audio sample clock generator. This is why the Merlot uses a LED based display. It is not to make the front panel look a certain way, but to make it sound as good as possible.
RECORDING - A FIRST FOR ANY DAC
The USB interface on the Merlot was designed to be bi-directional. In other words, digital audio data passing through Merlot is sent to the computer via USB. A very easy-to-use and basic recording software is available from Playback Designs that allows the user to capture any digital audio from Merlot in any format and sample rate and create a sound file that can then be played back with the Syrah music server or any playback software.
