Playback Designs showcased a brand new product at T.H.E. Show this year — say hello to the IPS-3, a $13,000 “Integrated Playback System”. The IPS-3 is an integrated amplifier with an internal double-DSD-capable DAC, so in theory, it consists of just about everything you’d need — aside from music, speakers and some cables. Seven inputs (three analog, four digital) round out the package.
The chassis looks shockingly like a 3-series Playback Designs product — I say “shockingly” because it’s not entirely clear how they jammed everything in there. The DAC is, essentially, an MPD-3. The input section is entirely analog — no A-to-D conversions here — as is the volume control. The output is Class A/B, conservatively rated at 130wpc into 8ohms, doubling into 4 ohms. Yeah. Holy crap.
Availability is “Summer”.
Shown here with Evolution Acoustics MMMicroOne Loudspeakers ($2,500/pair) along the long wall, the room was standing-room only on my way through. Judging by the enthusiasm of the crowd, Playback may have another monster on their hands. Those little Evolutions where hopping.
Thanks for the nice report, just a little thing: The amp is pure class-B.
Cheers, Bert Gerlach, finitus GmbH
(analog developer for Playback Designs)