I was a firm believer in going direct UNTIL I tried the MCD301 & MCD500 into a MA6600+TM2 integrated amp. There is a remarkable sound difference and strange but true, the combo sounded better than either players driving the MC501's through my Acapellas.

I am now trying out a comparison - with the PS Audio PPP as supply. By next week, I can share some of my opinions ... sorry for the delay as work is catching up and I dont have the usual free time to audition the combo's, not to mention the moving here and there of these rather heavy McGears.

But so far, a Pre-Amp DO sound better that just direct. I am not sure if both these players are analog or digital volume controls, but if its digital, that would probably explain part of the difference.

I am also lucky to be able to hear an old combo courtesy of a friend - Mark Levinson 390S CD direct to a pair of 33H monoblocks. Now, for sure, the 390S has an analog volume. I will post my findings later on this too.

Cheers!

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Turntable
Dr. Feickert Twin-DFA
TriPlanar Mk VII UII
Miyajima Shilabe Cartridge
Lehmann Black Cube SE Decade

Meridian
504 FM Tuner
Sooloos C15
Twinstore [3TBx2]
808i.3 CD/DAC/Preamp
800v4 CD/DVD AV Computer (DAX)
DSP8k SL Speakers

Multi Player
Oppo BDP83se NuForce Edition

Power Dist & Cables
Shunyata Hydra Talos
Shunyata Venom 3

Interconnects
Cardas Clear

Extra Gears
AKG K701 Headphones

Of course, I'm not amazed with your results !

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Jérôme

They have convinced themselves that man, the worst transgressor of all the species, is the crown of creation. All other creatures were created merely to provide him with food, pelts, to be tormented, exterminated. In relation to them, all people are Nazis; for the animals, it is an eternal Treblinka. Isaac Bashevis Singer

I have also spoken of this on audiogon. I think going direct is a hit and miss proposition. It depends on how good the audio section is in the cdp. The function of a preamp is to act as a buffer between source and power-amp. Some cdp's do well others don't have enough "drive" and wind up sounding thin. The amp's input imdedance effects this greatly if it is on the low side. Cable lenght is an issue too. Generally I prefer using a pre-amp.

The MA6600 has digital volume control, I don't believe the MA7000 does.

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System 1: McIntosh MC302, MA6600 w/T2, MCD500, Denon DP-72L w/Grado Reference Platinum 1
PMC OB1i, Vienna Acoustics Concert Grand
System 2: McIntosh MA6500, MCD205, MR85, bel canto Dac, MacBook Pro w/AE
McIntosh LS320 - PS112, Klipsch Heresy III

Thomas....been there, done that, bought the t-shirt, I like the sound of a preamp in a system.

Dave

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It's About The Music...McIntosh, Rega, Apple, LSA, Kimber Select, Sound Applicatons, Symposium Acoustics

You are correct, the MA7000 has a motor driven Alps pot, if you go to Mac's website and look at the rewiew of this amp there is a really good picture of the volume control. Some cdp's have a digital volume control that functions in the digital domain and will affect the resolution (bit words) at low volume settings.

I'm very confused, i want a buy my first MC, and i dont know wich? MA6600 or MC252. Now i have bryston 11B (pre) and vacuum tube (with little watts)

Have you considerd the MA7000 ? The amp section of this integrated is a redesigned 252 and Mac will tell you it sounds better than the 252. Essentially it is a 252 and elements of the C46. The 7000 replaces the 6900.

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System Marantz MA9S2, SC7S2,SA7S1, Thiel 3.7's, Nordost, Furman 2ea Elite 15i

a MA6600 have better sound than old0 MC252 ?

The 7000 is Mac's newest and best effort to date. Its output is 250 watts and will output 50 amps. The 6600 is a nice unit, it is not as powerful (200 watts) as the 252 or 7000, it does have the digital volume control (very nice) and the ability to add a tuner. The 7000 gives you a five band EQ which will help tune freq resp. for room anomilies. So the hard part is deciding which features best suite your needs.

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System Marantz MA9S2, SC7S2,SA7S1, Thiel 3.7's, Nordost, Furman 2ea Elite 15i