d1100/c1100 integration
 

Hello friends,

I pulled the trigger on a new d1100! Seems, they are back ordered for a few weeks from mother base in upstate NY, but I figured while I was waiting I would start getting things setup and get comfortable with the documentation

I already own a c1100 pre-amp, and of course will be integrating it with the d1100. I have a few simple questions that are not really covered explicitly in the manual

1) Input control - How does one use the c1100 to control the input being selected on the d1100? It just sort of says that this happens. For example, say I have a CD player going to the d1100 using optical 1 and a computer going to the USB input. The d1100 itself is connected to the c1100 on balanced6 as explained in the guide, and also connected to the c1100 with the special control cable. How does one control if the d1100 is on the optical1 input or the USB input from the c1100?

I am *guessing* that when you cycle through the inputs using the c1100 front panel or remote, it will simply start cycling through the inputs on the d1100 as well, but I really have no idea. Do I still have to select balanced6 on the c1100? What about the c1100 display? When you are using the d1100, what does the c1100 display look like?

2) I currently don't use balanced input 6 on my c1100 so it is set to "off". Do I need to go in and manually turn it back "on" in preparation for my new d1100?

3) The manual states that when you use the d1100 as a DAC, it will power on with the pre-amp. Is this regardless of input selected on the c1100? For example, if I am playing a record and have the MC phono input selected, does the d1100 still come on? Also, do I still need to connect the d1100 itself to AC power, or does it draw power from the c1100 over the proprietary cable link?

4) Meters - If I shut off the meters on the c1100, will the meters go off on the d1100 also?

5) I read there were some early firmware issues and that the c1100 and d1100 should be on the latest. My c1100 is running v2.01. Anybody know what the latest c1100 code is, and what the latest d1100 firmware is? I also asked the dealer to make sure the d1100 has the latest firmware when it arrives.

6) I recently switched my digital front end software to roon. I have a roon core setup on a server, and use a raspberry pi 2b that runs roon bridge. I had this connected via USB to a Bryston BDA-3 and it was working beautifully. I was just wondering if anybody else is using the d1100 USB input with a linux based USB source and if it is working OK for you without any messing around

Thanks guys!

d1100/c1100 integration
 

Congrats! It’s a wonderful combo.


1) you guessed right. All 9 of the D1100 digital inputs will cycle across the C1100 display as you scroll through your C1100 inputs. I have not tried to figure out how to remove the inputs that I don’t use. You don’t “select” balanced input 6, the C1100 automatically senses the D1100 and the digital inputs are already labeled as you scroll your inputs. The C1100 display looks the same as with other inputs. The digital sample rate will be displayed on the D1100.

2) I would certainly think so

3) yes, regardless of input. If your C1100 is turned on, the D1100 will turn on. When C1100 is turned off, the D1100 will turn off. Yes, the D1100 must be connected to power via its IEC power cord. No power flows through the special DIN cable, it is for control only.

4) yes.

5) Re: C1100, 2.01 is what I am running. I have not heard of another update for the C1100. The D1100 should come with the latest firmware which has been updated since I bought mine last February which fixes a bug regarding 192 files (the display flickers when a 192 file plays on my original firmware). I don’t know the number/version of latest D1100 firmware. Let us know which one your factory fresh D1100 is running when it shows up.

6) there very well may be some messing around. my aurender N10, I believe, is Linux based. There are issues with USB handshake with the D1100. I almost always use the XLR and coaxial connections between my N10 and D1100. The sequence of events regarding selecting usb as the digital input and turning on/off computer and D1100 will dictate how smooth the handshake works. Last couple times I tried to use my usb, the D1100 didn’t see any signal but the XLR and coaxial had no issues. I have to believe the N10 is appropriately sending digital signal out over all its various outputs at all times and it is the D1100 having the issue. Usually, if I manually turn the D1100 off after I realize it’s not picking up the usb, then manually turn D1100 back on, the usb signal is very quickly recognized (display screen now shows the sample rate).

Thanks so much for the detailed response! I sure hope the USB works OK because that is the only input I plan on using.

I read in the book that if you manually turn the d1100 off and on using the power button that it comes back on in pre-amp mode not DAC mode. If power cycling the DAC just to get USB to work becomes routine like it was on the c2500 that is going to suck bad.

Question for you - When you have your c1100 on and connected to the d1100, and cycle through your inputs, does “balanced 6” still show up or no?

No, “balanced 6” does not show up as a separate input when cycling through.

Just yesterday, my usb worked perfectly, as it typically does, although I have experienced what I described a handful of times. Being that usb is your sole source, I imagine it will lock on all the time. I switch mine a lot but now usually use coax or aes, just because.

I have to say, the D1100 USB input gives up VERY little, if ANYTHING, to the aes and coaxial inputs. The usb is very well done.

Thanks! I play a fair amount of DSD files ripped from my SACDs, so USB is going to be key for me. Knowing straight away that McIntosh will only officially support JRiver running on a Mac or Windows machine has me a little worried. I have a roon core server, multiple roon remote's, and a raspberry pi 2b running roon bridge that I plan to interface directly with the d1100. This worked flawlessly on the Bryston BDA-3 I just sold to help fund the d1100.

Hope it works well!

Read this post and comments. The Roon labs guy comments


https://www.computeraudiophile.com/f...1100-question/



And then the follow up


https://www.computeraudiophile.com/c...C2%A0two-r667/

Yeah, I had found that review right away during my searches. It's great and all, but the reviewer is in fact using Windows with JRiver. I will be using a roon remote to control a roon core that streams the files to a roon bridge running on a raspberry pi with dietpi on it. Hoping that will work well also

But dannyroonlabs says.

didn't see this until just now... according to Brian, the fix for that D1100 issue went out a while ago.


That tells me the problem was with Roon and now they've fixed it.

I would contract ROON and ask them.

My d1100 came in today! So awesome...just starting to get things hooked up and play around. One question...

So, obviously I have the d1100 integrated with the c1100 via the DIN connection, and all that is working great. I am using fixed output XLR from the d1100 --> c1100.

I am wondering if there is a way to get the d1100 meters "in sync" so to speak. When in DAC mode, the d1100 meters operate in fixed output mode, which makes sense, but basically this means they are usually pegged pretty well to the right. You don't get the nice dynamic bouncing around effect. I think this is normal, but I just wanted to check to see if anybody could elaborate.

I also noticed when I power on the c1100, it takes a moment or two for the d1100 meters to come on. Is that normal?

Joey