MCD1100 vs MCD600 vs MCT500
 

If you had a D1100, which cd player from McIntosh would you want and why?
I get that the MCT is just a transport, is there any other benefit to it? The MCD1100 is older, but appears better built. Is the MCD600 the king of the hill when it comes to Mac? Is the MVP901 anything to consider?

I don’t find myself playing a lot of my discs recently, but I love my Marantz SA10. As the Mac Stack is growing it’s looking a little out of place these days.

This is not a dedicated 2.0 system, rather a 5.2 and growing so I am wondering if I should trade out the Marantz for another McIntosh piece.

Pretty high class problem to solve. :) If I had a D1100 I’d get the transport because the D1100 probably has the highest quality D/A converters of the bunch.

But that doesn’t solve your 5.x channel problem. I am not a fan of the McIntosh MVP players because they are expensive and tend to depreciate incredibly rapidly.

Not sure of the best option right now for multichannel SACD playback - perhaps others can weigh in.

Tom

If you have a D1100 you should be able to use your marantz as a transport via coax or optical out for Cd's. The MCT will allow you to play SACD

I have a handful of SACD and DVD-A. I currently am using the Marantz SA10 as a transport with digital coax into the D1100. I’m happy with it, it’s a beautiful player that is built like a tank. I am just wondering if there would be any benefit to going to Mac, other than making me happy to having matching gear.

It’s a mixed use room with a projector etc.

I have a MCD1100 and MVP891。

I use MCD1100 to play red book CD’s only in my two channel system, and my only complain is sometimes it has trouble reading the very last parts of long playtime CD’s.

MVP891 is in my multi channel system and I only use it to play multi channel SACD’s and music Blu-ray discs. The sound quality is super good, but it does not read some of my discs so I have to use an Oppo 105D as backup.

If I were starting from scratch I'd definitely go with the transport. I want to say that I am truly sorry/chagrined for Oppo owners. I am convinced that they are extremely fine units and an exceptional value, probably as good as Mac and for a lot less money. When I first joined AA the Mac forum seemed to serve as an alternate Oppo forum which was/is ok with me. Although Mac BR players are sometimes downgraded mostly by folks that don't own them, at least Mac is still in business. When I purchased my MVP881 I had to send it back to Mac because it wouldn't play some BR discs. Since then it has played every BR, CD, DVD, and SACD, and the AQ diamond optical out to my D1100 has worked flawlessly with every kind of disc (SACD excepted) so that I get the benefit of a wonderful DAC and enjoy the beautiful video it provides. I would have no qualms about a 901. It's an excellent value and is supported by Mac which unlike Oppo, aint goin nowhere.

In regards to the MCD1100 not playing some long play CD's, try cleaning your CD. As you know the CD is read from inside to out (opposite from vinyl). I recently purchased a Beethoven 9th by Sir Simon Rattle SACD. Best 9th I have ever heard and I have a lot of 9th's. However, getting the disc in and out of the jacket was very difficult and annoying. 2 months later my MCD1100 began misfiring toward the end. I cut the jacket so I could get to the center of the disc and cleaned the disc very carefully with some cleaner. I could see my fingerprints on the disc edge. Problem solved.

____________________
Charles
Amps: McIntosh 1.25KW’s (3)
Preamp and DAC: McIntosh D1100
Sources: McIntosh MCD1100 SACD player, MVP881 BR player, MVP851 DVD player, MR87 tuner, Marantz 510LV Laser Disc player, ASUS laptop USB (JRiver Media Center 23)
Speakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Alexx
Sub-woofer: Wilson Audio Specialties Thor’s Hammer (1) and Wilson Watch Controller
Cables main system: Audioquest Wel Signature speaker cables and IC’s; Dragon power cords (8)
Sub-woofer system: Audioquest Redwood speaker cable; Wolf IC and Hurricane power cords (2)
Power conditioners: Audioquest Niagara 7000 (1) and Niagara 5000 (2); (4) 20-amp lines

take esoteric : )

So you feel the D1100 is superior to the SA-10 for cd playback? Where does the SA-10 fall short for you?

I'm with other people suggesting the McIntosh transport option, because you can play your SACD's through the McIntosh D1100 although the only option that allows you to play DVD-A at full resolution is the analog outputs of the MVP player.

RaceCarDriver-

Not able to comment on the 5.x thing, but...

If you are happy with your Marantz and do not spin discs too often just stay with it. The cash can be put elsewhere. If you really want to change, I concur with Charles, go with a transport you have a great DAC. Not sure how much improvement you would realize however.

One more thought, since purchasing a Bryston BDP last fall, all my CD's have been packed up and I am strongly considering selling my spinner.

Yeah, I'd say keep the Marantz. You may hear some differences (or not) with a Mc, but likely not enough to warrant the price.