McIntosh MCD1100 Review

[-E-]

You are in a thread of one right now.

Another was done in a DAC shootout awhile ago (also published on AA).

[Haurock]

Originally Posted by bdowell

Do you know of any reviews?

McIntosh MCD1100 SACD Disc Player Preview*-*AVRev.com

[jlbrach]

Well,after about a year owning my MCD500 I finally decided to trade up to the MCD1100 before they all disappear.My dealer agreed to sell me his demo model MCD1100 in exchange for my MCD500...used for used and since it will include a full warranty i couldnt pass it up since he offered me a great deal....I know I am late to the game and something better will inevitably come along but I am very excited waiting for my dealing to make the exchange for me!

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by jlbrach

Well,after about a year owning my MCD500 I finally decided to trade up to the MCD1100 before they all disappear.My dealer agreed to sell me his demo model MCD1100 in exchange for my MCD500...used for used and since it will include a full warranty i couldnt pass it up since he offered me a great deal....I know I am late to the game and something better will inevitably come along but I am very excited waiting for my dealing to make the exchange for me!

jlbrach.......Congratulations on your new MCD1100. I think you will be heartily impressed with the performance improvements the MCD1100 offers over the MCD500. Once I replaced my first MCD500 with a MCD1100 I could hardly wait to replace my second MCD500 with another MCD1100. That's how excited I was with what I heard during my A/B shootout of the two players. You will now be able to use the USB input for high-res downloads. That will knock your socks off. You made the right move at the perfect time. I'll be watching for your impressions.

[jlbrach]

I am waiting for my dealing to make the exchange for me and will post my impressions as soon as I get a chance,I am excited to give it a listen!....

[jlbrach]

Well,I received the 1100 and a got a chance to play a couple of minutes of music on it but not enough to pass judgment on differences between the 500 and the 1100...tonight after dinner I am going to pour me a bourbon or 2 and sit down for some critical listening....will have some thoughts afterwards!

[jdandy]

jlbrach.......Fantastic, the MCD1100 is in the system. The more you listen, the more you will hear. The MCD1100 is an amazing SACD/CD/DAC.

Here's to many happy hours in the sweet spot.

[tweet]

jlbrach... Congratulations on the new MCD1100. It's a beautiful and fantastic player. I hope it brings many years of enjoyment.

[jlbrach]

Well here goes....I cracked open a bottle of my favorite bourbon Woodford Reserve and poured myself a tall glass for some serious listening.I picked albums i knew really well so I could have a frame of reference....The first album I listened to was Richard Thompson's Mock Tudor followed by Sinatra's September of my years next up was Little Feats Waiting for Columbus followed by Ben Webster and then Steely Dans Countdown to Ecstasy....

I listened to portions of each of the albums and whole of Countdown to Ecstasy!Let me first say i thoroughly enjoyed every second of it.I heard things I have never heard before and found myself more involved with the music than ever before.The vocals were more immediate,the instruments seemed to have more distinct space and in some cases as crazy as it sounds I heard songs i never really liked and appreciated them more because of the sound staging and the placement of the instruments.All in all I am impressed.I thoroughly enjoyed my MCD500 so I didnt know what to expect,the 1100 is better,no question about it.It is a more involving experience and although there might well be better digital sources out there i am hard pressed to imagine it being much better.
I must warn people that good recordings sound magnificent but poor recordings sound wretched.I quickly played a few lessor recordings of music I love and had tolerated sound wise in the past but the 1100 really exposed all the faults.My copy of Who's Next the SACD version which i thought was quite good really exposed the recording for all of its faults as did several others.It is kind of like getting a better camera lens and exposing the camera as not being able to keep up and take advantage of the lens.

All in all i am thrilled,I had a blast listening to the music and i am sure the Bourbon helped lol.I am very pleased i made the trade up to the 1100 and i am sure over time I will be even more impressed as i sample more and more of my vast collection.I do very strongly suggest anyone on the fence grab an 1100 before they disappear!

[jdandy]

jlbrach....... . . .

I am really happy for you.