Esoteric K-03X VS Mcintosh D1100

[edward3132]

I have not heard either one so I have no real opinion. Keep in mind, David, that there are very few people out there on this forum that have heard a D1100 and many who owned Esoteric

Though I will admit a good sounding DAC that is also a transport would be a good buy.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by 1KW

I know the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence

David.......You asked.

[j3brow]

David ... you already know my thoughts.

The reality is there is no wrong answer here. You already know how good the D1100 sounds and it sounds wonderful. I own one.

The K03X is also a fantastic digital Swiss Army knife. I sold my K01X last year. The K01X is beyond reproach sonically. I'm sure the K03X isn't too far behind. I now also own meridian 808v6 which is also a world class digital Swiss Army knife. Every piece will have pluses and minuses. All will sound great!

Personally, I don't think K03X would sound much 'better', if any, than MCT450 + D1100 but the McIntosh combo costs more than the 1 box esoteric. You have already said you don't have room for an extra box so 2 box digital is not where you are going.

Everyone knows esoteric makes one of, if not the best transport in the world. Never the less, I must say my experience with the K01X and at that time Aurender X100, I could not detect any sonic advantage spinning a CD in K01X vs same CD ripped to aurender and playing via USB into K01X.

If you don't need/want to ever spin another cd and sacd is dead to you, then the transport offers you nothing. The cost difference to upgrade to K03X is very very good based on what you have told me, well worth the benefit of having a cd/sacd transport in my mind and it absolutely will not sound worse than the D1100, guaranteed.

Nobody is unhappy with their Esoteric, they know digital inside and out. I sold mine for other reasons.

Unless someone lives with the D1100, they will be VERY skeptical that McIntosh has a winner on their hands at a MSRP $7k. It serves my purposes very well all the while looking like a million dollars with the rest of my McIntosh gear.

I have a meridian 808v6 that offers some things the D1100 cannot do and between the two pieces I am very satisfied.

The ONLY way for you to know for sure is to bring home a K03X and compare for yourself. Even if it means buying both! Have fun listening to both and keep whichever draws you in over the long run. It's only money. Have fun

[1KW]

I was never unhappy with the MCD500. The D1100 is a noticeable improvement in soundstage imaging , detail and low volume bass and it looks perfect with my Mac stack. Everything works with one remote . I have never questioned any previous McIntosh purchases however everyone keeps saying how behind the eight ball Mcintosh is with digital and they do not seem to be the same company they once were i.e. Support and firmware sometimes never happens and when they do you have to bring your components to the dealer , what a PIA. I was told by Chuck my D1100 was not compatible with Aurender, what a load of crap, sorry but he was wrong about playing DoC over PCM. Then there is the whole mystery of what DAC is in the D1100. I asked Chuck at McIntosh and first he says it's the most "expensive latest DAC", then he says it's a 9018. I said didn't that come out in 2011? I honestly don't know what to believe but he is not knowledgeable regarding this model and there is nobody else you can speak to who know's ? I am sad to say the lack of ease to get answers and medeocre support has made me start to lose confidence in the brand.

[Dr Tone]

Don't get to hung up on the DAC chip itself, implementation is everything. From my research the DAC in the D1100 is the same DAC as the C47, C52, C2600 but slightly different in the analog output stage. Single chip ESS9018 chip split with 4 DACs per channel, not sure about filtering that's a mystery. The only difference is the D1100 literature mentions quad balanced output.

If you are happy with the your MCD500, why not stay with it, it does have optical and coax digital output, spend all the money on the best DAC you can find and feed the MCD500 and your Aurender both into it. In my opinion this is how you get the best sound you can.

Or maybe the K-03X has one of the best sounding DACs out there already, I've never heard one?

[JBT]

Chasing the latest DAC chip is crazy. New chips come out all the time! End up buying a new DAC every year. In my main rig I'm still using the MDA1000 which was introduced in 2004 and it's still a fantastic sounding DAC. Have a MCD500 for my large collection of SACD disks.

[leftside]

I like to know what DAC chip(s) are in my DAC just out of curiosity. But, DAC chips are cheap. When I bought my DAC I was far more interested in the following (as an example):
- Furutech Rhodium RCA output sockets
- Furutech RCA digital S/PDIF input
- Mundorf M-Lytic HV electrolytes in second stage of PSU
- Mundorf Foil MKP capacitors in final stage of power supply just before the tube anode.
- Jupiter-Copper 1uF Output capacitors bypassed by Mundorf Silver Oil Supreme
- Mundorf Silver Oil Supreme Digital input SPDIF capacitor
- WBT rear sockets
- Two superclocks
- Muntorf Mlytic power supply caps
- Silver WBT solder used throughout
- All wiring is 26 GA stranded silver in teflon
- ATOM Vishay first capacitor after the tube
- Mundorf Foil MKP capacitors in third, final stage of power supply just before the tube anode.
- Metal-Film laser cut resistor MLT in Anode Load
- CMC Teflon sockets with gold pin contacts for all 5 tubes
- Copper and powder clear-coated chassis/box

Not "everyone" says McIntosh is behind the ball when it comes to digital. I've been very happy with my D100 and not had a single problem with it. I'm also potentially looking at replacing the D100 in that room with a D1100 at some point. Sell me yours

[1KW]

Originally Posted by Dr Tone

Don't get to hung up on the DAC chip itself, implementation is everything. From my research the DAC in the D1100 is the same DAC as the C47, C52, C2600 but slightly different in the analog output stage. Single chip ESS9018 chip split...

If the D1100 has the same DAC as the above pre amps. then that is truly disappointing since this is supposed to be better...." the most advanced DAC" McIntosh has ever made according to their advertising. It would be nice if there was away to find out how the D1100 is different from the above pre amps ? Does anyone know RonC ? Maybe he could put this issue to bed.

[Dr Tone]

Originally Posted by 1KW

If the D1100 has the same DAC as the above pre amps. then that is truly disappointing since this is supposed to be better...." the most advanced DAC" McIntosh has ever made according to their advertising. It would be nice if there was away to find out how the D1100 is different from the above pre amps ? Does anyone know RonC ? Maybe he could put this issue to bed.

It has a allot of bells and whistles and is the most advanced DAC McIntosh has made to date.

From a spec comparison the truly balanced output and better power supply has improved the D1100 over the lower end preamps. I just find it odd that McIntosh won't talk about things like galvanic isolation, clocking, oversampling or filtering. It's a big black box and magically there is analog signal.

I think Chris Connaker has one for review right now, maybe he'll shed some light on things and hopefully McIntosh isn't a sponsor on his site.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by 1KW

If the D1100 has the same DAC as the above pre amps. then that is truly disappointing since this is supposed to be better...." the most advanced DAC" McIntosh has ever made according to their advertising. It would be nice if there was away to find out how the D1100 is different from the above pre amps ? Does anyone know RonC ? Maybe he could put this issue to bed.

David.......McIntosh plays their cards close to the chest. I can't remember seeing published specs on the DAC's in their various digital offerings. If corporate tells the rank and file to keep it under cover, it is unlikely Ron-C will tell you what DAC is in the D1100 any quicker than Chuck Hinton did. If you want to find out what DAC is in the D1100 pull the cover and look. While your at it snap a photo and post it in this thread. That stops all the guess work.

This is a photo I took of the ESS ES9018S DAC in my MCD1100 back when everyone was wondering and speculating what DAC was in it.