McIntosh CD Players & Transports...worth it?

[bdowell]

Let me throw my two cents in on MAC cd players::::

My old neighbor bought the 7000 brand new many decades ago. It sounded very nice on his vintage MAC system. Unfortunately it is a parts unit only as the drawer does not work.

7007-I bought this one used many years ago and enjoyed the heck out of it hooked directly up to a MAC 7270 power amp. The Phillips double crowns are/were very smooth. After sometime the unit developed a weird pop and then the highs were emphasized and sounded harsh. I sent the unit to MAC for repair. They re- soldered the power supply and replaced some individual components. The unit still had the problem but to a lesser extent after a period of time. I sold the unit.

201-I purchased this cd player in 2012 as part of a larger MAC dealer demo system. Shortly after the 201 stopped reading any and all cd's. MAC admitted they had problems with the tray and as there were no replacements available so they refunded my purchase price. I like the sound of this unit.

301-With $$ in hand I purchased a new 301 from the same dealer. About a year into it the drawer had problems opening-very sluggish. I took it to a nearby authorized service center and had it repaired under warranty. The fix was a belt on the drawer. I was so so on the sound of the unit. I hope not to offend any 301 owners. I sold it to buy the new 1100.

1100-Its expensive but sounds great. A few years ago the drawer had a difficult time opening-drum roll please----you got it---the belt again. It was out of warranty but not expensive to repair. And recently it is showing signs of the drawer opening slowly.

I do live in a warm and very dry environment (and smoggy at times). My house is well air conditioned so I'm not sure what to say.

Overall, I think the MAC cd players are well built and sound good. They offer a lot of features such as various inputs for streaming of which I'm just getting into. Its unfortunate that I've had my share of problems but MAC has taken care of me well.

I'd buy another as I like matched systems. Hope this helps..

[Banter]

I have MCD 600 I purchased new from authorised dealer. It failed within 3 months. No audio or very faint output from any source!

It took the authorised service centre over six months to get the correct part to fix it. I was told McIntosh kept sending them wrong parts.

During this time, there was no apology or explanation from anybody!

It is a good unit, sounds great. My only reason to purchase a Mac CD player was to match with other mac components, esthetically!

I sometimes use it as DAC and that works well too.

All functions very slow to operate but you get used to it.

Too pricey for what it does. In today's digital age it does not justify the price.

[damacman]

No thanks. Life's far too short for all that ...

[Vintage Pete]

This transport needs no introduction. Love it.

[beowulf]

I think, if I was looking for (dreaming of) a CD/SACD transport and not interested in video, I would seriously consider the PS Audio PerfectWave SACD Transport and then (if I was really really going to go big) I would combine it with the PerfectWave DAC.

The PW transport has some cool features such as playing from memory as well as the I2S connection that can send raw DSD data to the PW DAC.

[prepress]

Originally Posted by Timobi

The Luxman I own now has a better build quality & the CD drawer is more solid than the MCD600 I auditioned. The fit & finish on the Luxman is truly first rate.

I think I have become less of a fan with the Sabre Dac too.

I am not a fan of the ESS Sabre DAC either. It can sound a bit light in low frequencies. MY MCD500 has an ESS DAC, and it sounds good, but it doesn't tolerate brightly recorded CDs as well as a fuller-sounding one, such as a Wolfson. I have two Pioneer Elite blu-ray players, the 09FD and the 88FD. Even though the 09 is 24/48 and the 88 can do 24/192, I prefer the 09. Why? The Wolfson DACs are richer with more punch on the bottom than the ESS in the 88.

I've entertained the idea of selling/trading in my 500 for a Marantz Ruby, but not too seriously yet. Plus, it would be primarily because of the aforementioned bright CDs, some of which almost hurt my ears; i have to turn them down. Warmer tubes in my preamp mitigate this sufficiently, but I'm reluctant to swap the tubes out, as the ones I use sound so good.

[Charles]

I'll make a comment. The MCD7000, 7005, 7007 were excellent CD players. They had an open natural sound that was rare for their time.

The belt broke on my MCD1100 several years ago. The "authorized dealer" kept it for 3 mo. I paid the 235 dollar bill and sent it to Mac where they promptly repaired it at no charge. They returned the unit in about 2-3 weeks and it has worked perfectly.

The DIN output of the MCD1100 is very useful. Using the MCT cable it will output SACD through my D1100.

I don't feel that Mac digital is at all bright. It's quite beautiful through my system, very smooth, sweet, and relaxed.

Best

Charles

____________________
Charles Updated System: Wilson McIntosh Audioquest
Most recent updates: AQ Diamond USB replaces AQ Coffee; Wilson Audio Specialties Alexx replaced by Wilson Audio Specialties XVX Chronosonic; new subwoofer crossover; new Galaxy Grey Thors Hammer; pending is the purchase of three boxes of Wilson Pedestals for D1100, MVP881, and MCD1100
Amps: McIntosh 1.25KW’s (3) set on floor on custom made cultured marble slabs
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 XVX Chronosonic
Sub-woofer: Wilson Audio Specialties Thor’s Hammer (1) horizontal lie and Wilson Watch Controller (abbr: WC)
Cables main system: Audioquest Wel Signature speaker cables and balanced IC (preamp to amps); Wel Signature AES/EBU balanced digital IC for CD playback; Audioquest Diamond optical (1) for tuner, (1) for BR player, and (1) for LD player for total of (3); Diamond USB cable; McIntosh MCT cable for SACD playback; Dragon power cords (5 HC cords and 3 source cords for total of 8); Thunder HC power cord for tuner; cables for DVD player not listed
Cables subwoofer system: Audioquest Redwood speaker cable (1); Wolf balanced subwoofer IC from WC to amp; Wind balanced IC from preamp to WC; Hurricane HC (2) and Dragon HC (1) power cords
Power conditioners: Audioquest Niagara 7000 (1) and Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines with no. 10 wire straight out of fuse box
Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD) solid walnut cabinet on large casters; holds all sources and preamp; also, Niagara 7000; 11 feet minimum distance from speakers
Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes
AC: Dedicated to this room only, an ultra-high efficiency and quiet recently installed Ruud split system 3-ton heat pump.
Room (mancave): 40’L x 15.5’W A-frame; max ceiling height 8’ min 5’; wall within wall construction built of 2 x 6’s; built over garage with custom hardwood floor with gym seal with over 40 Lowes stiffened wooden I-beams supporting floor; complete isolation from rest of house

[j3brow]

Originally Posted by Charles

I don't feel that Mac digital is at all bright. It's quite beautiful through my system, very smooth, sweet, and relaxed.

Best

Charles

I absolutely agree. My D1100 connected to MCT450 and Aurender N10 with Shunyata Sigma USB and Sigma XLR interconnects along with Shunyata power cord and Stillpoints Ultra II with base sounds exactly as you describe. I also own the Meridian 808v6, a $20k CD player/DAC, and the two dacs sound remarkably similar, both are fantastic performers.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by j3brow

I absolutely agree. My D1100 connected to MCT450 and Aurender N10 with Shunyata Sigma USB and Sigma XLR interconnects along with Shunyata power cord and Stillpoints Ultra II with base sounds exactly as you describe. I also own the Meridian 808v6, a $20k CD player/DAC, and the two dacs sound remarkably similar, both are fantastic performers.

I am waiting on 3 boxes of Wilson Pedestals (2,225 per box) for my D1100, MVP881, and MCD1100. Mac footers are 1" height. I was hoping the Pedestals wouldn't work but they are 1 and 5/16" so will fit perfectly without me having to change anything. So I am hooked. The high end fisherman has caught me again and reeled me in, after I thought I was through with all my high end purchases.

[Maks]

I wouldn't knock having to replace belts on the Mc CD players, my MCD500 can use a replacement as the belt is slipping, but that's just the nature of belts. I'm kind of hoping a MCD1100 pops up somewhere as I think about downsizing and being happy with a built-in DAC with plenty of inputs.