McIntosh d1100 USB

[j3brow]

@ Joey, I understand your position. It’s obviously a problem listening closely to what you have described. I did not intend to come across in a negative way. I was talking in general terms. Maybe using a computer it is much more noticeable (i.e longer mute) than my music server or MCT. I will also play the Beatles albums you mentioned, especially listening for Paul’s count in and Acdc HTH riff. Fingers crossed McIntosh support and/or E’s advice fixes the issue for you although I’m inclined to believe I will find the same cut off on my system whether playing files or the actual CDs on my MCT450 into D1100.

[j3brow]

Joey ..... Here are the findings on my system via usb Aurender N10 to D1100.

I saw her standing there: only “3,4” on 2009 mono remaster file and streaming remastered file via Tidal. But “1,2,3,4” on 24/44 file sourced from the Apple USB stick.

A hard days night. Same thing ... missing the first hard sharp part of the initial guitar chord on both the 2009 mono file and remaster stream via Tidal but it’s there in its entirety on the 24/44 file sourced from the Apple USB stick.

Highway to Hell. Missing part of the opening riff on 16/44 original CD and Tidal stream but it’s all there on my digital rip of 180g remastered LP, both 16/44 and 24/96 vinyl rips.


I am running original firmware V1.00

[joey_corleoni]

Originally Posted by j3brow

Joey ..... Here are the findings on my system via usb Aurender N10 to D1100.

I saw her standing there: only “3,4” on 2009 mono remaster file and streaming remastered file via Tidal. But “1,2,3,4” on 24/44 file sourced from the Apple USB stick.

A hard days night. Same thing ... missing the first hard sharp part of the initial guitar chord on both the 2009 mono file and remaster stream via Tidal but it’s there in its entirety on the 24/44 file sourced from the Apple USB stick.

Highway to Hell. Missing part of the opening riff on 16/44 original CD and Tidal stream but it’s all there on my digital rip of 180g remastered LP, both 16/44 and 24/96 vinyl rips.

Thanks for sharing. No negativity meant from me either at all, just wanting to share the info I have accurately

I don’t use JRiver though so that will not be a long term solution for me

[Cajunpepe]

Originally Posted by joey_corleone

I would say it is a problem, at least for me, because of these reasons:

1) The delay is audibly at least 1/2 second of the first track of every album, sometimes more depending on file format. Maybe the DAC hardware/firmware implementation is supposed to go from muted to the point where you are hearing sound within 100ms, but that does not happen for me, for sure. To me, it's not subtle, it's very noticeable. It's not like I'm sitting here with an oscilloscope or analyzing a wave form to see if the delay is 101ms just so I can raise a support case. If it was that low in experience, it wouldn't be something you even hear. Again, I use the example of "I Saw Her Standing There", "A Hard Day's Night" and "Highway to Hell" - Play those tracks where you are missing the first part of Paul's count in, missing the first part of debatably the most iconic opening chord in rock and roll history, and the first part of Malcom's riff. That's noticeable. For example, I hear paul coming in on "three, four". "One, two..." that I am missing is certainly more than 100ms time. No question. So, while the implementation might be designed to be 100ms, that is certainly not what is actually happening in my case.

Same for many of the cases concerning problem #2 below, except it is less predictable.

2) The DAC visually loses lock between some tracks of many albums, resulting in a noncontinuous album playback experience where you are missing at least 1/2 second of the following track. It's not a once in a blue moon event, it is common. This is not all albums, only some and only between some tracks (where it actually loses lock). I have had the DAC for 2 weeks and have played many many different albums. It's probably 50/50 weather you see issue #2 depending on content.

3) I have tested this on Windows with ASIO driver and an Apple MacBook air with USB plugged directly into the DAC and with files stored on the local hard disks, and with many different pieces of software, all resulting in the same two issues. On Windows I tried Roon and foobar2000. On Apple I tried Roon, Quicktime, VLC, Vox, and JRiver. I also tried using my Roon core to stream to a raspberry pi running Linux/Roon Bridge and get the same results. The one exception was that when using JRiver, if you change the setting so that it inserts 2 seconds of silence at startup for hardware synchronization, it solved the first problem in one of my tests, but it did not solve the second.

So, I have done testing on 3 operating systems, 3 different computers, 2 USB cables, and 6 pieces of software, and they all exhibit these symptoms. Additionally, my other DAC didn't display the problem, and other people here have a similar experience with MCT transport on the d1100 MCT input. I don't believe I have some sort of unique issue on 3 different computers, and every piece of software tried, and that the people having MCT issues are also somehow unique. Now, other people have reported the same problems, some reported no problems, so maybe it is something intermittent, maybe it is something we don't fully understand yet, but I don't think you can just say there is no problem. There is an issue for some of us, and perhaps it is just a matter of weather or not you care about the issue or not in the long run.

McIntosh support has been looking into this with me, and has been great, very responsive and understanding of the issue. I will continue working with McIntosh support on this, and hope they can come up with a way to address it. At the end of the day, it's a great sounding piece of equipment, pairs awesome with my system, and is every bit as great as the reviews say. There is no question it is superb sounding, so hopefully this gets worked out so I can keep it. If not, I'll get a comparable DAC in the same price range that will better meet my expectations. It's really as simple as that.

Joey

I am having issues with all as well.

My dealer installed a complete new system in my place 3 months ago...D1100, C1100, MC601s, MCT450, and MPC 1500. My dealer has also been over on three occasions and can verify that the “fade in” is NOT 1/10 of a second—-in some cases, it is actually a full second (documented with video).

I have a $550 OPPO that doesn’t have this issue..Did I mention this is an $11,000 disc player combo??

I can’t help but think the manufacturer knew about this but chose instead to let the DAC out to market anyway (sort of like the CD500 DAC non compatibility with Apple—inexcusable for a $6500 CD player in the year 2016).

I let Mac know about my issues the day after I bought mine and it was set up—it’s now been 5 months and I have heard nothing.

[Cajunpepe]

j3brow—-Dead & Co. was pretty darn good in NOLA a couple nights ago....did you go? (I am in NOLA)

[j3brow]

Originally Posted by Cajunpepe

I am having issues with all as well.



My dealer installed a complete new system in my place 3 months ago...D1100, C1100, MC601s, MCT450, and MPC 1500. My dealer has also been over on three occasions and can verify that the “fade in” is NOT 1/10 of a second—-in some cases, it is actually a full second (documented with video).



I have a $550 OPPO that doesn’t have this issue..Did I mention this is an $11,000 disc player combo??



I can’t help but think the manufacturer knew about this but chose instead to let the DAC out to market anyway (sort of like the CD500 DAC non compatibility with Apple—inexcusable for a $6500 CD player in the year 2016).



I let Mac know about my issues the day after I bought mine and it was set up—it’s now been 5 months and I have heard nothing.

Cajunpepe: Well, it would appear this is a universal issue with the D1100. Buying your D1100 just 3 months ago, I would assume you have the latest firmware v1.02?

I’m still running v1.00. Called my McIntosh dealer today about getting the update. I have been informed there is also a service bulletin D1100sb01+052317. I assume whatever this sb is, it was issued last May and yours and Joe’s would be up to date, so I’m not expecting bringing my D1100 up to current will change the mute/unmute behavior whenever silence is encountered. I bought mine Feb 2017.

Did you buy your gear from Rich?

Regarding Dead and Company, yes I was there. It was phenomenal. Those guys are firing on all cylinders. Just a fantastic 2017-2018 run so far. I started a thread for this show back in December here.

[xv21]

Originally Posted by j3brow

The muting is inherent to ALL current McIntosh DACs. If you don’t hear it, it’s because it’s really really subtle on most all tracks.

McIntosh D1100 and MCT450 via MCT.
I Saw Her Standing There (mono remaster): Only "1 [half of it], 2, 3, 4".

McIntosh C52 and MCT450 via MCT.
I Saw Her Standing There (mono remaster): "1, 2, 3, 4".

McIntosh C52 DAC doesn't have similar problems with MCT450 via MCT.

McIntosh D1100 firmware is V1.01.

Originally Posted by j3brow

Here is Ron-C’s response to my email inquiry this morning :

“Yes, we receive reports of excessive delays from some customers while others do not report this. D1100 like all McIntosh digital engines has a 1/10 second mute at the beginning of a song to identify the file format.

If you have a longer delay on 192 files as opposed top 16/44 this is a computer or music program issue. We test with a mix of files from MP3 16/44 through DSD256 Using JRiver 23.”

So there it is. It’s a 1/10th of a second mute with normal operation. Usually very subtle. If it’s longer, then could be because computer/driver/USB issue.

It doesn’t bother me or decrease my enthusiasm for this DAC. It’s a wonderful piece and worthy of any McIntosh based system. It’s so subtle that most all McIntosh DAC users don’t report it as a problem. And it didn’t stop computeraudiophile from placing it on its recommend components list for 2017 and gave it pretty glowing praise.

You may not be able to identify this problem, if you are just listening music. A random person might say that the D1100 sounds really great and not notice the problem.

[1KW]

Picky picky, enjoy your stereo you have a great system. Don’t get bent out of shape over something so minor

[crwilli]

If using JRiver, did you try the suggestions from -E-???? He’s the JRiver whisperer...

[Cajunpepe]

j3brow....


Yes, I am running the latest firmware on both pre and DAC.

Yes, bought it all from Rich (also have a c500, MC501s, D100, and another MPC1500 I bought from Rich).

Rich is coming here tomorrow to install a firmware update he just got from Mac—I will post if it cures the ailment.


...and caught the boys in Boulder, Los Angeles (Hollywood Bowl), Dallas, and Austin last year!...getting ready to log some more Phish shows this summer (Atlanta, Dick,s, and possibly The Gorge).