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  #31  
Old 11-18-2019, 02:12 PM
Charles Charles is online now
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The D1100 is dual mono and fully balanced from input to output. It has the AES/EBU input. I am sure the DA2 module sounds superb but it has its limitations as has been pointed out above.
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  #32  
Old 11-18-2019, 04:23 PM
tripitz tripitz is offline
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Thanks for the responses. While I would love to go C1100 + D1100, it is out of my budget right now because I also need to buy an amp. I absolutely need a DAC, although I do not need "the best". If the DA2 on the C2700 is great, then I'll probably be happy in the mean time. I just demoed a $7000 DAC and was immediately disappointed.

My MA252 doesn't have enough inputs for what I need and I am struggling with adding the right dac to it (considered getting D1100.. except that doesn't address my need for more power). I still can trade the MA252 back from my demo if I upgrade. I also need the phono stage and a few other inputs.

Sounds like the C2700 is worthy of serious consideration instead of the C2600. My dealer is offering me a deal on a new 2600, which makes it very tempting. It sounds like there are meaningful improvements beyond just the DAC with the 2700 and 2600.

Really appreciate the feedback. Thank you again.
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  #33  
Old 11-19-2019, 09:44 AM
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W9TR W9TR is offline
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I’d also go with the latest version C2700 because it uses the DA-2 DAC module which hints toward future upgradability.

You can not upgrade the DAC’s in the C2500 and C2600, so those preamps will be fixed in time wrt digital playback.

The price/performance ratio of DAC’s is still changing rapidly - unlike basic tube amplification which is more stable.

On the used market the C2500 and C2600 are not getting much of a premium over the older C2300 which has no DAC.

Tom
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  #34  
Old 11-19-2019, 12:25 PM
Chris838 Chris838 is offline
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Im so excited..... My C2700 is coming in these days. My Planar 8 is waiting in the box now for quite some time!
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  #35  
Old 11-21-2019, 03:03 PM
tripitz tripitz is offline
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I am off to my dealer tomorrow to demo a few options. Also reconsidering my recent speaker purchase (F208) and considering putting the money to upgraded to 803D3s.

On the list to demo are the MA9000, C2700, C2600, and C1100. I recognize a few of these are a little different. Looking to pair the pre-amps with an MC462 or 452 amp. Will report if anything new/interesting to document.
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  #36  
Old 11-21-2019, 09:48 PM
btn2803 btn2803 is online now
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Listened to C2700 at Dealer today. The system is set up with 802D3 driven by MC 611s, Aurender N10, Shunyata Sigma speakers and interconnect. Music is mostly Jazz. To my ears, sound is lush with great soundstage.

Result: C2700 ordered! Can’t wait to have it installed in my room. For now, I plan to keep the PS Audio DAC and connect it to the C2700. I will do some A/B using the DAC of the C2700 and PS Audio DAC to see if any big difference. I will consider trading in the PS Audio DAC down the road.
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Amps: Mc611s; Bryston 9BST Speakers: B&W 802D3, HTM1D3, B&W SCMs, 2x REL Carbon Special + Analysis Plus REL SpeakOn cable; Pre-Amp: C2700; Processor: Marantz 8805A Sources: Aurender N20; PSA Directstream DAC; JVC RS2000; Stewart Screen Cabaret with StudioTek 130 G4; Oppo UDP-205; Power & Cables: Taralabs bi-wire; WW XLR Silver Eclipse 8; WW Silver Starlight 7 Coax; Denali 6000T, Shunyata Alpha, Delta and Venom.
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  #37  
Old 11-22-2019, 10:15 AM
tripitz tripitz is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by btn2803 View Post
Listened to C2700 at Dealer today. The system is set up with 802D3 driven by MC 611s, Aurender N10, Shunyata Sigma speakers and interconnect. Music is mostly Jazz. To my ears, sound is lush with great soundstage.

Result: C2700 ordered! Can’t wait to have it installed in my room. For now, I plan to keep the PS Audio DAC and connect it to the C2700. I will do some A/B using the DAC of the C2700 and PS Audio DAC to see if any big difference. I will consider trading in the PS Audio DAC down the road.
Congratulations on your order! I was at a listening party where they had an MT10, C2700, MC462 hooked up to 803D3s. Wow.. it was amazing.

I just returned my PSA Dac this week. For the price I thought it needed to "wow" me and I was actually meh. In my system at home it just didn't work for me. What it did show to me though was that there was much more that could be vs. currently is - part of the reason I'm thinking about doing a full system swap.

I'll report back when I get back tonight as am doing a good comparison between a few different Mc units.
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  #38  
Old 11-23-2019, 02:10 PM
tripitz tripitz is offline
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I spent the afternoon at my dealer demoing a few different things. I opted to return my 252 and upgrade to a 462. They had a new in box C2600 at a huge discount and I opted to go for that over the 2700. The price difference would allow me to get a really nice DAC at some point down the road if I needed to. Unfortunately, looks like I have a bit of a dud with my volume control working inconsistently so I may end up with a C2700 anyways!

Another interesting item I discovered.... to make sure it wasn't a waste buying such a nice amp on my speakers, I did an AB between my F208 and 803D3s, which retail for 3 1/2 times to cost. With the 205, there was a vast difference between the 803 and 208s. With the 462, the 208s were *almost* as good and really narrowed the gap. The amp really made a big difference - making me very happy with my purchase the 208s are terrific. At some point I may look into 802s though
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  #39  
Old 11-23-2019, 04:31 PM
btn2803 btn2803 is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tripitz View Post
Congratulations on your order! I was at a listening party where they had an MT10, C2700, MC462 hooked up to 803D3s. Wow.. it was amazing.

I just returned my PSA Dac this week. For the price I thought it needed to "wow" me and I was actually meh. In my system at home it just didn't work for me. What it did show to me though was that there was much more that could be vs. currently is - part of the reason I'm thinking about doing a full system swap.

I'll report back when I get back tonight as am doing a good comparison between a few different Mc units.
Thanks.
I keep the PS Audio DAC for now as it sounds good in my system. Down the road, I am thinking of trading it for either the upcoming Ted Smith DAC (TSS) which I can take advantage of a generous trade-in value for my PS DAC, or audition others such as Esoteric or DCs.

Look forward to your comparison of MC units.
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Amps: Mc611s; Bryston 9BST Speakers: B&W 802D3, HTM1D3, B&W SCMs, 2x REL Carbon Special + Analysis Plus REL SpeakOn cable; Pre-Amp: C2700; Processor: Marantz 8805A Sources: Aurender N20; PSA Directstream DAC; JVC RS2000; Stewart Screen Cabaret with StudioTek 130 G4; Oppo UDP-205; Power & Cables: Taralabs bi-wire; WW XLR Silver Eclipse 8; WW Silver Starlight 7 Coax; Denali 6000T, Shunyata Alpha, Delta and Venom.
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  #40  
Old 12-01-2019, 08:32 PM
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McGuyDLF McGuyDLF is offline
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2700 sounds fantastic it seems. I just picked up a C2500 last week for a steal, $2700, so I couldn't pass it up. Luckily a DAC is completely useless for me as I prefer vinyl. It replaced my C47 - nothing sounds better to me than a tube pre and SS amp (MC402). It is sublime... at this point, not sure I'd upgrade to anything else for quite awhile. As it is I don't utilize all the power in the 402.
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