MCD-301 sonic quality?

[j3brow]

Gotta give me a little time, tonight I'll do some serious listening. Been busy all week.

The tray looks like steel to me rather than Aluminum but I wouldnt know unless I take a bite at it. Then again, it looks very much like the C1000 tray, from a feet away you cannot tell the difference. Steel or aluminum it makes no difference to me as long as it is not Plastic. It is firm and steady unlike the plastic tray of the 201.

I'll report back with more for sure.

Stereopal,

Any initial thoughts on how the 301 sounds and especially how it sounds compared to the 'top of the heap' MCD/MDA1000 combo?

 

[braxus]

Just saw this thread. Be interested in hearing one of these units. The local Mac Dealer is 100km away from me here. They also sell B&W and Rotel, so that is what I'd be up against in listening tests. Any word how much more these new units are against the 201? PM if you know.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=153965

 

[thughes]

traded the 201 for the 301

I traded my 201 for the 301 and would do it again in a heartbeat. I have had absolutely no mechanical problems with the 301, no freezes, beeps, disk errors, and no mechanical noise. It's quiet with my ear against the drawer. And the sound is exquisite. My only negative is that it's more difficult to read the smaller track number display on the 301 since it is much smaller. Still, the decision between the two is a no-brainer. I can't imagine that Mc will keep the 201 in the lineup.

 

[hkval]

I recently purchased the 301 to replace the 201. I loved the 201 and it was far more musical and pleasurable to listen to than the Classe 202 it replaced. The Classe was technically a very impressive unit but I found myself listening to it from an analytical approach rather than just appreciating the music. The 301 combines the best qualities of each. It makes you feel as if there could not possibly be anything else on the CD to be delivered to your ears and, at the same time, you listen for nothing but the beautiful music. It is clear, open, detailed from top to bottom and sooooo musically satisfying. The rest of my system is: MC501 (2) - C42 - Watt/Puppy 8's.