mcd201 vs. ayre c-5xe

[billyg]

Has anyone had the opportunity of trying these two units side by side? If so, which one did you prefer? I hear the ayre is awesome from many people, not just from the folks at stereophile. I love my mcd 201 but always looking to upgrade if one is that much better. I only use a cd player as a source so I am looking to squeeze the most out of my system. Any thoughts?

 

[PHC1]

Only one way to find out, try to audition the ayre. I have heard it's an excellent player as well, hard to tell if it would be better or not. It's a preference thing. I don't particularly like players that have the "magnifying glass" resolution, always digging up every last ounce of information from the CD and bringing it out to your attention. They tend to fatigue me very fast. Just like I don't like the Wadia CD players for that same reason. I can't tell you if that's what the Ayre will do but it sure sounds like it might judging by the reviews. I really like the MCD201 for it's easy on the ear, smooth and musical presentation. Never "in your face", sort of laid back and easy going and that's not to say that it really lacks resolution, it just doesn't flaunt it. I find that I can listen to it for hours on end and just enjoy the music. To me that is what I always wanted and never got untill now.

 

[Negotiableterms]

I've heard them both, but not side by side. Note that the Mc is only $3000 while the Ayre is $6000. I think the Ayre is actually a better unit, but I agree that the Mc is easier to listen to, while the Ayre is more real sounding. Both are very musical. I wound up buying the Mc, but that was partly because everything else in my main system is Mc.

It's an open question whether the Ayre is worth double the Mc. For me, the answer is no. YMMV.

 

[sentinel90125]

I haven't heard the 201, but I recently sold my MVP-861 and replaced it with the Ayre C-5xe. Although I had an all McIntosh system (except speakers), I decided to go with the Ayre after auditioning it and reading all of the great reviews and user comments. I found this unit particularly appealing because it was 2 channel and had no video circuitry, which although I used, I wanted to eventually remove from the room althogether. After I heard it, I was floored by its redbook performance and consider DVD-A and SACD to be bonus features (which are also exemplary, btw). I highly recommend that this product be considered even given the significant premium.

 

[mike175gr]

While we are on the subject of really good cd players, has anybody ever listened to the Underwood "Ultimate" modification of the Denon 3910? It sure reads like it is the best thing since sliced bread. I was leaning towards the MCD201, but thought that I would ask for an opinion. Sorry for being slightly off topic..

I am assuming that most MCD201 users are using the balanced XLR or RCA connections to their preamp or processor and not the digitial out connection in order to take advantage of the DACs within the MCD201. Otherwise it would simply be a nice transport correct?