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Mcd205 or Mvp861.... this is the problem

Good answer ron-c, I forgot now much personnal preferences were important!! Silly me again.

If my dealer had both, I wouldn't even had bothered to ask ;)
I guess that I'll just have to wait!
 
The problem of course is that even in the Washington D.C metro there are no dealers who really "stock even just for audition purposes" very much Mc. Usually one or two pieces only. It's a shame!
 
A dealer I know has had a 861 connected to a ma6900 for awhile and his thoughts were that it did'nt sound as good as some other dedicated cd players in his store.
Most notably a Rotel 1072. I have the Rotel and enjoy it but was looking to match the rest of my Mac system.So I spent just alittle time with the 861 and found it alittle "brite" compaired to the 1072 he a/b d it to.Our assessment was once again that a dedicted CD player is the way to go.What I wan't to know is just how good is th 201 and if I'm ONLY using a CD player as a source for my MC352,will it sound better than running it through my c2200??? Opinions please!
 
lindstrom said:
The problem of course is that even in the Washington D.C metro there are no dealers who really "stock even just for audition purposes" very much Mc. Usually one or two pieces only. It's a shame!
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Try Gramophone in either Columbia Md. (closer to you) or Timonium Md. They are worth the drive. I have beed using them for 20 years and they carry a lot of Mc in both stores.

I use the Timonium store and my contact there is Elliot Wier. Great guy, very knowledgeable and has the patience of a saint. He typifies what McIntosh service is all about as does Gramophone.

Artie
 
EFFY said:
A dealer I know has had a 861 connected to a ma6900 for awhile and his thoughts were that it did'nt sound as good as some other dedicated cd players in his store.
Most notably a Rotel 1072. I have the Rotel and enjoy it but was looking to match the rest of my Mac system.So I spent just alittle time with the 861 and found it alittle "brite" compaired to the 1072 he a/b d it to.Our assessment was once again that a dedicted CD player is the way to go.What I wan't to know is just how good is th 201 and if I'm ONLY using a CD player as a source for my MC352,will it sound better than running it through my c2200??? Opinions please!
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Yes the 861 can be a bit bright in some instances as I have one and have experienced this. On good recordings it's excellent. On marginal/poor ones, they are what they are. It will not make bad cd better, but will take a great cd and makes it sound fantastic. DVD-A and Sacd that I have listened to is outstanding as well as is DVD video. Of course this is all subjective. We all hear and see different.

Some of my redbooks sound better than ever some are quite bright to the point of outright crappy. I guess that would typify the statement "compact disc may reveal source limitations in the original source " huh.... :music:

Of course we all know CD is the ultimate complaint free format....:lmao:

I keep the stuff that doesn't sound good on cd- on vinyl. so I have a LOT of both
 
Mvp 861

macman007 said:
Greetings to all..

Next came my redbook choice. I picked Dire Straits Brothers in Arms another familiar favorite. Unreal...."Money for Nothing" comes thru as a bit overdriven as always, but overall much better than I'm used to hearing. "Ride Across The River" was very subtle, stirring and emotionaly involving, leaving me trembleing with lustful excitement. Finally, "Brothers In Arms" finished me off but left me wanting more. The soft strings of Knopfler's guitar linger hauntingly in the background then come just enough into the fore to get your attention then receed. All the while the 861 is keeping instrument placement, balance, and detail locked dead nuts on, adding nothing and taking away nothing. Needless to say I will be spending more time with my redbooks now that I can hear them in a whole different way.


In conclusion I can find no fault with the 861 in any mode although it does feel a bit light in weight and construction compared to my Sony ES DVD/ SACD player. Construction aside, the 861 leaves the Sony in the dust. Some have commented that the MVP 851 had better reviews but having evaluated both as a replacement to my aging Sony, the 861 is hands down my favorite. The 205 left me wanting for more, even though initially I went to my dealer with the intent of getting a replacement for my aging MCD 7000. When I heard the 851 then the new 861, the choice was obvious to me. IMHO, it does all things and does them REALLY well. My hats off to Ron and company on the MVP 861 and the MX 135. They are truely a match made in heaven.

I hope this review is helpful.

Artie
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Hallo I'm Tomas and posting from Rome -Italy...so sorry for englishLanguage !

I would like to know : which your Sony's player is that .... "Sony ES DVD/ SACD player was in the dust from MVP861" !
A lot of Thanks Macman007
 
macman007 said:
Try Gramophone in either Columbia Md. (closer to you) or Timonium Md. They are worth the drive. I have beed using them for 20 years and they carry a lot of Mc in both stores.

I use the Timonium store and my contact there is Elliot Wier. Great guy, very knowledgeable and has the patience of a saint. He typifies what McIntosh service is all about as does Gramophone.

Artie
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Thanks macman007,

I have actually been there. Perhaps it was just an anomoly, but they had only a tuner and a 6900 - that's it. I will have to try again. I went to the Timonuium store which was the one suggested. Actually found more stuff at JS audio in Bethesda, Md - but not enough variety to find cd/dvd players to compare.

Michael
 
tommy said:
Hallo I'm Tomas and posting from Rome -Italy...so sorry for englishLanguage !

I would like to know : which your Sony's player is that .... "Sony ES DVD/ SACD player was in the dust from MVP861" !
A lot of Thanks Macman007
Click to expand...

The Sony unit I refer to is the Sony DVP S9000 ES.
 
This is my first post, but I have owned mac gear since 1978. FWIW, I recently sold my MCD-205 and bought an MVP-861 and haven't looked back. The bonus for me is dvd-a, which sounds incredible on my system. Over the years I have learned that Ron-c's comments are true, whatever mac builds is built to the best of their ability using the technology available at the time. Just ask vintage mac owners.
 
Does anybody here know if there's a Mac dealer around St. Louis. I would love to spend even 10 min listening to a Mac system. Unfortunately, my family&relatives&freinds are acoustically and sonically challenged :sigh:, so no one around me has a system that would sound close to a Mac. Id really like to hear one at a dealers.
 
Jere-B,
Welcome :)

DVD-A discs are great, I agree. The Classic Records HDAD discs are all fantastic and anything from Hi-Res like The Ray Brown Trio- Soular Energy.

Victor
 
theblackknight said:
Does anybody here know if there's a Mac dealer around St. Louis. I would love to spend even 10 min listening to a Mac system. Unfortunately, my family&relatives&freinds are acoustically and sonically challenged :sigh:, so no one around me has a system that would sound close to a Mac. Id really like to hear one at a dealers.
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You can do a dealer search on the Mcintosh Labs web site. I came up with this dealer from the site:

Hi Fi Fo Fum, Inc.
1155 Big Bend Blvd.
Richmond Heights, MO 63117
Phone: 314-647-3606

I don't know anything about them, you should look them up and let us know what they have.

Victor
 
Oops I forgot to welcome theblacknight.

So welcome. :D

My family is also audio challenged, so I feal your pain. They all think I'm crazy. :screwy:

Victor
 
Victor,that is the McIntosh Dealer I have been rantting about.They have one amp,one preamp,one cd/dvd player,one tuner and no Mac speakers,just Paradigam.They carry no Mac inventory because "it is rather expensive you know",that is what I was told after I ask why they had no inventory.Avoid this dealer like the black death.Next closest is in Cape Girrardo,about 75 miles away.There is a Priemium Dealer in Kansas City abot 150 or so miles.I refuse to pay 1/3 mark up or what ever he makes for him to make a phone call.I will buy used or unopened in the box untill Mac fixes the dealer problem here.So far my emails have fallen on deaf ears.I wonder what the requirements are to be a Mac dealer?
 
chrisf said:
Victor,that is the McIntosh Dealer I have been rantting about.They have one amp,one preamp,one cd/dvd player,one tuner and no Mac speakers,just Paradigam.They carry no Mac inventory because "it is rather expensive you know",that is what I was told after I ask why they had no inventory.Avoid this dealer like the black death.
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That's too bad. :no: Having a good relationship with my local dealer has been a HUGE asset to me and my system. We have worked together to our mutual benefit for the last 4 years. Now I even do setups for him and without his help I wouldn't get as much enjoyment out of my music. :yes:

I can understand a dealer having demo equipment only and no stock inventory. This is not a big problem because unless it is a new hot seller McIntosh is pretty fast delivering orders (3-10 days in my experience). The other problems are unexcusable though.

Victor
 
Victor,my beef is if I can't listen to say a mcd201 or any other mac piece I want to compare to another to make my mind up,why should I have to pay this guy just to make a phone call to order me something I might not like?I know I don't want the c46,mc402,mr80,,or the 861 player he has in his setup,the only setup.But I would like to hear the c220 vs the c2200,the xrt28's vs the xrt 30's.The only service he is providing me is to make a phone call then take my money.Plus they are not an authorized service center as the Mac c/s girl checked,the tech they have is not a qualified mac tech.I'll take my chances for now buying used,or unopened box with no warranty from someone like Barny&Sue and rely on the quality of McIntosh and Terry d or the factory to fix a problem if and when it comes up.So far I have been lucky.I will have my funds for my preamp next week as I sold my TT and record cleaner in one day on Agon.I just missed a buy it now on a c220 on ebay from Barny&Sue.The price was well below list and some idiots started bidding instead of useing buy it now and bid it up over the list price by a few hundred bucks.Well I better stop as I am hijacking my own post.Victor your's and several others advice is allways welcome,I have learned alot from most of you guys,Chris
 
Victor said:
The other problems are unexcusable though.
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What kind of town is the dealer in? My dealer is in a tiny, tiny town. He has less display items than chrisf describes. I understand his situation, and I'm so happy to have a local dealer that I can't complain at all. A little dealer in a small town just can't afford to display many models.

Not disagreeing per se, but I'd like to know the full facts before we publicize the poor guy to Ron-C as a bad dealer. OTOH, wisely, Ron never listens to us anyway! :D
 
I have the 861 and I had a chance to do a side-by-side comparison of the 201 and 861 in my system at home. The 201 was exceptionally detailed with a more forward presentation than the 861, and it was sublime on SACD. The 861 is very, very good although slightly more laid back than the 201 - and it will play any format out there. I know my description is in stark contrast to the folks who described the 861 as bright - maybe it's the combination of my setup. I loved the 201 and would recommend it to anyone looking for a 2-channel CD/SACD rig, I think it is a very good player at a great price. For me I decided to stay with my 861 but instead bought the MDA-1000 which is STUPID GOOD and the best money I've spent on the system so far! :thmbsp:

Also, I'm very lucky to have a fantastic dealer close by - Gluskin's in Stockton, California (ask for Forrest or Melinda). They have a good selection of Mac gear and are knowledgable, down to earth people that bend over backwards to take care of their customers.
 
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