Time to call it a day, and design a new model....from the drafting board, this time with plenty of QC before public release, thank you!
My MCD201 Review
- Thread starter jayvis
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Time to call it a day, and design a new model....from the drafting board, this time with plenty of QC before public release, thank you!
DR. JAM
Malleus-Incus-Stapes=Blis
EasyRiderNYC
Tubed
Marantz sa8001.
I believe there is to be some high praise in October's Stereo-pile-o too.
Anyway It just sounds great, reads everything, silent, 2 channel only, very simple to use, clean look and is a less than a 1/3rd of the cost. Put a custom walnut cab around it. Use it for a year or so than pay the 3+ large for the MCD201 2.0.
Cheers.
I believe there is to be some high praise in October's Stereo-pile-o too.
Anyway It just sounds great, reads everything, silent, 2 channel only, very simple to use, clean look and is a less than a 1/3rd of the cost. Put a custom walnut cab around it. Use it for a year or so than pay the 3+ large for the MCD201 2.0.
Cheers.
Donmarchesi
Member
this is such an annoying story. I so want the 201 to be working but with all this reports there is no way that I will invest in it and have peace of mind at the same time.
howiebrou
Super Member
This story should feature as a case study in a MBA course as an example of :nono:
jesse111
Active Member
You are doing the right thing. But Mac NEEDS to have an affordable single disc high end redbook player for several reasons. McIntosh is a world class performer for two channel music and some of us lean towards the purist side and don't want unidisk players for our critical listening. I for one sit firmly in that camp. Furthermore, Macs heritage simply demands it.
Along with their awesome HT and surround gear, to stay true to the vintage roots that founded their success, they need to continue producing the best two channel gear available for the price no opject crowd (MCD/MDA1000) as well as for the general masses of music lovers (MCD201). This is what we want. Mac owes it to us.
Their offering of that model was a brilliant move. In this day and age most main stream companies would never consider a player limited to SACD and Redbook. But as the sales prove, there is a market for one that is not going to go away. CD perfomance is continuing to improve little by little. If Blue ray proves to be better? It will still be 30 years before CD's will be replaced.
I love the idea of a 201 V2.0. Gut the thing. Rebuild it. BETA TEST IT for a few thousand hours with some reliable well known customers like masterlu and PHC1 an a half dozen more perhaps.
Offer that 75% trade in thing for all the 201's out there like your doing for the amps. C'mon Mac. Step up the plate and do right by your loyal customers. According to this thread. Sending units in for upgrading just ain't cuttin it fellas.
Donmarchesi wants to buy one but can't??? That sucks.
Not a good idea, both Masterlu and PHC1 have the current 201 and if you ask them; everthing is just fine.
Vahe
jesse111
Active Member
Not a good idea just because you can site two properly working units?
My reference to those to men was based solely on their popularity in the forum and trustworthiness. Their units may be fine but I'm tallking about a revamped fully tested guarenteed top quality 3K CD player.
It's been documented that some new units are fine but some aren't. Additionally, what we're also considering are those who have units of the earlier generations and also those who have sent them back for "repair" and they still malfunction. Me being one of them. Firmware upgrades, brand new transport, nothing worked for me. That was my first hand experience.
I cited just a few recent accounts below supporting my comments from just this page alone. Vahe, read further up the thread.
My special thanks to those who are perhaps not as popular or trustworthy but these folks had the guts to get up and tell us that MCD201 was in fact a pretty sick player, I almost purchased one of these 201's but thanks to these folks the warning came just in time.
Vahe
jesse111
Active Member
Vahe,
You're comments above show that you and I are for the most part are on the same page with this issue. There appears to be some kind of misunderstanding expressing thoughts through typing without emotional expression (not the first time that's happened).
You're original comments had me thinking you were taking the exact opposite view. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
It's all good. :thmbsp:
Likely that your thinking is clouded by the very real possibility that it may stop working at any moment. My deal on accepting a factory-fresh, new production unit is that if I have any problems I can return it for a full refund and an MC275. I was going to do so in first place, but was persuaded to give a new MCD201 another go. You will be the first to know (after me and the dealer).
jesse111
Active Member
THAT is a very important point. Part of my love for Harleys is the very same thing. Together with performance and beauty, it's the heritage and pride of ownership.
These intangibles are necessary. There built in to the price and I don't mind paying for it. They are what very few comapanies can boast having. Harley and Mac are two of the few.
Donmarchesi
Member
I live in Europe, and purchase my gear across the pond (thanks Audioclassics). Reliability is paramount for me, it is as important as sound. I am actually considering an alternative source, like Wadia, Esoteric, Accuphase...
The looks of my rack will be shot to hell, but it is what inside that counts, right?
The looks of my rack will be shot to hell, but it is what inside that counts, right?
Jess,
We had a 1950 pan head in the family for years...man that was a rough ride!
When I grow up the thing in life I want the most....is a 1950 Indian Chief....I'd hock my........for one!!:thmbsp:
It is my understatnding that the initial small batch of transports which were used in the early production 201's were of good quality and problem-free. This may explain why early purchasers such as PHC1, Masterlu, and a few others have reported good luck with their units. Apparently the second "large" batch of transports that were shiped to McIntosh and used in later units were very problematic. Various firmware updates and possibly some unspecified tweeking of the transport have resulted in improved reliability of more recent production units. However, it appears that a certain percentage of new units are still experiencing the same problems. Also, the new units are not using the same transport as the 871 as was suggested by someone previously. The 871 uses a transport manufacured by Dennon. The 201 uses a transport from a company that makes computer transports. Personally, I'm going to wait for the next incarnation of the 201. I hope it doesn't take too long!
jesse111
Active Member
True but I'd try to wait until they perhaps truly fix the issue. Stay with Mac if you can. The DAC and technology just won't be the same and as for me... nothing beats the musicality of Mac.
New Hogs have come a loooooong way since 1984. Reliability of a Harley is second to none. This was taken even further up the top of the quality chain in 1999 when the twin cam came out. They hold their value better than any othe bike and ride smoooooth. Nothing like it on earth. Macs and Harleys... life is good.
Nothing sounds like a pan but only get one if you are quite handy with mechanics. :thmbsp:
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