jayvis said:
Well I got my new player and after 10 days and approximately 20 hours of listening to redbook cd's, this is my initial review. First off, this is a big, beautifull cd player. I wouldn't have expected anything less of a McIntosh product in the aesthetics category. I tied it to my MA6500 which is piped through a pair of JM Labs Electra 915.1's. As reported by many other owners, the player loads a disc extremely slow, which reminds me of my first cd player back in 1985. The first disc I played was James Taylor's Hourglass which really made me smile. It just plain sounded great! But, since that first disc, my overall impressions have gone down hill. Disc after disc, some old, some new, I kept finding myself continually turning up the volume to hear the detail and punch I had grown accustomed to with my Arcam CD92 and other players before it. Sorry to say, that detail and punch was never found on the vast majority of the discs I've played. To my ears, it seems that the McIntosh's dac's just don't measure up to the Arcam's dCS Ring dac. I do agree with others that the MCD201 is easy to listen to for extended periods, mainly due to what I interpret as a filtered and subdued output. It does have a full bodied sound but doesn't reach down far enough on the lowest bass notes like the Arcam. The player excells in the midranges and highs, taking the edge off of many digital recordings. After about an hour and a half last night, I came to the conclusion that I was listening to a cd player that has somehow achieved analog sound qualities better than any I've heard to date. This is a very good thing for all those vinyl lovers out there but probably bad for those who crave that digital punch and detail. I keep reminding myself that it will take time for me to warm to this "new" sound that I'm just not accustomed to. So far, my initial reaction is somewhat disappointment. I really expected more from a player that retails for twice as much as the Arcam it was meant to replace. If you like the analog, vinyl sound, this is a player you must have. If you like or expect digital punch and detail from your redbook cd's, you may be disappointed. A big positive to report is that I haven't experienced any of the skipping or loading issues other owners have had. I'll continue to give the player and my ears time to get better aquainted and will report any change of opinions to all who are interested.
I am a relatively new member here on the forum and really didn't want to post my results until i had everything up and running. So here we go.
My 2 channel system consists of the following:
C220
MCD 201
(2) MC 501's
B&W 800D
Interconnects custom made from high quality thick Belden Cable- balanced connections.
Speaker wire currently is a four component 12 guage - bi-wired on the speaker terminals. Wires to be tweaked in the next several weeks. Probably Nordost Red Dawn.
System is detailed, bass and drums are very realistic and true, midrange not nasal or boxey, top end has air - !!
All in all the sound has texture, weight, depth, width, stage, etc.
I have found that system matching is very important to what is pleasing to my ears and the room the equipment is going to be performing in.
The MAC electronics with the 800D's are superb (period).
The synergy of the C220 and MCD 201 with the MC 501 makes effortless music that is not earbleeding, it is not lacking detail, all the bells, whistles, finger snaps, etc. are there with weight.
Before the MCD 201 arrived I was drivng the front end with a Arcam CD33. Very good player in the $2500 range. THe MCD 201 has taken the system to another level in all aspect of sound quality.
One member mentioned that it was like the bass, treble, soundstage became better. I have to agree, everything sounds much better with the MCD 201.
The CD33 is a very good Red Book player. The 201 is several notches above it.
"It does have a full bodied sound but doesn't reach down far enough on the lowest bass notes like the Arcam. The player excells in the midranges and highs, taking the edge off of many digital recordings. After about an hour and a half last night, I came to the conclusion that I was listening to a cd player that has somehow achieved analog sound qualities better than any I've heard to date"
I have to disagree with the bass not reaching down, with the CD33 I was increasing the bass adjustment on the C220 for it to sound right, With the MCD 201 the bass setting is at 12 o'clock (flat); the bass is as true as the CD33, but thicker and plays lower.
As a side not I played the MCD201 direct into the 501's and the bass was too strong for the room. I had to set it at around 10 o'clock on the C220. I prefer the 201 played thru the C220.
"But, since that first disc, my overall impressions have gone down hill. Disc after disc, some old, some new, I kept finding myself continually turning up the volume to hear the detail and punch I had grown accustomed to with my Arcam CD92 and other players before it."
Again I have to disagree, I have better low level retreval and lower level listening volumes can be used late at night. The differences are not night and day but changing player on the same tracks of music the difernces are very apparent. The CD33 is flatter with less depth. Seperation of sounds and placment of singers and instruments is much better with the MCD 201.
"I kept finding myself continually turning up the volume to hear the detail and punch"
I have to agree with you that with the CD33 increasing volume to 30 on the C220 the sound was fairly loud, and the MC501's registered around 5 watts or so. The sound was very good but until I hooked up the MCD 201 I couldn't put my finger on what was missing using the CD33.
With the MCD 201 I can play the C220 at 39 and not even hit 5 watts on the MC501's??? The sound stage is effortless to my ears with all the top end air,
detail, bottom end and most important depth. This would be a good indication of a lower noise floor?
I would suggest you use a db meter and play both player on the same music track and see what is happening. Electronic synergy is an art for your ears to decide. Wires are a tweak once you settle on the sound you like.
As far as load times. My average load time on my player is between 12 and 16 seconds. I think this is reasonable for a SACD/ CD player. My player was produced this month (July).
One last item, the player only has 5 hours of use on it, it can only get better-from experience.
Indy
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