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My MCD201 Review

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my exact same impression

I borrowed one from a dealer, and took it back within 5 days. The spinning disc sound was not audible from the listening position, but the overall presentation was bland. At first listen, I was excited. But that excitement dwindled. I even had it plugged directly into my MC7200 amp via Cardas Cross XLR ic's. But the presentation was flat and uninvolving.

Sell it and pick up a Cary 303/300. You won't be disappointed.
 
BS64 said:
I borrowed one from a dealer, and took it back within 5 days. The spinning disc sound was not audible from the listening position, but the overall presentation was bland. At first listen, I was excited. But that excitement dwindled. I even had it plugged directly into my MC7200 amp via Cardas Cross XLR ic's. But the presentation was flat and uninvolving.

Sell it and pick up a Cary 303/300. You won't be disappointed.
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BS,

I'm curious, were you feeding the MCD201 directly at first into your Bose surround sound system and then switched into your 7200 amp via CC XLR ic's.

Can you clarify the system in use, maybe we can help you.

The MCD201 sounds spectacular in my set-up.

Indy
 
Indy said:
The MCD201 sounds spectacular in my set-up.
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In mine too. I prefer with an external pre though. But the internal pre is still very useful because I like how the headphone amp sounds with my cans.
 
Horses for courses of course. I had a consumer tell me how much better he liked the MCD201 than the other brand 'C' CD player he tried. Bland? I don't think the MCD201 is that. Accurate, involving, smooth yet nuanced I would believe though.

Thanks,
Ron-C
 
Horses for courses of course.
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You're right about that. I have tried quite a few preamps between the 201 and 501's. Haven't found one yet that I like better than the 201 driving the 501's directly. They all seem to shrink and flatten the soundstage besides adding their own coloration. I've even sold my BAT VK31SE and ARC SP9MKIII. I'm saving the auditioning of McIntosh brand of preamps for last. Maybe I'll have better luck as I do need to come up with a preamp so I can use my VPI TT again.
 
ron-c said:
The various models like MVP861 or 851 have their own software download disks.
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Ron,

I bought my MVP861 over a year ago (August 2005). Have there been any software upgrades since then? If so, what are they and how do I get them?

Thanks.

Glen
 
PHC, the MCD201 through the C220 does not sound at all like the MCD201 direct. I prefer what I heard through the C220 but I'm not sure that it's macs most "transparent" preamp if that is what you want. So listen to those mac preamps and take your time ;)
 
BS64 said:
I borrowed one from a dealer, and took it back within 5 days. The spinning disc sound was not audible from the listening position, but the overall presentation was bland. At first listen, I was excited. But that excitement dwindled. I even had it plugged directly into my MC7200 amp via Cardas Cross XLR ic's. But the presentation was flat and uninvolving.
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Given your other thread, in which you note that your MC-7200 is not even close to working properly, this comment seems somewhat iffy. Get the 7200 up to specs, then please listen again. If the amp's got problems big enough to take a channel out, the sound cannot be judged.

http://audiokarma.org/forums/showpost.php?p=816523&postcount=1
 
I prefer what I heard through the C220 but I'm not sure that it's macs most "transparent" preamp if that is what you want.
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Jim, I tend to prefer a more "warmer" or "romantic" approach to sound, given my wide taste in music, I find that the added romance only helps in the long run of listening pleasure. Considering how harsh and abrasive some earlier CD's and some forms of music can sound, neutrality although often desired, may not always be the most pleasant way of listening. I am not a recording engineer and I am not judging a CD or my system for it's recording or playback "exactness", I simply listen to music that brings me pleasure and lets me relax. I appreciate the focus, expansive soundstage, grain free midrange, musical bass and smooth highs that only McIntosh has given me so far. If the overall tonality is on the warmer side and even a smidgen less detail is available, all is forgiven in the light of overall musicality and enjoyment of the system. Who was it that said "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!"?
 
McGlentosh,

The only change ever made to the MVP861 was to increse the cover vent cutouts on high altitude units. other than that the software is set.

Thanks,
Ron-C
 
PHC1 said:
Jim, I tend to prefer a more "warmer" or "romantic" approach to sound, given my wide taste in music, I find that the added romance only helps in the long run of listening pleasure. Considering how harsh and abrasive some earlier CD's and some forms of music can sound, neutrality although often desired, may not always be the most pleasant way of listening. I am not a recording engineer and I am not judging a CD or my system for it's recording or playback "exactness", I simply listen to music that brings me pleasure and lets me relax. I appreciate the focus, expansive soundstage, grain free midrange, musical bass and smooth highs that only McIntosh has given me so far. If the overall tonality is on the warmer side and even a smidgen less detail is available, all is forgiven in the light of overall musicality and enjoyment of the system. Who was it that said "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!"?
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Great! Then we agree ;) I just thought that I would warn you after reading your previous comment, but it looks like I didn't have to.

So give the C220 a listen - you'll love it :music:
 
Great! Then we agree I just thought that I would warn you after reading your previous comment, but it looks like I didn't have to.
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Jim, good to know you got my back covered! I'm glad it's McIntosh we're into too, can't steer too far from the path of audio heaven either. :thmbsp:
 
ron-c said:
The only change ever made to the MVP861 was to increse the cover vent cutouts on high altitude units. other than that the software is set.
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Thanks again, Ron. What about the MX135? Soon after I bought it (in 2004), I downloaded and installed a patch to upgrade the effects. Have there been any others since then?

Glen
 
No, not on the MX135/119. These two have given great service and sound. Understand all models except for amps and speakers have operational software. This not only controls function but also times the switching of inputs and outputs for noise free operation, etc.

Thanks,
Ron-C
 
Bose?

First of all, the MCD201 was borrowed last spring while I was auditioning cdp's. The channel dropping out started 3-4 weeks ago and has since been alleviated since sliding the "stereo/mono" switch back and forth a few times.

For some reason, the input dropping out seemed to correlate to a volume change on the Cary cdp. After recalling the fact that it could be switched to a monoblock, I went after the slide switch. It has since played twice for a few hours each time at reasonable volume levels without incident.

Second of all, I have never owned a Bose product.

The 201 was plugged directly into the 7200 via Cardas XLR ic's. I, too, found myself turning the volume up to get some punch and dynamics, but all I got was ear fatigue.

It's probably a good player, but it was not a good fit for me.
 
It's probably a good player, but it was not a good fit for me.
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It's definitely a great player, I've had my share of CDP's as well as listening to some megabuck ones my friend went through building his system. To each it's own of course, that's why there is so much different gear for sale as well as resale...
 
I got a MCD201 because my previous CDP was my bottleneck. The only inconvenience I found in the MCD201's sound is that now the rest of my system is the bottleneck.. ;)
 
BS64 said:
First of all, the MCD201 was borrowed last spring while I was auditioning cdp's. The channel dropping out started 3-4 weeks ago and has since been alleviated since sliding the "stereo/mono" switch back and forth a few times.

For some reason, the input dropping out seemed to correlate to a volume change on the Cary cdp. After recalling the fact that it could be switched to a monoblock, I went after the slide switch. It has since played twice for a few hours each time at reasonable volume levels without incident.

Second of all, I have never owned a Bose product.

The 201 was plugged directly into the 7200 via Cardas XLR ic's. I, too, found myself turning the volume up to get some punch and dynamics, but all I got was ear fatigue.

It's probably a good player, but it was not a good fit for me.
Click to expand...


Ok, synergy.

With my speakers I find the C220 perfect with the MCD201.
 
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