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What transport are you using with MDA1000? How many MDA1000 here?
- Thread starter dj_AmTraX
- Start date
anton
Active Member
Thanx, Ron!:thmbsp:
Which brings us to the following 3 questions:
1. Would 301's SACD playback be better than the same redbook signal through MDA?
2. Excluding the question of vinyl is MDA a better upgrade than C500?
3. If I buy C500 would MDA still be a major upgrade used strictly as a DAC?
:scratch2::scratch2::scratch2:
ron-c
Addicted Member
The C500/1000 are made to work with the MDA1000 and other balanced sources. When switching balanced these two preamps do it without damaging the signal or fidelity.
On the other hand the C220 is better than most others. Just depends what level you want to play.
Thanks,
Ron-C
On the other hand the C220 is better than most others. Just depends what level you want to play.
Thanks,
Ron-C
The MCD1000 was good enough to be the transport of choice for this system:
"Denver’s Audio Unlimited treated us to the first appearance of Avalon's Isis speakers ($58,000 per pair), which were the most expensive speaker I saw. A $6500 McIntosh MCD1000 transport provided the source, driving an assortment of Boulder electronics ($37,000 2020 DAC, $37,000 2010 preamp, and $72,000-per-pair 2050 mono amps) all sitting on $6800 Finite-Elemente racks."
http://www.ultraaudio.com/features/2005_10_15.htm
Is it just me loving Mac so much, that everything else looks strange? :headscrat
anton
Active Member
ron-c
Addicted Member
SACD vs PCM varies from disk to disk. Since almost all SACD disks have been converted to PCM for mixing then back to SACD for the consumer to believe in a lot of this is smoke and mirrors. There are some SACD disks that were unmolested and there many disks that sound great either SACD or PCM.
Anton, you will need to rely on your own judgments and hearing to answer some of these questions.
Thanks,
Ron-C
Anton, you will need to rely on your own judgments and hearing to answer some of these questions.
Thanks,
Ron-C
I also think a lot of people put too much emphasis on SACD. If the SACD is a modern recording with high resolution mikes and recording gear to take advantage of the increased dynamic range of the SACD, it is one thing. If the SACD is just remastered from analog tapes with much much poorer dynamic range and of recordings that took place many years ago... well, there's really not much advantage there.
Also,
"As of February 2008, there have been over 5,000 SACD releases, slightly more than 50% of which appear to be classical. Jazz and popular music, mainly remastered previously released albums, are the next two most common genres released to date."
In the mean time gracenote alone has data for over 3,598,785 CDs and that is not all of them.
Mack
Active Member
It's the exqusite look of Mac when many different components are put together. :thmbsp: Now the sonics is a whole different story
mac11
Active Member
I will just take a stab at #3.
Answer: Most definitely !
My system runs :
MCD1000 --> MDA1000 --> C1000C/T --> MC275 --> SF Guarneri
Now, I have tried various permutations but when I deleted the MDA from above, it just is not the same at all.
MDA adds depth and mystique to this chain. To me, it's sounds more analogue and emotionally satisfying.
I do appreciate C1000 as well, though, and like the sound with it rather than the MDA supplanting it.
________
Oslo Terry
Stereopal
Rick@Stereopal.com
Ah ha, may be this is why I haven't been turned on by SACDs, or perhaps I just haven't encountered an unmolested one.
Victor
Super Member
After owning the MDA1000 and C1000T, I would think the C500 would be a bigger upgrade in your system.
In my system I made the decision to do CD only (I do sometimes miss my DVD-A, SACD and LPs) so the MDA1000 was the logical choice for me. If you want to listen to SACDs the C500 would be the logical choice for you.
anton
Active Member
Victor, thanx but what I meant was on CD playback only is 301 through MDA into 402 a better choice than 301 through C500 into 402?:scratch2:
Victor
Super Member
I have not heard a C500 or MCD301 yet but I would think those 2 systems would sound similar. Judging by my C1000T, MCD201 and MDA1000 listening experience I would say the C500 system would be a little smoother and the MDA1000 system would have a little better detail.
Does anyone know the following information on the MDA1000?:
Ta!
- What clock is used inside the MDA1000
- What the jitter is in pico seconds?
- Does it use completely discrete and fully balanced channels internally?
- Are op-amps used, and if so which ones?
- Which Burr Brown D/A chips are used?
- Which upsampling chips are used?
- Does it match better with tube pre-amp, or solid state?
Ta!
speakerfritz
Well-Known Member
using an ms-300. Will the MS-1000 have a AES/EBU, hope so...
