New MDA200 DAC

[jfray]

I have thought about selling my MCD1100 and buying a MDA200 but just not sure how much improvement there will be….. any advice?

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by jfray

I have thought about selling my MCD1100 and buying a MDA200 but just not sure how much improvement there will be….. any advice?

Personally, I wouldn’t; at best I believe it to be a sideways move.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by jfray

I have thought about selling my MCD1100 and buying a MDA200 but just not sure how much improvement there will be….. any advice?

You have an excellent well thought out system. If you want to upgrade, don't sell your MCD1100. I used mine for years as a transport for my D1100. I wrote then and I'll repeat that while there was a significant improvement in sound quality, my D1100/MCD1100 did not blow the MCD1100 away. Importantly, your MCD1100 has an MCT (labeled DIN) output so that you can have Mac's best connection for CD's and SACD's. Also, the USB interface is significantly improved and the MDA200 has more additional digital inputs (two coaxial and two optical). If you went this route I would be surprised if you did not hear a difference. There have been significant improvements in DAC's over the last decade. In addition, there is the ability to upgrade that I think is important. It is nice to know that you will not be replacing your MDA200 because of a decade old DAC.

Best

Charles

[jfray]

Ivan as always thanks for the input and this is good advice Honestly I thought this might be the case and I really like the MCD1100, but it is getting up there in age however it still sounds awesome.

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Personally, I wouldn’t; at best I believe it to be a sideways move.

[jfray]

Charles,

Thanks for the kind words…. I was thinking about the new MDA200 due to the HDMI connection but I would not use that much. I use the USB on the MCD1100 it functions as my DAC and I like it slightly better than the my C52’s DAC. I have the itch for a new cartridge and DAC. I’m just not sure if it’s enough improvement but maybe I move to dCS Bartok.

Originally Posted by Charles

You have an excellent well thought out system. If you want to upgrade, don't sell your MCD1100. I used mine for years as a transport for my D1100. I wrote then and I'll repeat that while there was a significant improvement in sound quality, my D1100/MCD1100 did not blow the MCD1100 away. Importantly, your MCD1100 has an MCT (labeled DIN) output so that you can have Mac's best connection for CD's and SACD's. Also, the USB interface is significantly improved and the MDA200 has more additional digital inputs (two coaxial and two optical). If you went this route I would be surprised if you did not hear a difference. There have been significant improvements in DAC's over the last decade. In addition, there is the ability to upgrade that I think is important. It is nice to know that you will not be replacing your MDA200 because of a decade old DAC.

Best

Charles

[Stahle]

I just noticed that McIntosh chose not to illuminate the model number on this unit like they do on their other models, I wonder why?

[Formerly YB-2]

Hmmm.......... appears illuminated on the McIntosh website.

[Stahle]

Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2

Hmmm.......... appears illuminated on the McIntosh website.

The McIntosh logo and the words INPUT and ADJUST are all illuminated, but where it says “MDA200 D/A CONVERTER” it is not illuminated. I thought it was illuminated at first and then I saw some more pics and noticed it is not.

[Clad 7]

Hi, I ordered and just received MCT500 and MDA200. They appear stunning in all Mc devices. Only the brightness is too strong, set to minimum it's brighter than the old C46. The musicality makes me rediscover all my CDs/SACDs. On the French forums, friends claim that the D1100 is better, I want to believe them, but it did not fit into my installation, and is not upgradeable. The quality on CD does not seem better to me with an Oyaide DR510 SPDIF than with the MCT delivered by Mc, so I'm going to use it for television. The MC1.2KW are faithful to the position and always satisfy me perfectly. I'm not fanatical about changing, to always get the new version. The MC352 still operates on the SR.
Only problem, I haven't found how to set the ignition to constant, it turns off after 30 minutes. Can anyone tell me what to do ?

[JeffWright]

Originally Posted by Clad 7

Hi, I ordered and just received MCT500 and MDA200. They appear stunning in all Mc devices.

Only problem, I haven't found how to set the ignition to constant, it turns off after 30 minutes. Can anyone tell me what to do ?

Assuming the function is similar across the contemporary models (I have an MCT 450 and C2700), the auto-power off feature is accessed via the Setup menus. Push and hold the Input knob until the firmware version is displayed. Then you can rotate the input knob through the various settings available. I believe the auto power setting is called "Auto-Off", but that's from memory.