DAC Shootout: McIntosh MCD1100 MDA1000 D100, AMR DP-777, Music Hall DAC25.3

[jwhite613]

Vesuvius... Great read. I was rooting for the AMR. I would like to add one to my system (I have the AMR CD-777).

[mbovaird]

Vesuvius - I knew the AMR DP-777 would be at least in the final two....its that good. Thanks for doing the reviews and comparisons - I know this is a lot of work to do and to write. Great job!

Mike

[BuffaloBill]

Good thing you didn't include an Airport Express.

[mbovaird]

Originally Posted by Vesuvius

Conclusions…
For me, the bottom line is this: the Sabre DAC is just hype. I can’t think of anything else. It’s great in a multichannel scenario (read: Home Theatre), but for reproduction of 2-channel music in an audiophile realm – it just falls short. (/flamesuit on)

Many of the folks over at another forum who eat, sleep and breath everything related to digital/computer audio - especially DACs - have repeatedly said the same thing. Trying to pick the best SABRE DAC chip is like trying to pick the tallest midget.

Personally, I don't think its that bad....but there are much better DAC chipsets out there. Keep in mind that its not JUST the DAC chip that makes the difference. I'm sure AMR spared no expense with the entire board, design and power supply.

For me, the top three DACS are the Emm LABS DAC2X, the Meitner MA1 and the AMR DP-777. Although, I would like to hear the Esoteric K-01/03. I don't believe either of those use the SABRE chip either.

Mike

[piolaxo]

Vesuvius, brilliant review...! And some very surprising results. Is there still a chance
to put the Oppo under the gun, even if it's not the same day as the others?

Sal

[dteam702]

Originally Posted by Vesuvius

Conclusions…

Both Dewey and I have been looking for a reason to ditch our DACs to upgrade to something newer/better. For him, better, for me, newer. After this shootout, we went to dinner, and the biggest surprise was that after we all parted ways, Brian says to me: “you’d be an idiot to sell the MDA1000.” The next morning, I get a text from Dewey saying: “you’d be an idiot to sell the MDA1000.” What the?!

What else is there to say? Personally, I am a bit deflated that the dear-to-my-heart McIntosh and the newer pieces they have made were just unable to compete with the other items in the lineup.

Even when we were just chatting in the kitchen, we kept going back and forth with what we had listened to, debating a pecking order, and why we heard what we heard.

For me, the bottom line is this: the Sabre DAC is just hype. I can’t think of anything else. It’s great in a multichannel scenario (read: Home Theatre), but for reproduction of 2-channel music in an audiophile realm – it just falls short. (/flamesuit on)

So, there you have it. What we expected to happen did not happen. What I wanted to happen did not happen. But what happened above is the truth, and I’m sticking to it.

I’m also sticking with my MDA1000 (for now). The search continues – but I know Dewey is fast at work on doing something…

It's done 1/2hr ago..

[KMC45]

As the owner of the MCD1100 i'm not really surprised by the results. I've never been excited about it, and always felt like I made a mistake when I sold my MCD/MDA1000 to get one.

[jdandy]

Emile.......Thanks for the interesting review.

[-E-]

Originally Posted by piolaxo

Vesuvius, brilliant review...! And some very surprising results. Is there still a chance
to put the Oppo under the gun, even if it's not the same day as the others?

Sal

Brian may be willing to give his thoughts on it (it's his unit) - but since it's using the same Sabre DAC as the MCD1100 and W4S DAC-2, I can't see how it would possibly compete with this group in a 2-channel scenario.

Sorry, I'm tired of skirting around the issue - I'm trying to be blunt and polite at the same time.

[cmalak]

E...a few questions:

1) Was the DP-777 a stock base unit or did it have any mods or upgrades (there are cap upgrades that the importer Avatar Acoustics sells)?

2) Do you know how many hours of use were logged in on the units? Could the issue with D100 and MC1100 have been one of insufficient break-in?

I don't have a dog in this hunt. I am just a casual observer/bystander .