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

[o0OBillO0o]

Originally Posted by -E-

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…

Do you think if you conducted this experiment again, you'd have the same results?

[-E-]

Yes.

And I've still stuck with the MDA1K.

I'd be curious to futz with the new SE, though.

[o0OBillO0o]

Originally Posted by -E-

Yes.

And I've still stuck with the MDA1K.

I'd be curious to futz with the new SE, though.

I got to hear the MDA1K about 2 weeks ago. It is still relevant and awesome.

[Vintage Pete]

Originally Posted by o0OBillO0o

I got to hear the MDA1K about 2 weeks ago. It is still relevant and awesome.

I've had my MDA1000 just over a month now and love it.

[Lunchy]

Originally Posted by Portugal

Looks that a AMR DP777 SE (special edition) is about to be released.

I've been hearing this for over a year now...from the distributor. I'm not holding my breath. I was supposed to have been upgraded late last summer. Hope it's true though!

[jbaudio68]

Originally Posted by Lunchy

I've been hearing this for over a year now...from the distributor. I'm not holding my breath. I was supposed to have been upgraded late last summer. Hope it's true though!

The guy I bought my 777 from said end of April.

AMR DP-777, VPI Classic 3, McIntosh C2500, 2301 (2), PMC IB2S (2), JL Audio f112 (2)