#11
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Thanks a lot Emile !
Once again a very informative shoot out. From what I read, I may keep my 777 standard and forget the SE version. Although some more sparkle in the treble could be a plus, I really love the analog character of the 777.
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There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats Albert Schweitzer |
#12
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Emile, thanks for taking the time to share your experiences with the forum. It was an interesting read and may offer some guidance to fellow members.
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#13
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And BTW E., thanks again for pointing me towards the 777 DAC with your first shootout.
I still have my MDA1000 but the 777 is truly a fabulous source.
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There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats Albert Schweitzer |
#14
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E.......Interesting shootout. My prediction was correct before I read the results. Thanks for performing the head to head comparisons. Always insightful and entertaining.
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A Last edited by jdandy; 06-17-2015 at 03:35 PM. |
#15
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E, great write up. Thank you!!
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#16
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Quote:
Every accolade you've assigned it rings true. I've only had mine a few months, but I can tell you it isn't going anywhere. It just really sounds musical and three-dimensional as you say. To expand on the pros just a bit, I might add too that, aside from being built like a tank, it is really a beautiful piece of gear. No USB connectivity? No problem! The Bryston BUC-1 is a sweet little unit and performs flawlessly. No input higher than 96kHz? For me, a non-issue. My W4s DAC-2DSDse had 192 kHz and DSD capability, but since I replaced it with the MDA1000 I haven't missed the 192kHz for a minute. I simply set my JRiver media center to output everything at 96kHz and forgot about it. I'm really not so sure I could tell the difference between a 96kHZ recording and a 192kHz equivalent. I could, however, tell the difference in terms of cost and drive space. I agree with your comments that all McIntosh needed to do was tweak the MDA a bit, and they'd have hit the ball out of the park for a long, long time. But as far as I'm concerned, with a few minor workarounds, it's an out of the park winner just the same. I love it.
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Pete No. 35 Main System: VPI Prime Signature TT in Rosewood, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Stillpoints LP1 V2, McIntosh: MP100, MR78, MCD1000 Transport on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, MDA1000 D/A Converter on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, MS750 Music Server, C40, MC501's (3), Soundcraftsmen: DC2215 Eq/AS1000 Real time analyzer, DBX 3BX II, Carver C9, Nakamichi Dragon, Crown SX724, Crown D-75A (as headphone amp), Sony XBR55X900E 4K TV, JBL L220A's, JBL B460, Sumo Delilah active crossover, WireWorld Silver Eclipse audio interconnects, WireWorld Starlight and Silver Starlight Coaxial Digital interconnects, Wireworld SuperNova 7 Toslink digital interconnect, WireWorld Aurora 7 and Silver Electra Power cords, Wireworld Silver Eclipse 8 speaker cables, Terk AF-1 Powered Antenna, Oppo UDP-205 4K Blu-Ray Player, Bryson BUC-1 USB Converter, Wireworld Gold Starlight XLR Digital interconnect, PS Audio Direct Stream Power Plant 12 on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, PS Audio Dectect, FuruTech Flux-50 NCF Inline Power Filter, Add-Powr Wizard EM Field AC Line conditioner; Stillpoint Ultra SS's under (3) McIntosh MC501 Amplifiers Florida Room/Art Studio System: Harmon Kardon T60 TT/Ortofon 2M Black, McIntosh: MR77, C32, MC2205; Crown Power Line Four, Wyred for Sound DAC-2 Digital to Analog converter, Soundcraftsmen AE2000 Eq, JBL 4313B's, JBL 2241-based Sub, JBL BX63A Active Crossover, Oppo BDP-105D Blu-Ray Player, Samsung 5500 Series 32" Smart TV, Terk AF-1 Powered Antenna Master Bedroom System: McIntosh: MX120 Theater processor, MC206 6-channel amplifier; MR74 AM/FM Tuner, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, JVC HM-DH40000U D-Theater Digital VHS, Phase Technology PC80 Towers (now used as stands), (2) JBL 4401's, (1) JBL Studio 6IW speaker, (2) JBL Studio 6IC speakers, Sony XBR-49X900E UHD TV, Panamax 1000 Line Conditioner, (2) JL Audio E110 Subwoofers, Wireworld Solstice speaker cables, Wireworld Aurora Power cords, Wireworld Equinox and Solstice speaker cables and various other flavors of Wireworld and Audioquest cabling Office System: Marantz 150 Tuner, Crown DL 2, Crown EQ 2, Crown SA 2, Crown D-75A (as headphone amp), McIntosh MCD7009 (as transport), DBX 3BX Series II, Oppo BDP-103 Blu-ray player, JBL 4401's, JL Audio E112 Subwoofer, Samsung 5500 series 32" Smart TV, Wire World Oasis audio interconnects, Wire World Solstice speaker cables, Wyred for Sound DAC-2 DSDse Digital to Analog converter, Wireworld Starlight Coaxial Digital Interconnect, Sennheiser HD800 Headphones, Sennheiser HDVA600 Headphone amp, Wireworld Silver Eclipse Balanced Interconnects, Wireworld Platinum Starlight USB Cable, Add-Powr EAU-2 AC Harmonic resonator High Resolution Source: HP Omen 17" Gaming Laptop Last edited by Vintage Pete; 06-15-2015 at 05:35 PM. |
#17
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Emile, thank you for sharing these most interesting findings.
Very good review. Entertainingly written too.
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Stereo: Hegel H590, Grimm Audio MU1, Mola Mola Tambaqui, Burmester 948 - V3 & V6 racks, Vivid Audio G2 Giyas, REL Carbon Special (pair), Silent Angel Bonn N8 Ethernet Switch & Forester F1, Wireworld Platinum Eclipse IC and SE SC, Furutech Digiflux AV: Hegel C-53, Marantz AV8802A, Oppo BDP-203EU, Pioneer Kuro 60", Vivid Audio C1 & V1w's, Wireworld Platinum Eclipse, SE & E Second system (veranda): Halgorythme preamp and monoblocks, Burmester 061, Avalon Avatar, Sharkwire & Wireworld cables |
#18
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-E-:
I enjoyed both shootouts immensely. Over the past year you've had me thinking more and more about the 777. With digital music being my primary source it makes sense to invest in the right DAC. For me, that might be coming down to a DSD race between Bryston and AMR, both of which are taking their sweet time. So what are your thoughts on DSD as the next upgrade for AMR and that it should be coming this summer? I think we are still 60-90 days away from a Bryston BDA-3. I'm thinking one of those two may be my next DAC. Thanks to everyone that participated.
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Analog: VPI Classic Direct (12" Fatboy) with Ortofon A95 cartridge; Ortofon ST-80SE Transformer; McIntosh C2500. Digital: SilenZio Gen 3 High Performance Media Server; Esoteric K-03X. Supporting System: McIntosh MX122 A/V Center; MC205 Amplifier; Bryston 14bSST2 Amplifier; PS Audio P10 Power Reconditioner; Revel Salon 2 Mains; Revel Voice 2 CC; JL Audio f113v2 (2); JL Audio CR-1 Crossover; Focal IC1002 Surrounds |
#19
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Quote:
I'll also agree with you about the BUC-1. However, a quality USB input makes life a whole lot easier, not to mention sounds better. And I'll also double-down on your 96khz statement by adding that if I were to take a 192 pull and do a proper transcode to 96khz nobody, and I do mean nobody, would be able to hear a difference between the two. So basically, yeah, I agree with you.
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Main: McIntosh XRT1K MDA1000 MC402 | JL F113 | Bryston BUC-1 | WireWorld Cabling | RGPC1200C | PPP
Office: Bel Canto S300iu 24/96 | KEF LS50 | REL R218 | WW Mini Eclipse | 18 TB Media Server Mobile: McIntosh MX406 MDA5000 MCD4000 MCC420M | JM Lab/Focal Utopia |
#20
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Quote:
AMR does not seem to have DSD in the pipeline, and quite frankly, after last weekend, shouldn't bother. I've listened to DSD across the multitude of OEM chips out there, and have come to the conclusion that unless they added the Xilinix board on top of the existing dual-discrete, it just won't yield the result intended. As it was, the BADA-esque mentality to just avoid DSD and focus on PCM actually received better results than the "native" DSD decoding. Alternatively, there is a DAC on the market that uses both TI/BB chips for all PCM duty and then added a Xilinix chip/board for actual 1-bit DSD conversion. That DAC is the Aesthetix Pandora Signature (~$7500). Then there's the T+A big boy that also does the same thing, but is at least double that price of admission, if not more.
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Main: McIntosh XRT1K MDA1000 MC402 | JL F113 | Bryston BUC-1 | WireWorld Cabling | RGPC1200C | PPP
Office: Bel Canto S300iu 24/96 | KEF LS50 | REL R218 | WW Mini Eclipse | 18 TB Media Server Mobile: McIntosh MX406 MDA5000 MCD4000 MCC420M | JM Lab/Focal Utopia |
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