I've been reading the posts regarding the MCD500 and especially running the MS750 through the DAC. I am hooked on the MS750. Almost all of my music listening is now from the MS750.

For my next upgrade, I was thinking of adding the MCD500 (really just for the DAC and maybe a few SACD's but I don't play them that often on the 861). Would this be a good move or should I save my pennies :tongue: and go for a pair of MC501's to really rock the joint? Should I look at the MDA1000? I haven't even begun to look at costs. If I visit the dealer I know I'm doomed so I'm holding off.

I can blame this forum for starting me down this slope so I figured I should get some advice here as well.

Thanks,
Jack

So many options you have in front of you and all good. I think the 500 is a fantastic piece and running your 750 thru the DAC's will improve the sound quite a bit. The MDA 1000 has great DACs too. If you do not listen to SACD's then you have a great solution for both the 750 and 861. The 501's will make your B&W's sing just find and are a great building block for any system.

Whichever piece you select it will not be long before you are swapping out for one of the others. It looks like you use yours for HT so, I would go with either the 500 or 501's/ Either way you will be happy.
Jim

Push your chair away from the keyboard, hide your checkbook under a boulder and lock yourself in your bedroom before this band of heathens talk you into BOTH a pair of 501's AND the MCD 500! Run, Run Away!:D:music::banana:

Exactly !

Last year I build an extension in my house and I created a second McIntosh system for that room. Some in this board (and I will not name them) would say that my house extension was an excuse to buy more Mc gear...

I did not have S_x with that woman ! :D

B.



Push your chair away from the keyboard, hide your checkbook under a boulder and lock yourself in your bedroom before this band of heathens talk you into BOTH a pair of 501's AND the MCD 500! Run, Run Away!:D:music::banana:

"Almost all of my music listening is now from the MS750."

Might as well get the most out of it=MDA1000:thmbsp:

Push your chair away from the keyboard, hide your checkbook under a boulder and lock yourself in your bedroom before this band of heathens talk you into BOTH a pair of 501's AND the MCD 500! Run, Run Away!:D:music::banana:

EXACTLY, that's why I'm just asking here. If I step foot into a dealer, it's all over. Might as well just start direct deposit to his account instead of mine.

So many options you have in front of you and all good. I think the 500 is a fantastic piece and running your 750 thru the DAC's will improve the sound quite a bit. The MDA 1000 has great DACs too. If you do not listen to SACD's then you have a great solution for both the 750 and 861. The 501's will make your B&W's sing just find and are a great building block for any system.

Whichever piece you select it will not be long before you are swapping out for one of the others. It looks like you use yours for HT so, I would go with either the 500 or 501's/ Either way you will be happy.
Jim

Sound advise! This is exactly what I have planned for my downsizing. Although I had the MDA1000, chose the MCD500 over it because I do listen and have a small collection of SACD's and knowing McIntosh, a newer replacement of the MCD/MDA1k combo is definitely coming. The MC501's have enough power to rock my new speakers (and I think like 90% of most other speakers in the market - except for the likes of XRT1k's or 85db or lower efficiency ones where more power would be needed to bring out their best performance).

Thats my opinion and so far, it works for me, at least for 2009!

Cheers!

gosh, you really think you'll need 500 mono Watt for a pair of 803S?

I have 803S in about a week, and planning on getting me an MC252 :D

"Almost all of my music listening is now from the MS750."

Might as well get the most out of it=MDA1000:thmbsp:

I agree. MDA1K + MC501's. Doooooo it.

And you can never have too much power.

Well as a happy previous owner of a MVP861, let me first say that I thought that this was a fantastic sounding cd/sacd/dvd audio player and was really torn about trading it in. I really did not believe that the MCD500 would sound any better. Friends on this forum in a nice way told me forget the 861 especially since I had been using rhapsody and pandora with my sonos as a frequent source. Well I took the plunge and guess what the water was not cold. The MCD500 lives up to its reputation ... I will quote Dan..." its the real deal". I have a hard time telling the sonos from the cd using the digital input on the MCD500. SACD sounds fantastic also, better than the MVP861. The biggest surprise is my wife who did not know at first that I had a new cdp says to me... "did you buy new cables or something" ? She is not a audiophile by any stretch of the imagination and she could tell a difference and then I had her do a A/B test listening to the sonos from the rca out to the cd2 on the C220 vs digital inputs on the MCD500 using cd input on the C220. She picked the MCD500 input as sounding better 10 out of 10 times without knowing which one she was listening to. So as a converted skeptic, it is obvious what my recommendation is for your system . By the way you do not need alot of power to make your B&W's sing. David

I agree. MDA1K + MC501's. Doooooo it.

And you can never have too much power.:no::scratch2:Go for 1.2ks or 1201s and MDA...you can never have too much power....I cant hear anything under 1000 watts unless.....:D:D:smoke::D

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the MCD500 is a genuine bargain. You'll have one of the finest SACD/CD players on the market, the smoothest transport you have ever seen, and the dual quad DACs that everyone wants to own. Having two inputs that access the MCD500 DACs gives you plenty of options for improving the sound quality of other digital gear. There is no doubt about it, the MCD500 runs with the BIG dogs. I own two, listen to both daily, and love them. You will, too.

Thanks to everyone for all the input especially 2uberoller. Dave, your info on the MCD500 has been pushing me in this direction for awhile. I'm very happy with the sound from my MVP861 as well.

Because the sound is very good with my MVP861, I was a little hesitant to jump towards another cd player while really looking for the DAC's to improve my existing gear. Jdandy - you summed it up perfectly.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the MCD500 is a genuine bargain. You'll have one of the finest SACD/CD players on the market, the smoothest transport you have ever seen, and the dual quad DACs that everyone wants to own. Having two inputs that access the MCD500 DACs gives you plenty of options for improving the sound quality of other digital gear. There is no doubt about it, the MCD500 runs with the BIG dogs. I own two, listen to both daily, and love them. You will, too.

Again thanks to all for your input.

Jack

Thanks to everyone for all the input especially 2uberoller. Dave, your info on the MCD500 has been pushing me in this direction for awhile. I'm very happy with the sound from my MVP861 as well.

Because the sound is very good with my MVP861, I was a little hesitant to jump towards another cd player while really looking for the DAC's to improve my existing gear. Jdandy - you summed it up perfectly.



Again thanks to all for your input.

Jack

Looking forward to your review of the MCD500 :thmbsp:

I am just going to say what has already been said.

I had an MCD-201 I had a MVP-851 I really thought that the BIG step up to the MCD500 was just a bunch of audio HYPE!!!

But, I really wanted the high quality DAC's so I ordered one.

Well, to say that I was blown away would be a gross understatement.

This is simply the most amazing player and value you will find...

And, yes, I know... It is very expensive. I work hard for my money.

But, the MCD500 IS worth it.

.

This is simply the most amazing player and value you will find...

And, yes, I know... It is very expensive. I work hard for my money.

But, the MCD500 IS worth it.
Yes, you work hard for you money, but from your equipment list, you also spend it very wisely. :)