I was suprised at what the MDA did for my system with my existing player. The MCD arrived yesterday and I've had only a few hours to play with it. What I have found with the MCD/MDA combo is the most accurate sounding system I've ever heard. The detail is stunning. I used to have toe in positioned directly at my ears. I have found an improvent with the new gear with just a bit less toe in, slightly off axis. The stage became more spacious, the tone of the system sweetened up a bit and the imaging remaind razor sharp. It's a win win win situation.

The quality build of these pieces are of the highest grade. The solid aluminum tray that is out of the old $25,000 linn player is exquisite. Smooth, solid, quite, perfect mechanical operation. It is a delite just to watch and listen to the tray in operation.

I've ordered the C46. The MCD/MDA combo is perfect for everything I listen to connected directlly to the amps except for my personal taste in hard rock. This would be a preference issue. I like to emulate the live rock performances I've been to. They are always heavy bass. I like the bone crushing, over bass (yet as accurate as possible) experience of the live hard rock performance. While EQing bass may not be the most accurate course to take, it will make for the best performance for my taste. Other than that, I don't see the need for a preamp with these units if they are your only source. I will keep this gear until Mac somehow finds a way to improve on it, then I'll hand these down to my nephew when he's old enough to appreciate it.

Bravo McIntosh. This music enthusiast is finally able to jump off the equipment marry-go-round.

Jesse111, congrats on you new MCD1000. When I first got mine, I listened to it 36 hrs straight !



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This music enthusiast has reached the end of the road. Or at least until McIntosh comes out with the next generation MCD/MDA... :D I did find the resolution and imaging simply stunning when I listened to the MCD/MDA combo over my friends house. His all Krell system was not however to my taste as I found it too cold and analytical sounding even with the MCD/MDA. Therefore the added warmth even if it is lacking in other areas of the 201 brought me to the conclusion that it would be better for me in the long run. Wish I could have listened to the combo over my house with the 501's and my speakers. Sounds like you found what you were looking for in your system. I agree, emulating a live rock concert is a difficult thing indeed. I still remember the ringing in my ears after the AC/DC concert in Madison Square Garden back in the 80's. Enjoy! :music:

Uncle Jesse,

Since I'm turning 34 next week, I think it's safe to say that I am definately old enough to appreciate these hand me downs.

I agree, emulating a live rock concert is a difficult thing indeed. I still remember the ringing in my ears after the AC/DC concert in Madison Square Garden back in the 80's. Enjoy! :music:

If that was the Highway to Hell tour with the one and only Bon Scott then that is the same tour I lost 10% of my hearing and developed tinnitus in both ears at.

One of the best concerts known to man. Angus rides on the shoulders of a body guard circling the floor seats at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis Indiana while banging his head and ripping his ax to shreds. Then does a (partial) strip tease on stage. They warmed up for Ted Nugent and half the collesium left after the AC/DC show. Poor Ted.

If that was the Highway to Hell tour with the one and only Bon Scott then that is the same tour I lost 10% of my hearing and developed tinnitus in both ears at. That one took place in '79. Unfortunately Bon Scott died in Feb of '80. I was at the "For those about to rock/500,000 watts of power" concert in Dec of 1981. The cannon shots were unforgettable and the drum strikes made my pants flap and pounded my chest as if it was hit by a train and I was all the way in the back! That's something you never forget.

That one took place in '79. Unfortunately Bon Scott died in Feb of '80. I was at the "For those about to rock/500,000 watts of power" concert in Dec of 1981. The cannon shots were unforgettable and the drum strikes made my pants flap and pounded my chest as if it was hit by a train and I was all the way in the back! That's something you never forget.

Yes, you understand exactly. I need the C46 to bring just a touch of that performance in to my listening room. Leave it to Mac to provide all the gear necessary for the man who owns and appreciates everything in his CD collection from live AC/DC to Classical music.

Leave it to Mac to provide all the gear necessary for the man who owns and appreciates everything in his CD collection from live AC/DC to Classical music. Amen to that! You will find the C46 will deliver on what you are looking for. I have played around with the EQ, it makes a big difference, not exactly a substiture for bass rich speakers but it will add some of that bass slam you are looking for at the expense of some bloatiness and a decrease in resolution. Not sure if that is such a big thing when listening to rock recordings. :guitar: :rockon:

If that was the Highway to Hell tour with the one and only Bon Scott then that is the same tour I lost 10% of my hearing and developed tinnitus in both ears at.

One of the best concerts known to man. Angus rides on the shoulders of a body guard circling the floor seats at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis Indiana while banging his head and ripping his ax to shreds. Then does a (partial) strip tease on stage. They warmed up for Ted Nugent and half the collesium left after the AC/DC show. Poor Ted.

They left because AC/DC made them all sick. :D

They left because AC/DC made them all sick. :D

Watch it now, your talking to a fella that was raised on Angus, Bon and the boys.

It was after the concert, not during that so many left. And I stayed for 10 minutes of Ted. It only took that long to see how pathetic his show was gonna be after the show AC/DC put on. It was the beginning of the end for poor Ted. Bad business decision to have AC/DC warm up for you in those days.

Since much of the discussion about the MCD/MDA1000 combo has mentioned using it to listen to rock, I thought I'd chime in briefly about my experience - which is with classical music, especially orchestral and opera. My system currently includes the MCD/MDA plus a C2200, MC501s driving Magnepan 3.6R. Lots of equipment that I've owned sounded fine when I listen at background levels. Where this system really shines is when I let things rip at loud volume (MC501 meters waaay up on the right of the scale). With good recordings there is simply no loss of clarity with the MCD/MDA combo. It just sounds bigger and better. And I smile.

If that was the Highway to Hell tour with the one and only Bon Scott then that is the same tour I lost 10% of my hearing and developed tinnitus in both ears at.

One of the best concerts known to man. Angus rides on the shoulders of a body guard circling the floor seats at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis Indiana while banging his head and ripping his ax to shreds. Then does a (partial) strip tease on stage. They warmed up for Ted Nugent and half the collesium left after the AC/DC show. Poor Ted.

We were in Chicago at a northside theater (14 of us), not a large theater, one of those neighborhoods that was in decline that now sports some of the priciest property in Chicago. We were around thirteen rows back in the center of the venue. There was a perpetual cloud of smoke above us all night long.

As a dedication to our support to the band Bon Scott (shirtless all night) put Angus on his shoulders and played for our row (we were the row), no security interupted.

The sounds was superb.

One of the best shows I have attended.

Indy

Amen to that! You will find the C46 will deliver on what you are looking for. I have played around with the EQ, it makes a big difference, not exactly a substiture for bass rich speakers but it will add some of that bass slam you are looking for at the expense of some bloatiness and a decrease in resolution. Not sure if that is such a big thing when listening to rock recordings. :guitar: :rockon:

I would think the best Rock & Roll MAC Pre Amp would be the C45 !!!

The bass response is spectacular.

Are you using a 110 ohm AES/EBU pro balanced digital cable?

Thanks,
Ron-C

I've ordered the C46. While EQing bass may not be the most accurate course to take, it will make for the best performance for my taste. Other than that, I don't see the need for a preamp with these units if they are your only source.

There's another way to EQ the bass only, without going to a C-46. Masterlu and I both use the MQ-109B balanced equalizer. While it's been out of production for a while, if you tell your dealer to contact Chuck Hinton at McIntosh, they still have a few NIB and ready to go. This will enable you to go with a C-1000 (ask Masterlu) or C-200 (fantastic, IMHO) instead of the C-46. For that matter, you can run the balanced outs of the MDA-1000 direct into the MQ-109B and then on to your amps and skip the preamp altogether.

The MQ-109B completely cured a 150 Hz suckout in my room, with no effect at all on the mids and treble. Try it!!

Where this system really shines is when I let things rip at loud volume (MC501 meters waaay up on the right of the scale).

Wow... you might want to try a lower impedance tap on the 501s, as they should be working that hard to drive 3.6Rs to huge volume levels!

Are you using a 110 ohm AES/EBU pro balanced digital cable?

Thanks,
Ron-C

Yes

Wow... you might want to try a lower impedance tap on the 501s, as they should be working that hard to drive 3.6Rs to huge volume levels!

I'm using the 4 ohm taps