A Streamer or Dedicated DAC With McIntosh MX110Z???

I decided in the Arcam ST60. I found myself overly researching streamers and in doing so I was straying away from my original intent. Purchasing a solid streamer for MX110 preamp so that I could enjoy the MX110 for what it is. Therefore all the other preamp attributes of any given streamer where just not that important. Although I could add a headphone amp down the line with it.

A solid streamer and good DAC is all I needed, which is what I got with the Arcam. I did not buy the Bluesound because I just didn’t.

Now if I can only get the darn thing hooked up so I can access my Qobuz Library.

Manual truly sucks…no, really…truly does.

OP,

Great story. My partner (36 years) gives me grief about my audio purchases… but, in weak moments admits I deserve them. She knows how hard I have worked an how much I have given her (thank god she does not like jewelry).  

My Oh My, what a great story, give her a big smile from me.

I've got a great Donna story, I'll write it soon.

Yeah, you’re right about the spouse. Many moons ago I bought her a 20 year anniversary diamond ring, not yet sized. The following day she ask if I would be upset if she were to  return it. I ask why, she said, ( and this is the absolute truth), she would rather spend the money on new speakers. Yep, cross my heart and hope to get BW 803’s . Well, we bought the speakers,not BW’s. 
Now some 25 years later she says I need all new McIntosh equipment. Well twist my arm and call me stupid. Delivered one MX123 and a MC257. Almost better then sex.I kept the MX110 and the other amp..of course.

Now I need her to test those BW 803’s and set the trap.

You forgot having a supportive mate is #1. I’m extremely lucky to have Donna. 

Speakers are definitely primary. I feel lucky that I have L-Pads for my tweeters and midranges to adjust them in place in any space rather than trying to adjust the space to the speakers.

Mains are 4 way: 3 horns, 15" woofer; Office is 3 way: restored AR-2ax. I had them in college days, and had forgotten they came with level controls. I like them so much I bought a 2nd pair to restore for my Garage/Shop system. They are 11-1/2 x 13-1/2 x 24, non-vented: fit horizontally on bookshelves very nicely.

Elliot,Re-researching my info on the tape input of the MX110 and I was mistaken..which is no surprise. Yes, the analog outs will provide the DAC for the MX110. I then plan on using the digital out to connect to a Mac MX123 of which I will use those DACs The MX123’s 32 bit DACs will do very nicely. It’s hooked to a Mac MC257 amp.

So much has happened with streaming devices and services.I use Qobuz and Apple Music. The options are endless,the library’s are endless and the music is Lossless . 

I‘ve had the MX110z for some 45 years. I’m the second owner. First being a retired school bus driver. Cost a whole $200.00. It’s connected to a Mac MC7270. The streamer will provide a DAC for it .Hoping the MX110 will provide that old fashion warm McIntosh sound ….may not even need the DAC. Just got it back from service along with the amp. Otherwise they have been in mothballs. Just finished connecting everything but no chance to test it. Waiting for streamer.

Now to decide which streamer to buy. Have no intention of going over 2k for either a all in one or separates such as one of the Pro-Jects with a separate DAC. If I want to shell out more cash I would rather spend it on speakers, which to me, is where the biggest return is.

Firm believer in Speakers are numbers 1 thru 8 on the top ten most important parts of a system. Number 9 being the room and number 10 everything else.

I know many will disagree.

medialies

I see you are the OP, sorry I didn't realize that.

Once out of a DAC, now analog signal via rca jacks, what is different about streaming?

Just so we all know what the issue might be.

thanks, Elliott

I was just reminding OP about his unit's trim controls. Cannot use phono 1 or 2, RIAA EQ happens at those 2 inputs.

AUX is good for ANY line level device, and AUX has the trim control which OP can adjust as/if needed relative to variable outputs he asked about.

btw, the trim controls are not accessible if the unit is in a case. You need to pull it forward a few inches, they are top mounted near the front left. They exist to equalize signal strength phono 1, phono 2, aux so no volume change is needed when changing inputs.

I do not know about streaming, or using tape inputs, or tape input being preferred. You cannot use Tape HEAD, as tape eq signal boost is involved for that input similar to Phono.

If you use tape monitor in, then you need to use Tape Monitor on the face of the unit to use whatever is in that input.

DIFFERENCE: AUX and Tape Monitor are both 0.3 volt input sensitivity. Tape Monitor Input Impedance is 100k ohms; AUX input impedance is 200k ohms

Elliot, you mention using aux and phono. I thought tape was preferable for adding a streamer. Am I mistaken?

I agree, variable output is a good feature for an mx110z like you and I have.

Don’t forget, you have individual level controls on the top of the mx110z for your AUX and Phono 1 and 2 so you can match the input volume of those inputs. You can find a combo that works well without sacrificing that feature.

As a test, main system, I ran my Laptop’s headphone out to mx110z’s AUX. Worked, nothing special. Upstairs, Office PC, I just changed from headphone out to a USB out to DAC, Topping D10s, made an OBVIOUS improvement in SQ, as well as much more volume.

Just to hear it, I’m gonna try using my Laptop’s usb to topping in the main system.

You are worrying over nothing having a variable analog out in your case would be a good thing your old preamp probably doesnt have remote control of volume if it doesnt then having a unit with that feature would be good

as per dac plus streamer or streamer with dac comes down to do you prefer a simple setup which would be an integrated streamer

selecting a streaming device comes down to level of sound quality and price

as well as how will you operate the unit and does it have acess to the sources you want to acess

another question would be would you want to acess your cds/

our store specializes in streaming we sell nad, naim, atoll, mytek avik ,432evo servers, bricasti , chord and a few others

in the past we have sold cambridge, lumin auraylic,innous and aurender

Dave and Trou

Audio intellect. nj.

Streaming specialists

Over the past year I’ve probably owned eight different streamers and they all came with a choice of either setting it up fixed or variable. I remember that being on almost everyone. I started with a blue node and ended up with high fi rose

The best streamers are single function boxes made only to do this. They do not have variable output. The best is probably the Aurender W20SE… although I believe the W30 will be available soon. It is used nearly universally at audio shows for digital source. I can attest to equal Red Book CD quality on streaming the same resolution and better resolution on higher resolution. It equals my analog rig for sound quality… see my systems.

You want a separate DAC at the same or better quality. I can highly recommend the Berkeley Alpha Reference DAC. Altough I have a slight preference for my Audio Research Reference DAC CD9se. But exceptionally hard call. There are other exceptional DACs as well, but they can get pretty pricy.

In general combined Streamer / DACs will not sound as good as separates, all things being equal. So, I recommend separates.