I would suggest you buy a Universal player that uses the ESS SABERDAC chipset. A lot of great products can be found, from the $200 Audioquest Dragonfly (dac only), and the $500 to $1200 OPPO line of universal players ( I would get a OPPO BDP105, it has ESS Saberdacs Plus XLR outs for audio)to the $6000 McIntosh MCD 500. I really don't think the way a product looks should have any bearing. Having said that McIntosh products are some of the finest to look at and use. I have owned many over the years. McIntosh for ME makes AMPLIFIERS, that is their forte. All the rest of there products have to be listened to and purchased with caution when considering some of the better sounding products out there. While some of these brands my not look nearly as attractive they sound a hell of a lot better AND for a lot less money.
DAC to pair with MA6600
Ok, guys... I'm in a state of confusion after reading countless threads and articles written by people much smarter than I.
I recently picked up an MA6600 and need a DAC to pair with it as 100% of my short term music will be digital. I may step into the vinyl game down the line, but it's digital for now. I'm planning on streaming from my imac into the DAC and can figure that out a bit later.
I love the aesthetics of the McIntosh products and I naturally gravitated towards the D100. Although it's entry level priced for their products, I'm having a difficult time justifying 2k for the aesthetic aspect of a DAC.
Does anybody have a selling point that should steer me towards or away from the D100? I won't be using the preamp, so this is exclusively a DAC decision, which has a multitude of competition.
Does this decision really come down to an aesthetic difference or is there something I'm missing? I can easily pick up a Peachtree for over a thousand less...
Just wanted to gain some thoughts from individuals that know much more than I. Oh, and please... the MA6600 isn't going anywhere, so no need to tell me to replace it with a 10k amp.
Thanks,
Brian
I recently picked up an MA6600 and need a DAC to pair with it as 100% of my short term music will be digital. I may step into the vinyl game down the line, but it's digital for now. I'm planning on streaming from my imac into the DAC and can figure that out a bit later.
I love the aesthetics of the McIntosh products and I naturally gravitated towards the D100. Although it's entry level priced for their products, I'm having a difficult time justifying 2k for the aesthetic aspect of a DAC.
Does anybody have a selling point that should steer me towards or away from the D100? I won't be using the preamp, so this is exclusively a DAC decision, which has a multitude of competition.
Does this decision really come down to an aesthetic difference or is there something I'm missing? I can easily pick up a Peachtree for over a thousand less...
Just wanted to gain some thoughts from individuals that know much more than I. Oh, and please... the MA6600 isn't going anywhere, so no need to tell me to replace it with a 10k amp.
Thanks,
Brian