2. analog
  3. 165633-119399

My System's Weakest Link - What Say You...

First off, McIntosh bashers need not respond.  The synergy of this system is outstanding.  

I think I have my system pretty well fleshed out now, and love what it is doing for me.  But, I have my eye on my weak link.  I have a few thoughts, but I'm Interested in objective, and somewhat random comments from some insightful folks here.

My Habits:  Love listening to vinyl most of all. Don't know exactly but have over 3000 LP, I think, and keep getting more.  Obviously do lots of streaming too via Tidal > Roon. Also on thousands of CDs of varying quality.

My Room: Open main floor Floor plan to the kitchen and formal dining room.  Open space has 9 foot ceilings, with fabric chairs and carpeting.  No need for any room enhancement identified.  Still sounds great.  Lucked out on that one.

Anyway, where is what I have:
  • (1) McIntosh MT5 Turntable
  • (2) Sumiko Palos Santos Cartridge
  • (3) McIntosh MP1100 Phono PreAmp
  • (4) McIntosh C1100 2-piece PreAmp
  • (5) McIntosh D1100 DAC
  • (6) McIntosh MCT 500 CD/SACD Transport
  • (7) McIntosh MVP 901 A/V Player
  • (8) McIntosh MC2152 70th Anniversary Amp
  • (9) McIntosh MPC1500 Power Controller
  • (10) Sonus Faber Lillium Speakers
  • (11) Roon Nucleus
  • (12) Sonore Signature Rendu SE w/ Optical Feed
  • (13) All Connected via Clarus Crimson interconnects, power cables and Balanced Cables
  • (14) Will avoid the details on isolation, AC outlets, etc. for now.
Choose a number, product or idea.  Have fun with this one.

"Long haired, freaky people, need not apply" or dismiss my enjoyment of McIntosh.  [btw - anyone remember that song quote?]

pgaulke60

Showing 3 responses by tablejockey

tablejockey
3,793 posts
 
Just looks like good stuff to me.

The room and speaker setup is the deal breaker in any situation.
Put your setup in the bathroom, it gonna be awful. In a nice treated room it’s gonna sound like a million bucks.

You have it all in a living space. Compromise from the get go.

IMO if you were able to place speakers WITHOUT limitations and add some damping/diffusion to critical areas, it would sound the way YOU want it to sound.
tablejockey
3,793 posts
 
Thread topic and the direction posts can go are in a couple of camps here.

If it's a "weak link" in the analog(table/cart/phono) front, I see nothing. 

Overall  SQ coming out of the speakers with any source , can be many thread topics.

If you can break from the Mc setup(which I get) a cool all tube phono amp at the max of your budget. That will put your existing rig in its best light.

No shortage of recommendations on that.
tablejockey
3,793 posts
 
"you two take the prize with the Analog weak link. I'm on that page too,"

Not a "weak link" . As a gear head, considering a"finer" setup of table/phonostage is a never ending quest until we get a Tech Das/Jens Merrill or whatever.

Sonus Fabers will sound even "better" with subs. 

Your table is cool, it's a Mac. I won't part with my 65 MR 71 tube tuner.
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