MDA1000 Purchased

Mike said:
That's an interesting question. I can't imagine the AES/EBU would not work. You may want to call McIntosh.

Yes, I forgot about the Aurender UC100 as well. Good choice too.
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My Bad..There is an XLR and I know this but as I understand it. The single XLR source input is per the manual:

***Balanced DIGITAL AUDIO INPUT re-ceives digital audio signals from the McIntosh MCD1000 CD Transport***

I do not know if this port is flexible with other non-McIntosh branded devices. Perhaps worthwhile call to McIntosh or Dan may chime in.
 
Golucid said:
My Bad..There is an XLR and I know this but as I understand it. The single XLR source input is per the manual:

***Balanced DIGITAL AUDIO INPUT re-ceives digital audio signals from the McIntosh MCD1000 CD Transport***

I do not know if this port is flexible with other non-McIntosh branded devices. Perhaps worthwhile call to McIntosh or Dan may chime in.
Click to expand...

Send me the MDA1000 (and a pair of 2301's required for this test) and I will let you know if it works or not.
 
Golucid said:
My Bad..There is an XLR and I know this but as I understand it. The single XLR source input is per the manual:

***Balanced DIGITAL AUDIO INPUT re-ceives digital audio signals from the McIntosh MCD1000 CD Transport***

I do not know if this port is flexible with other non-McIntosh branded devices. Perhaps worthwhile call to McIntosh or Dan may chime in.
Click to expand...

The AES EBU input on the MDA 1000 will work with any AES EBU digital output of any audio gear.
 
Mike said:
Send me the MDA1000 (and a pair of 2301's required for this test) and I will let you know if it works or not.
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You are hilarious but if I really wanted to test it out, I would without question trust you to do this all for me!

David
 
Jerome W said:
The AES EBU input on the MDA 1000 will work with any AES EBU digital output of any audio gear.
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Jerome. There is only one XLR slot. Lets say I want to use my MCD1100 XLRs. The MCD1100 has both a Right and Left XLR, not a single like the MCD1000.

I'm guessing there is a cable that I can use that has on one end two XLRs and then a single ended doojigger?

But, then. I can just use either COAX or Optical and skip that all together.


David
 
Golucid said:
Jerome. There is only one XLR slot. Lets say I want to use my MCD1100 XLRs. The MCD1100 has both a Right and Left XLR, not a single like the MCD1000.

I'm guessing there is a cable that I can use that has on one end two XLRs and then a single ended doojigger?

But, then. I can just use either COAX or Optical and skip that all together.


David
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David the single XLR is digital, called AES/EBU. The dual XLR's are analog and they are the XLR/balanced connectors.

Think of the single one like a big SPIDF!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Mike said:
David the single XLR is digital, called AES/EBU. The dual XLR's are analog and they are the XLR/balanced connectors.

Think of the single one like a big SPIDF!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Oh wow. Shucks. I always that AES/EBU was XLR. Dear gawd. Never mind. Ugh!
 
Mike,

I have that single doojigger port on the back of my MCD1100 and above it - it says, XLR. Ok. I accept it even though I don't entirely understand but kewl anyways. So...I just need to order a AES/EBU cable. Alright. Easy enough.
 
Golucid said:
Mike,

I have that single doojigger port on the back of my MCD1100 and above it - it says, XLR. Ok. I accept it even though I don't entirely understand but kewl anyways. So...I just need to order a AES/EBU cable. Alright. Easy enough.
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Yes David. Just order a good quality AES/EBU cable and go from your MCD1100 (which act as a transport with the digital out) to the digital input of your MDA1100.
 
Mike...

Which is the superior transport of audio data: COAX or AES/EBU


David
 
Jerome W said:
Hi Steve,
I will never sell my MDA1000 but you know it is very easy to convert internally a 110V unit to 240.
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Hi Jerome, if it is just a matter of shifting a jumper, then I should be on the hunt?!

There were lots for sale when the MCD1100 came out, now everyone is hanging onto them.
 
Steve said:
Hi Jerome, if it is just a matter of shifting a jumper, then I should be on the hunt?!

There were lots for sale when the MCD1100 came out, now everyone is hanging onto them.
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Steve.......The McIntosh MDA1000 uses a multi-tap power transformer. There is a cable harness plug that you simply move from jumper J10 (120 volts) to jumper J12 (240 volts). That's all there is to it.
 
Golucid said:
Mike...

This is a question for Dan and Vintage Pete. Like you, I am equally curious. Dan...can you chime in?
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I am not Dan neither Pete but I own the MDA1000 since 2007 and I heard the MCD1100.
To my ears the MDA1000 is a more musical dac. It sounds more "analog". Isn't that the aim of any dac ? To sound the more "analog" possible ?
Imho McIntosh made a mistake when they switched to Sabre chips.
 
Golucid said:
Mike...

Which is the superior transport of audio data: COAX or AES/EBU
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David.......There are plenty of audio enthusiasts that will argue the topic of AES/EBU (Audio Engineering Society/European Broadcasting Union) versus S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) coaxial interconnects, each claiming one standard is superior sounding over the other. The two digital interfaces are not identical when transmitting bits and each requires a separate and specific decoding interface. Conversion between these interfaces must be handled electronically, not by adapting one connector to another.

The AES/EBU cable is a 110 ohm differential two channel balanced digital interconnect. The original AES/EBU specification required transformer coupling. There was a newer standard developed 1992 and revised in 2001 called AES3 that does not require transformer coupling. The majority of AES/EBU cables are manufactured as 110 ohm cables with XLR connectors and the AES/EBU standard uses a higher signal voltage than coaxial cable.

The S/PDIF cable is a 75 ohm coaxial interconnect that uses RCA connectors. Unfortunately not all digital coaxial cables are manufactured as true 75 ohm cables and this may or may not be the root of the perceived sound differences some are reporting. For as many people who say there is a sonic difference between AES/EBU and S/PDIF, there are an equal number of people who claim there is no sonic difference. It may be of benefit to audition both types of digital interconnects and let your ears decide. When selecting a coaxial cable for S/PDIF application be certain it is a true 75 ohm cable to ensure the proper interface between connected components.

In my opinion, if I were connecting a McIntosh MCD1000 to a MDA1000 DAC, my choice would be to use a high quality balanced AES/EBU interconnect. I prefer the XLR connectors over RCA connectors.
 
Double-D said:
In my opinion, if I were connecting a McIntosh MCD1000 to a MDA1000 DAC, my choice would be to use a high quality balanced AES/EBU interconnect.
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Dan...

Thank you for chiming in. I was waiting for the grand finale conclusion and thank you for making the choice for me. I will buy the AES/EBU interconnect.

My next question for you Dan...what would be your choice of cable? Monoprice, Bluejeans, Wireworld, Audioquest, etc... As you know, everything you suggest, i do :) You are, after-all, responsible for at the very least 90% of the money I have spent on McIntosh! No regrets
 
I agree. AES3 over S/PDIF or BNC. I find BNC can be the most temperamental cable connector!
 
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