[TSAVJason]

I don't think from such a narrow perspective. I appreciate your input but I do understand and I'm familiar with these issues. Neither of you are the first to tell me about these things. I just wanted to know if I could help immediately or if your issues are part of what we are addressing already

 

[groovyd]

Take any D100 and hit the mute button then hit it again. You'll notice it doesn't take the second time until you wait like quite a awhile. Next hit the mute button and turn the volume down or up. Again you will see your volume control get ignored for a few seconds. Now turn the volume up or down and pause briefly and try to again change volume and you will see again your adjustments are ignored for some time. This isn't debounce, this is basic volume adjustment and mute usage here, nothing that should get ignored no matter how unstable the hardware might be. I have never seen an audio device just ignore the user like this. It causes all sort of grief if for example you have un-muted the device and it happens to be too loud so you immediately try to turn the volume down. Not only will it continue to blare at you but you will have to wait at least 3 sec before trying again or even re-muting it.

Just saying, if you are in a position to fix this and release v1.1 please do. It has been a long time coming otherwise perhaps to send me the firmware so I can fix it.

 

[TSAVJason]

Take any D100 and hit the mute button then hit it again. You'll notice it doesn't take the second time until you wait like quite a awhile. Next hit the mute button and turn the volume down or up. Again you will see your volume control get ignored for a few seconds. Now turn the volume up or down and pause briefly and try to again change volume and you will see again your adjustments are ignored for some time. This isn't debounce, this is basic volume adjustment and mute usage here, nothing that should get ignored no matter how unstable the hardware might be. I have never seen an audio device just ignore the user like this. It causes all sort of grief if for example you have un-muted the device and it happens to be too loud so you immediately try to turn the volume down. Not only will it continue to blare at you but you will have to wait at least 3 sec before trying again or even re-muting it.

Just saying, if you are in a position to fix this and release v1.1 please do. It has been a long time coming otherwise perhaps to send me the firmware so I can fix it.

I'm not sure how your issue is going to be considered. The D100 is a little long in the tooth as they say but I promise to do what I can to see if I can motivate an opportunity for a fix

 

[JBob1]

@DrTone, initially I had some static issues at track transitions, but switching from Foobar2000 to JRiver fixed this. I listened to some DS256 tracks without any issues. The noise is almost non-existent with the D1100.

@JBob1, I am in the same boat as you in that there aren't any dealers close by where I can audition stuff. When I was buying headphones and gear that retailed for less than a few hundred dollars it wasn't a big problem - I bought some stuff I loved but bought some stuff I hated too. When I was ready drop what for me was some serious dough I went to CamJam. It is noisy so not the best environment for listening, but it does allow you to see and audition a lot of stuff in a short period of time. That helps to narrow down the list of things you are interested in. Even better, you can meet lots of people and talk about gear! That is where I met @TSAVJason, and he has been tremendously helpfu.....Since there are no stores nearby to develop a relationship with, Jason has become my hometown shop, even though he is in CA and I am in NJ.



I'll be honest and say that price was a factor in my decision, albeit not the only one. I'd been saving for the DAVE for months, but when Jason suggested the D1100 as another option the price point was a plus. Basically the price difference allowed me to get a nice balanced cable for my Utopias and TOTL interconnects. I also like the design of the McIntosh products - I'm not a girly-girl at all and couldn't care less about decorating and such, so the clean lines and minimalist design of the D1100 really appealed to me.

Purchasing decisions are really personal and everyone has different things that are important to them. If I had to skin it, the factors that went into choosing the D1100 over the Dave for me were:
- Recommendation/reputation: Jason spoke very highly of it, and I think he has a good grasp on what I like to hear. (And no, its not all Taylor Swift). I looked online at reviews of older model McDACs and they were positive. Also, McIntosh has a strong brand reputation; I'm sure that a lot of non-audiophiles recognize it, and the company has been around long enough that I trust that they take care of their customers. When I was growing up, our neighbors who we referred to as "the rich neighbors" because they were both doctors had some McIntosh components, so there is probably some nostalgia there too.
- Balanced output: I've tried 3 different headphones (Utopia, Senn 650, and ZMF Vibro) with both SE and balanced outputs of the LAu, and to me the balanced just sounds better. I'm a Chord fan so read all the stuff about why they don't use a balanced design, but since the DAC was to pair with the LAu, this was a major factor.

- Price: See above

- Visual appeal: I love my Mojo, but to me the DAVE looks busy and kinda weird.


Sorry, my degree is in Chemistry and I don't type very fast, so I use "LAu" a lot. Yes, I am very happy! My husband has a high frequency hearing loss, but it is not my fault...... I am Korean so my voice is low. LOL!

The D1100 and DAVE are both great products, you really can't go wrong. Hope this helps a little, @JBob1 .

Doggie, I'm an old school Mcintosh guy and yes they do build fantastic DACs. I"m still using the MDA1000 which is one of the best Redbook DACS of all time, but it did come out in 2004 so it is getting old.

Take any D100 and hit the mute button then hit it again. You'll notice it doesn't take the second time until you wait like quite a awhile. Next hit the mute button and turn the volume down or up. Again you will see your volume control get ignored for a few seconds. Now turn the volume up or down and pause briefly and try to again change volume and you will see again your adjustments are ignored for some time. This isn't debounce, this is basic volume adjustment and mute usage here, nothing that should get ignored no matter how unstable the hardware might be. I have never seen an audio device just ignore the user like this. It causes all sort of grief if for example you have un-muted the device and it happens to be too loud so you immediately try to turn the volume down. Not only will it continue to blare at you but you will have to wait at least 3 sec before trying again or even re-muting it.

Just saying, if you are in a position to fix this and release v1.1 please do. It has been a long time coming otherwise perhaps to send me the firmware so I can fix it.

I have a D100 in my game room system and I'm

Take any D100 and hit the mute button then hit it again. You'll notice it doesn't take the second time until you wait like quite a awhile. Next hit the mute button and turn the volume down or up. Again you will see your volume control get ignored for a few seconds. Now turn the volume up or down and pause briefly and try to again change volume and you will see again your adjustments are ignored for some time. This isn't debounce, this is basic volume adjustment and mute usage here, nothing that should get ignored no matter how unstable the hardware might be. I have never seen an audio device just ignore the user like this. It causes all sort of grief if for example you have un-muted the device and it happens to be too loud so you immediately try to turn the volume down. Not only will it continue to blare at you but you will have to wait at least 3 sec before trying again or even re-muting it.

Just saying, if you are in a position to fix this and release v1.1 please do. It has been a long time coming otherwise perhaps to send me the firmware so I can fix it.

I have D100 system and I'm pushing mute off and on while playing internet radio via Sonos and have no problem.

 

[groovyd]

Doggie, I'm an old school Mcintosh guy and yes they do build fantastic DACs. I"m still using the MDA1000 which is one of the best Redbook DACS of all time, but it did come out in 2004 so it is getting old.
I have D100 system and I'm pushing mute off and on while playing internet radio via Sonos and have no problem.

sorry, first change the volume and wait until the display resets then try mute or volume again. it won't take until the display comes back.

 

[groovyd]

I'm not sure how your issue is going to be considered. The D100 is a little long in the tooth as they say but I promise to do what I can to see if I can motivate an opportunity for a fix

Sure it is now but it wasn't when I approached them with the issue years ago. Anyways McIntosh is supposed to be known for standing behind their product even the old ones into the future.

 

[doggiemom]

So, how about that D1100? LOL

 

[TSAVJason]

Sure it is now but it wasn't when I approached them with the issue years ago. Anyways McIntosh is supposed to be known for standing behind their product even the old ones into the future.

McIntosh is not going to upgrade the unit. It is what it is. Thus new models. If you are playing files native rather than try to UpScale there shouldn't be any issues. I've tried your HQPlayer other the weekend. The only time I can duplicate any issues is while trying to UpScale. McIntosh is designed to play native files not to UpScale. Am I understanding your issue correctly?

 

[TSAVJason]

So, how about that D1100? LOL

No problems at all unless you too are trying to UpScale. Keep your files native and all will be good!

 

[groovyd]

McIntosh is not going to upgrade the unit. It is what it is. Thus new models. If you are playing files native rather than try to UpScale there shouldn't be any issues. I've tried your HQPlayer other the weekend. The only time I can duplicate any issues is while trying to UpScale. McIntosh is designed to play native files not to UpScale. Am I understanding your issue correctly?

no you aren't... don't worry i have resigned myself to knowing they won't fix the issue years ago as i said, they showed no interest in fixing the problem.

 

[TSAVJason]

I'm not schooling anyone, you mention SNR for some reason and then immediately said it doesn't like all programs. I assumed you felt there was a correlation. Obviously they were two unrelated comments in the same paragraph.

If you can get McIntosh to fix the driver or firmware on their preamps to alleviate the DSD256 issue with software other than jriver many owners would appreciate it.

Let me know when you get roon or hqplayer upsampling to DSD256 working with any of the current generation McIntosh preamps. It will be nice to have someone McIntosh might actually listen to explain the problem to them.

Sorry my phone has been changing upsampling to upscaling. I wasn't really taking the time to read your message closely. Had I done that I would have seen your issue immediately. McIntosh doesn't like Up - converted files. It wants to see native files. You are asking the McIntosh to play a file it's not designed to play when it is being modified from native. So your complaint isn't a McIntosh issue as much as it is an issue of how you use your software. Play your files native and the issue goes away. Upconverting doesn't enhance your music fil

no you aren't... don't worry i have resigned myself to knowing they won't fix the issue years ago as i said, they showed no interest in fixing the problem.

You haven't given me enough to understand the issue and how it happens. I don't think any manufacturer would consider a problem they don't understand by description.

So give me specifics. Tell me the material, it's format and your interface. From that I may be able to get to an understanding of what to look for.

 

[groovyd]

Sorry my phone has been changing upsampling to upscaling. I wasn't really taking the time to read your message closely. Had I done that I would have seen your issue immediately. McIntosh doesn't like Up - converted files. It wants to see native files. You are asking the McIntosh to play a file it's not designed to play when it is being modified from native. So your complaint isn't a McIntosh issue as much as it is an issue of how you use your software. Play your files native and the issue goes away. Upconverting doesn't enhance your music fil


You haven't given me enough to understand the issue and how it happens. I don't think any manufacturer would consider a problem they don't understand by description.

So give me specifics. Tell me the material, it's format and your interface. From that I may be able to get to an understanding of what to look for.

Don't worry about it... it's like you haven't read a word i've said.

 

[DrTone]

So your complaint isn't a McIntosh issue as much as it is an issue of how you use your software. Play your files native and the issue goes away. Upconverting doesn't enhance your music fil

I'm feeding the DAC the largest DSD format supported to bypass it's internal filtering and the internal pcm to sdm conversion that every sigma delta dac does. The ESS9018 is no exception. HQPlayers filters are better than the internal McIntosh filter by a mile. HQPlayer's modulators are also better than the ESS9018. Obviously you think I am upconverting to entirperlate data that isn't there, which is completely wrong, I hope you do a little research on the subject.

The issue is very obviously a McIntosh issue, specifically in their direct DSD implementation. Don't worry about it I've moved on, I know McIntosh really doesn't care. I didn't buy my McIntosh preamp for it's mediocre DAC anyway.

 

[JBob1]

I don't think from such a narrow perspective. I appreciate your input but I do understand and I'm familiar with these issues. Neither of you are the first to tell me about these things. I just wanted to know if I could help immediately or if your issues are part of what we are addressing already

As a Mcintosh Dealer do you know if the C1100s shipping today have the latest firmware update installed so it'll work with the d1100??

 

[TSAVJason]

As a Mcintosh Dealer do you know if the C1100s shipping today have the latest firmware update installed so it'll work with the d1100??

Yes it is the latest firmware up date they ship with but ....it's still got upgrades coming as with most McIntosh products