[TSAVJason]

My D100 USB input just kicked the can or at least upon turning on the D100 it briefly shows as an audio device on my mac before disappearing again 1 second later never to return. Not sure what the problem is. You can see it connect and then immediately disconnect. Looking at the system 'wifi' logs of all things shows the 'DeviceInserted' immediately followed by a 'DeviceRemoved' with no obvious error code or reason. I thought maybe it was the USB port or cable but other devices plugged into it work fine. There was a major storm here today so maybe something spiked it somehow. So here I am back again wondering if the D1100 isn't a better upgrade then f-ing around with this to fix it or finding a D150 used. In any case I guess I need to return the D100 to McIntosh to fix the USB but that will probably cost more than just throwing it away since it's discontinued and worthless on the used market.

Give the folks at tech support a call. They are friendly and well trained. Apple usually locks in with McIntosh real well (MAC v Mc) but occasionally there are firmware fixes required. They’ll also let you know if it needs any actual service centers attention. I’m not sure if you’re talking D100 or D1100 as the thread indicates

 

[groovyd]

Give the folks at tech support a call. They are friendly and well trained. Apple usually locks in with McIntosh real well (MAC v Mc) but occasionally there are firmware fixes required. They’ll also let you know if it needs any actual service centers attention. I’m not sure if you’re talking D100 or D1100 as the thread indicates

My D100 USB got super dodgy for like a week and over the past few days seems to have fixed itself? I'm starting to think it's USB bus clock (oscillator) is probably starting to drift out of spec but it's been stable for a few days again so really not sure. In any case I think it's probably time to upgrade to the D1100 for the better sound and presumably more stable usb bus. more recent at least so oscillators are probably still in spec. I might send the D100 to Mc to do diagnostics on but it might just end up in the closet of old ideas. Have a USB-c to s/pdif converter on the way I plan to connect via COAX to see what kind of quality and stability I get from that port. In any case though I think my heart is ready for an upgrade even though my wallet isn't quite there yet. It will be worth the upgrade if even just that volume control debounce issue has been fixed since the early D100's. I only wish the D1100 had individual output trim settings for the 2 variable outputs on the back so I could match power amp gains between the two outputs which drive different speakers.

 

[TSAVJason]

My D100 USB got super dodgy for like a week and over the past few days seems to have fixed itself? I'm starting to think it's USB bus clock (oscillator) is probably starting to drift out of spec but it's been stable for a few days again so really not sure. In any case I think it's probably time to upgrade to the D1100 for the better sound and presumably more stable usb bus. more recent at least so oscillators are probably still in spec. I might send the D100 to Mc to do diagnostics on but it might just end up in the closet of old ideas. Have a USB-c to s/pdif converter on the way I plan to connect via COAX to see what kind of quality and stability I get from that port. In any case though I think my heart is ready for an upgrade even though my wallet isn't quite there yet. It will be worth the upgrade if even just that volume control debounce issue has been fixed since the early D100's. I only wish the D1100 had individual output trim settings for the 2 variable outputs on the back so I could match power amp gains between the two outputs which drive different speakers.

I know of line stages that have that feature, the SAE MK ONE comes to mind. I can’t think of a DAC that does

 

[groovyd]

After purchasing a D1100 I can now confirm it does not have the same dodgy volume debounce issues as the D100 has. What is the latest firmware version? I bought it used and it came with 1.01. Sound is the same as the D100, not really any better but the volume control is so much smoother it's almost worth just that alone. No USB disconnects so far. Meters are kind of cool but mostly just bling. The blue leds used don't match the meters of my much older MC252 amp which I don't think uses leds at all. MC252 meters are much greener. switch control of mute and both rear outputs makes sense and works fine for my use case, unlike how the D100 works however where mute doesn't mute the headphones the D1100 mutes all output. It is nice to be able to control each output independently. Would be much nicer if your could trim those output gains to match each other since they go to separate amps without gain control.

Will be dropping the D100 off at local McIntosh service center to dwell over. Not sure what to do with it once it's fixed. Isn't a big market for used D100s. Almost worth more to just have a backup DAC in the closet.

 

[groovyd]

Latest firmware is 1.04 according to McIntosh and it requires upgrade from a service center which is quoting me $80 just to look at it and a month to perform the upgrade. This is nuts. Excuse is too many users were bricking the devices. I'm sorry but as a firmware engineer I can safely say that is a firmware problem not a user problem. Firmware upgrades should be designed to fail-back to the previous version and should never brick a device no matter what happens. It sounds like they need to hire better firmware engineers for their product designs.

 

[TSAVJason]

Latest firmware is 1.04 according to McIntosh and it requires upgrade from a service center which is quoting me $80 just to look at it and a month to perform the upgrade. This is nuts. Excuse is too many users were bricking the devices. I'm sorry but as a firmware engineer I can safely say that is a firmware problem not a user problem. Firmware upgrades should be designed to fail-back to the previous version and should never brick a device no matter what happens. It sounds like they need to hire better firmware engineers for their product designs.

It was a particular chain of stores that are known for wearing blue shirts that bricked a majority of them. It’s about a 30 minute process. Maybe your service center has very slow internet? $80 isn’t unreasonable these days for an hour service. You probably can load the firmware, irs not difficult. Imagine how many customers, store sales guys and service centers had to brick them before McIntosh mandated service centers only. We aren’t a service center but we do firmware updates for customers all the time no charge. Never bricked one.

 

[groovyd]

It was a particular chain of stores that are known for wearing blue shirts that bricked a majority of them. It’s about a 30 minute process. Maybe your service center has very slow internet? $80 isn’t unreasonable these days for an hour service. You probably can load the firmware, irs not difficult. Imagine how many customers, store sales guys and service centers had to brick them before McIntosh mandated service centers only. We aren’t a service center but we do firmware updates for customers all the time no charge. Never bricked one.

Since my local service won't do it I managed to get the updater and upgrade it myself. Took about 30 seconds all in, maybe less but I had to answer a phone call in the middle. So turns out the latest version is actually 1.03, not 1.04 as I was originally told. Additionally the latest firmware introduces an audible pop upon the opening and closing (play/stop) of a CoreAudio session to the device. Turns out they introduced a new setup setting 'USB Automute' which is disabled by default which needs to be enabled in order to mute off the first 1 second of audio upon establishing an audio stream which 'fixes' the pop. Why it is defaulting to off when there is an audible pop unless it's on is beyond me. I have actually never had a USB DAC that ever rendered a pop when an audio session was established until now, not even the D100 did this. I'm kind of with my hands in the air about all of this. McIntosh seems to be having very basic firmware issues again and again that really shouldn't exist. I can only guess their firmware team isn't exactly A-grade. In any regards these are not the sort of confidence building bugs -er- 'features' one would expect from a $7k+ DAC. When it comes to analog, they sound great but I don't think digital is in their wheel house. They either need to seriously upgrade their in-house team of programmers or get out of the digital domain entirely.

 

[TSAVJason]

Since my local service won't do it I managed to get the updater and upgrade it myself. Took about 30 seconds all in, maybe less but I had to answer a phone call in the middle. So turns out the latest version is actually 1.03, not 1.04 as I was originally told. Additionally the latest firmware introduces an audible pop upon the opening and closing (play/stop) of a CoreAudio session to the device. Turns out they introduced a new setup setting 'USB Automute' which is disabled by default which needs to be enabled in order to mute off the first 1 second of audio upon establishing an audio stream which 'fixes' the pop. Why it is defaulting to off when there is an audible pop unless it's on is beyond me. I have actually never had a USB DAC that ever rendered a pop when an audio session was established until now, not even the D100 did this. I'm kind of with my hands in the air about all of this. McIntosh seems to be having very basic firmware issues again and again that really shouldn't exist. I can only guess their firmware team isn't exactly A-grade. In any regards these are not the sort of confidence building bugs -er- 'features' one would expect from a $7k+ DAC. When it comes to analog, they sound great but I don't think digital is in their wheel house. They either need to seriously upgrade their in-house team of programmers or get out of the digital domain entirely.

True, the download and certification is fast. Any time we do a firmware update for our customers our policy is to check ALL features of the unit to be sure nothing has been adversely protected.

 

[James824]

I am purchasing a new D1100 tomorrow and after reading the above concerns contacted McIntosh support to discuss. I am presently using a D100 fed
from a Mac(10.15.17) and was told the issue has been fixed and should have no concern at all.

 

[TSAVJason]

I am purchasing a new D1100 tomorrow and after reading the above concerns contacted McIntosh support to discuss. I am presently using a D100 fed
from a Mac(10.15.17) and was told the issue has been fixed and should have no concern at all.

Be sure it’s new if that’s your understanding of the condition. It’s been discontinued

 

[James824]

New from an authorized dealer who is ordering it.

 

[TSAVJason]

New from an authorized dealer who is ordering it.

I haven’t checked but it’s possible they might still have some available

 

[James824]

Oh well, if that's the case guess I will have to spend a bit more for the Ayre QX5 Twenty or perhaps the McIntosh C53 (although) I do not need its' analoge inputs.

Any idea what replaces the D1100?

Update: McIntosh confirms it is not discontinued and available for order.

 

[TSAVJason]

Oh well, if that's the case guess I will have to spend a bit more for the Ayre QX5 Twenty or perhaps the McIntosh C53 (although) I do not need its' analoge inputs.

Any idea what replaces the D1100?

Update: McIntosh confirms it is not discontinued and available for order.

It is on our discontinued list. I'm sure they still have them in stock

 

[James824]

Not in stock - quoted 60 to 90 days from McIntosh, confirmed by local authorized dealer.
Accepted my order.