Jump to content
  • The Computer Audiophile
    The Computer Audiophile

    McIntosh D1100 Digital Preamplifier DAC Review - Part  Two

    First, a little recap of where we are and how we got here. During my review of the McIntosh D1100, I ran into some issues with the USB interface. I documented these issues in Part One of the review. At the time of publication, McIntosh told me it had resolved all the issues with a hardware update released after the D1100 was shipped to me for review. Unfortunately, I discovered these issues during some last minute testing and I had a publishing deadline to meet. I had to go forward with the review, warts and all. Shortly after publication, I sent the D1100 back to McIntosh for the update. I received the unit back here on Friday August 25, 2017 and have been testing it extensively this week. 

     

    After extensive testing with the updated McIntosh D1100, I am very pleased with results. All of the instability with the Windows operating system and playback applications has been resolved. I wish I would have found the initial USB issues earlier and had the D1100 updated before the review but, it wasn't meant to be. 

     

    This week, I sent the updated D1100 right into the fire. I followed the same testing procedure that previously produced all the issues. I figured, why beat around the bush rather than try to break it right away. I connected the D1100 to my MacBook Pro running Windows 10 and opened JRiver Media Center 23. No issues. I played PCM audio up through 24/352.8. No issues. I switched to DSD, up through DSD256. No issues. I disconnected the D1100, reconnect it, restarted it, restarted my laptop, and tried to get the unit to make my laptop freak out. I couldn't do it. Period. 

     

    That was my main gripe with the D1100. It caused my laptop to freeze and give me the blue screen of death. The update to the D1100 has resolved all of those issues, without any negative side effects. Sound quality through the USB input is identical. I should also mention that HQPlayer upsampling any audio to DSD256 or 24/352.8, works flawless and sounds fantastic. Roon users will want to know that Roon has issues playing DSD256 to the D1100. I couldn't reproduce these issues with any other software. Playing DSD256 through Roon, the audio is very distorted and played in slow motion. I adjusted all the settings, but had no luck getting Roon to function like all the other applications at my disposal. 


    I think McIntosh deserves much credit for accepting that there was an issue with the D1100 and resolving it very quickly. Unfortunately many manufacturers are stuck on denying there's a problem or don't have the wherewithal to implement a solution. HiFi, with parts that are more computer than traditional audio, can be vastly different for manufacturers. Companies like Apple and Microsoft have been dealing with these issues for decades and still have plenty of problems. It isn't rocket science, but it isn't as simple as the old days of setting a CD in the drawer and pressing play. The number of hardware and software combinations that HiFi components must now work with, is exponentially greater than in the past. 

     

    Again, thanks to McIntosh for realizing there was an issue, and not telling its customers to use macOS or a Linux music server or some other "solution." That would've been like telling someone to stop driving if they want to avoid a car accident. It sounds funny, but it's what many manufacturers do now days. We've all experienced the hassle of a manufacturer pushing blame onto the customer or another manufacturer. It's no fun and shouldn't be a part of high end audio. Thankfully McIntosh continues to live up to its reputation as an American Classic with great service. 

     

     

    Wrap Up

     

    Before concluding Part Two of this review, I'd like to remind readers of what I said about the D1100 in my conclusion to Part One:

     

    "Listening to my favorite music through the McIntosh D1100 digital preamplifier / DAC for the last several weeks has been wonderful. McIntosh as a company is an American classic. The D1100 as its reference digital component is also a classic in another sense. Its fit and finish are pure McIntosh through and through. Blue meters and illuminated green lettering are an unmistakable combination that hundreds of high end companies would die for and music lovers from all over the world enjoy on a nightly basis.
     
    The sound quality of a wide range of music played through the D1100 was rich, vibrant and lush, yet incredibly detailed given the right recording. My favorite rock and roll was reproduced in all its grungy glory, with power and fullness. At the same time, more traditional audiophile recordings, played through the McIntosh D1100 DAC, still displayed extreme detail and provided x-ray like information about each performance.
     
    I recommend the McIntosh D1100 very highly, as it deserves all the praise it will receive in the coming months and years.
    "


    These statements are as true as ever, especially since the USB issue has been resolved. I'm happy to place the McIntosh D1100 Digital Preamplifier DAC on the Computer Audiophile Suggested Hardware (CASH) List.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Product Information:

     

    • Product - McIntosh Labs D1100 Digital Preamplifier / DAC
    • Price - $7,000
    • Product Page - D1100
    • Owners Manual - PDF Link (4.9 MB)

     

     

     

    Where To Buy (CA Supporter):

     

     

    TAS.png

     

     

     

     

     

    Associated Music:

     

     

     

     

    Associated Equipment:

     

     

     




    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments



    This whole having a family business is for the birds. Who needs kids anyway, right?  Also, as I am finding out, a wife and a Porsche may not be compatible...

     

    It might be ix-nay on the Edding-Way

     

    also, only joking.

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Just to follow up from my previous detailed review.

     

    I have recently tried a number of dacs including the PS Audio Direct Stream and the Chord Dave.

     

    Both fantastic by the way. The DAVE is like a microscope to music

     

    But the D1100 has that wonderful mix of extreme detail and lush massive sound stage.

     

    I am using it as a preamp directly  connected into a Mcintosh MC-302.  System synergy?

     

    My only complaint is the pop between some tracks especially when changing bitrate. Does anyone else get that?

     

    Still willing to forgive

     

     

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Chris. Do you feel that the Mac bests either your Berkeley or your Yggdrasil?

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    5 hours ago, mourip said:

    Chris. Do you feel that the Mac bests either your Berkeley or your Yggdrasil?

    "Bests" is a very hard thing to describe. They are all different in their own respects. 

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    9 hours ago, fand1 said:

    Just to follow up from my previous detailed review.

     

    I have recently tried a number of dacs including the PS Audio Direct Stream and the Chord Dave.

     

    Both fantastic by the way. The DAVE is like a microscope to music

     

    But the D1100 has that wonderful mix of extreme detail and lush massive sound stage.

     

    I am using it as a preamp directly  connected into a Mcintosh MC-302.  System synergy?

     

    My only complaint is the pop between some tracks especially when changing bitrate. Does anyone else get that?

     

    Still willing to forgive

     

     

     

    Yes, I get that on my MAC7200 with the DA1 DAC module as well.

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    18 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

    "Bests" is a very hard thing to describe. They are all different in their own respects. 

     

    Thanks for the reply and for exploring the cutting edge for us.

     

    I do realize that the Mac is unique in that it is sort of an "integrated digital front end". It does sound like you would put them all on the same overall sonic level even if the presentation varies?

     

    When you get time I would be interested in your description of those sonic differences. Perhaps a Part 3 followup?

     

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Just bought one of these, and I'm really enjoying it.  Smooth, rich, and detailed from a black background.  I think Chris's review really nails it.  I've been listening to music obsessively all day.  Haven't gotten a damn thing done.  

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    16 hours ago, Gary said:

    I've been listening to music obsessively all day.  Haven't gotten a damn thing done.

    That's the best part of this hobby.

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    I was told when I was buying my MAC7200 that McIntosh has made a real effort to make their new (recently released) equipment perform to a whole new level, by more scrutiny on parts inside, and more listening tests on those parts, and using higher quality parts.  If my MAC7200 is anything to go by, I think they have certainly been successful.  It's been really hard to resist the temptation to take a drive down Lyndale, ( @The Computer Audiophile will know what I am talking about) and order the D1100.

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    On 10/10/2017 at 11:09 AM, The Computer Audiophile said:

    "Bests" is a very hard thing to describe. They are all different in their own respects. 

    He should know better than to ask a question like that (grin)....must be tough being in your profession (wink)

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    On 11/13/2017 at 8:11 PM, AudioDoctor said:

    I was told when I was buying my MAC7200 that McIntosh has made a real effort to make their new (recently released) equipment perform to a whole new level, by more scrutiny on parts inside, and more listening tests on those parts, and using higher quality parts.  If my MAC7200 is anything to go by, I think they have certainly been successful.  It's been really hard to resist the temptation to take a drive down Lyndale, ( @The Computer Audiophile will know what I am talking about) and order the D1100.

    You may want to wait a bit....I seemed to have stumbled on a "hush hush" that mcintosh may be working on something just recently inre the DA1 module. 

     

    I called Mcintosh inquiring on differenes between the 5200 and 5300 and when i started asking questions about noise suppression and clocking, they gave me an email to someone better to ask.  After I emailed that individual asking if they have any advancements in noise suppression and clocking, I then got contacted by local mcintosh dealer locally wanting to know where I got that email address, and that it shouldn't have been given out, and they "inferred" that some recent advances may be coming soon.... (soon being relative of course)...

     

    just an fyi, i have nothing concrete but it was clear they were very upset that i got the information that i did....

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Well, I am listening to it right now so it is too late to do anything about it.  If it's in the DA1 module though, I will be able to upgrade if I feel it's worth it.

     

    Biggest difference is the 5300 has the DA1 module, and the 5200 doesn't...  

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Forgot, the 5300 also has the fancy relays in the input switching, the higher quality parts inside, the higher quality/fancy output something or other that eliminates warm up (they say) and thats connected to uprated heatsinks.

    Edit, and I am probably forgetting something.

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    I'm glad the issue with laptop crashing, popping was resolved with the hardware update.  In part 1 you also mentioned a few issues with delay.  Particularly, missing the first part of the first track of an album, and an issue where the first part of the next track could be muted.  Was that also resolved for you when you got the unit back for round 2 of testing?

     

    Joe

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    On 2018-02-21 at 9:52 AM, joey_corleone said:

    I'm glad the issue with laptop crashing, popping was resolved with the hardware update.  In part 1 you also mentioned a few issues with delay.  Particularly, missing the first part of the first track of an album, and an issue where the first part of the next track could be muted.  Was that also resolved for you when you got the unit back for round 2 of testing?

     

    Joe

     

    @The Computer Audiophile?

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    On 2/22/2018 at 3:01 PM, The Computer Audiophile said:

    I don't believe the mute issue was resolved. If I'm not mistaken, it's a design decision.

     

    Thanks. At this stage, I have tried Windows with the McIntosh ASIO driver using Roon, Foobar 2000, and VNC, Mac OSX with Roon, QuickTime, VNC, Vox and JRiver, and Linux on a Roon Bridge, and cannot get it to behave.

     

    In all cases I lose the first fraction of a second of the first album track and intermittently lose the first fraction of a second when an album naturally transitions tracks.

     

    The only exception I found was that if you use JRiver, and enable the feature to add silence at start for hardware synchronization, it solves the first issue. However, that still did not solve the second.

     

    If there is no reasonable solution proposed soon, I will have no choice but to return my D1100 and get something that works better with my setup.

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    On 2018-02-22 at 1:01 PM, The Computer Audiophile said:

    I don't believe the mute issue was resolved. If I'm not mistaken, it's a design decision.

     

    If a DAC isn't capable of playing an album from beginning to end without possibly muting out parts of multiple songs I don't think it should make your Cash list.  Basic DAC functionality should be a minimum requirement, I don't care how mesmerizing those blue meters are.

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Wind forward to nearly 12 months later in 2019, are the mute on DSD and clicks on PCM sample rate changes still a problem/annoyance on the D-1100?

     

    The windows driver install is dated March 29, 2018, which is after the last post on the article.  

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    The short quick answer is yes.

     

    The long answer is, if you listen to albums that are not made of multiple different resolution files that problem can be completely avoided.

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    49 minutes ago, AudioDoctor said:

    The long answer is, if you listen to albums that are not made of multiple different resolution files that problem can be completely avoided.

     

    Or cue up multiple albums or different format ro sample rate?

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    1 hour ago, AudioDoctor said:

    The short quick answer is yes.

     

    The long answer is, if you listen to albums that are not made of multiple different resolution files that problem can be completely avoided.

    Thank you, the D1100 can be removed from the shortlist.

     

    Roon, JRiver, A+ are capable of muting and correcting for syncing of hardware devices quite well, I would have thought experienced users have tried this already with no improvement possible. 

     

    Another solution is for the player to SRC to higher rates of multiples of 44.1/48 rates to keep the switching to a minimum, one possibility. 

     

    Share this comment


    Link to comment
    Share on other sites




    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now




×
×
  • Create New...