McIntosh's new DS200 Streaming DAC. Will it become popular?

[BlackSpider777]

Yes. McIntosh MA252 integrated tube/ss.
DS200 is Replacing my Eversolo DMP-A6 and Schiit BiFrost 2, which I sold to help pay half the cost.

Makes sense, i got the MA8950 which has the same dac already builtin in, the DA2 dac.
So no sense for me..

 

[Billy Budapest]

Yes. McIntosh MA252 integrated tube/ss.
DS200 is Replacing my Eversolo DMP-A6 and Schiit BiFrost 2, which I sold to help pay half the cost.

I understand purchasing the unit for its feature set and cosmetics, but it will not sound any different than your Eversolo/Bifrost combination.

 

[Vacceo]

I'm mighty tempted. It would be a perfect match for my MC462 and C53. My beloved Cambridge audio 851N is getting long on the tooth. Though they tout their DAC, I wonder what DAC chipset they are actually using so as to better judge the competition. Superb DAC chips are just a few hundred dollars, but I'm sure the analog portion will be McIntosh worthy. What most people don't realize (and complain) about the McIntosh style and esthetics is that it's quite expensive and done in house basically by hand! I saw an interview where they stated that just the chassis signature displays and etched glass comprised up to 20% of the total cost of production! So ii's not only an investment in first rate electronics and sound, it's an investment on the signature look and esthetic. No other brand regardless of price or "prestige" comes even close to McIntosh in resale value. I should know, I just sold one of their AV processors with 3 years of use for 75% of the purchase price! I took that nice "bundle" and bought an Ortofon Verismo cartridge with the proceeds! BTW, best sounding phono cartridge ever made! Truly amazing!

I'm not going to argue the aesthetics, the issue is that they are systematically behind in features, particularly in the AV section.

 

[josephjrose]

I understand purchasing the unit for its feature set and cosmetics, but it will not sound any different than your Eversolo/Bifrost combination.

Actually, you’re wrong. It arrived yesterday. The sound stage is far better. There’s an openness that exists with the DS200 that wasn’t there with the Eversolo/BiFrost setup. And it has some of the McIntosh warmth I love. Glad I purchased it. (And yes, it looks gorgeous.)

Also, I can’t begin to explain the benefit of not having another phone screen staring back at me at the end of the day, which is what the Eversolo presented to my listening room. I prefer the Minaj green and blue lights of this system when I’m unwinding to music with the lights down, rather than another screen staring back at me. Just my hang up, I know.

 

[mhardy6647]

The next projects: Mcintosh vacuum cleaners, washing machines, dishwashers and microwave ovens
of course with the famous blue logo.

... and meters.
Don't forget the meters.

EDIT: Come to think of it -- how cool would it be to have a big blue meter calibrated with only zero and 1 monitoring the digital datastream -- just bouncin' back and forth?

 

[WisEd]

... and meters.
Don't forget the meters.

EDIT: Come to think of it -- how cool would it be to have a big blue meter calibrated with only zero and 1 monitoring the digital datastream -- just bouncin' back and forth?

The needles would have to exceed the speed of light thus creating an infinite "soundstage" ROLF!

 

[WisEd]

I'm not going to argue the aesthetics, the issue is that they are systematically behind in features, particularly in the AV section.

AV section of a steamer? McIntosh has superb AV preamps (Even if they are really "McIntoshified" Marantzes).

 

[Vacceo]

AV section of a steamer? McIntosh has superb AV preamps (Even if they are really "McIntoshified" Marantzes).

AV receivers and processors. Their features are worse than those of Marantz for a higher price. No DLBC, no streaming platform, less subwoofer options...

I can actually appreciate just using airplay or chrome cast, but taking those out of their AVP´s (mx200), not giving the possibility to use DLBC (MX200, MHT300) or taking out XLR for subwoofers, are, I think, mean options and cheap tricks to sell something more expensive just because. Same for not adding a headphone out.

On that regard, I don´t think giving further options such as center wide or routing LFE to main speakers should not be super expensive.

 

[WisEd]

AV receivers and processors. Their features are worse than those of Marantz for a higher price. No DLBC, no streaming platform, less subwoofer options...

I can actually appreciate just using airplay or chrome cast, but taking those out of their AVP´s (mx200), not giving the possibility to use DLBC (MX200, MHT300) or taking out XLR for subwoofers, are, I think, mean options and cheap tricks to sell something more expensive just because. Same for not adding a headphone out.

On that regard, I don´t think giving further options such as center wide or routing LFE to main speakers should not be super expensive.

ThE MX 123 had exactly the same features as the contemporary top Marantz. Same inputs, outputs, surround modes, etc. Basically, it was the same component with a McIntosh power supply faceplate. They even had the same setup program. The Mc was 9k the Marantz was 7.5 K. So no, the Marantz was not "better" in any dimension. Cheaper yes.

 

[Vacceo]

ThE MX 123 had exactly the same features as the contemporary top Marantz. Same inputs, outputs, surround modes, etc. Basically, it was the same component with a McIntosh power supply faceplate. They even had the same setup program. The Mc was 9k the Marantz was 7.5 K. So no, the Marantz was not "better" in any dimension. Cheaper yes.

Yeah, in 2021. Since then, a bit has happened.

MacIntosh most recent AVP (mx200) is not compatible with DLBC, does not have streaming features, can take 2 subwoofers only on RCA, has less channels, no zone 2 and 3, worse HDMI and less connections, less configuration options (LFE routing, center wide...), no Auro 3D... Yet it's "just" around a grand less than an AV10.

Sure, the raw performance and build quality is there, but so is in the AV10.

A lot of those lacking elements could have been implemented on the MX200. The compatibly with DLBC should be a given due to the supposedly discrete subwoofer outs. If there is a really useful XLR is precisely for a subwoofer, as longer cable runs risk noise a lot more than just speaker to amp RCA's.

And sure, no need to build a platform like HEOS, something as humble as Chromecast and Airplay compatibly could suffice. LFE routing and center spread? That's just software. No need for extra channels, Auro or even multi zone to keep a lower price? Sure, not a bad move.

 

[WisEd]

Yeah, in 2021. Since then, a bit has happened.

MacIntosh most recent AVP (mx200) is not compatible with DLBC, does not have streaming features, can take 2 subwoofers only on RCA, has less channels, no zone 2 and 3, worse HDMI and less connections, less configuration options (LFE routing, center wide...), no Auro 3D... Yet it's "just" around a grand less than an AV10.

Sure, the raw performance and build quality is there, but so is in the AV10.

A lot of those lacking elements could have been implemented on the MX200. The compatibly with DLBC should be a given due to the supposedly discrete subwoofer outs. If there is a really useful XLR is precisely for a subwoofer, as longer cable runs risk noise a lot more than just speaker to amp RCA's.

And sure, no need to build a platform like HEOS, something as humble as Chromecast and Airplay compatibly could suffice. LFE routing and center spread? That's just software. No need for extra channels, Auro or even multi zone to keep a lower price? Sure, not a bad move.

They have this monster for 17k!

McIntosh MX180 A/V Processor | Paragon SNS

Looking for a McIntosh MX180 Processor? Paragon Sight & Sound carries the best processors from McIntosh. Browse online & shop in-store at our Ann Arbor location.

www.paragonsns.com

64 inputs atmos 15.1!
Personally, I never went past 7.2
..... My favorite format is by far is 2..0
If you ask me if anyone is going to need 15 channels, they might as well ditch the whole thing and use headphones with DSP!

 

[BlackSpider777]

ThE MX 123 had exactly the same features as the contemporary top Marantz. Same inputs, outputs, surround modes, etc. Basically, it was the same component with a McIntosh power supply faceplate. They even had the same setup program. The Mc was 9k the Marantz was 7.5 K. So no, the Marantz was not "better" in any dimension. Cheaper yes.

Yeah but the New MHT300 receiver which is Class D & the MX200, they don't seem to be Marantz clones. Looks like they are made by Mcintosh themselves this time.

 

[Vacceo]

They have this monster for 17k!

McIntosh MX180 A/V Processor | Paragon SNS

Looking for a McIntosh MX180 Processor? Paragon Sight & Sound carries the best processors from McIntosh. Browse online & shop in-store at our Ann Arbor location.

www.paragonsns.com

64 inputs atmos 15.1!
Personally, I never went past 7.2
..... My favorite format is by far is 2..0
If you ask me if anyone is going to need 15 channels, they might as well ditch the whole thing and use headphones with DSP!

The HDMI is quite outdated. You may prefer room perfect, but for less than half, you get the same functionalities with an AV10.

 

[AdrianusG]

AV section of a steamer? McIntosh has superb AV preamps (Even if they are really "McIntoshified" Marantzes).

"McIntoshified"

I like that term

 

[WisEd]

Makes sense, i got the MA8950 which has the same dac already builtin in, the DA2 dac.
So no sense for me..

I have a DA2 DAC on my C53 .But whats the use of a DAC without the streamer and Roon? I have never used the DAC portion of my pre for that exact reason! Roon streams and organizes all my digital files ripped CD's, downloaded high rez files and all metadata and Tidal with one simple interface. Classifies everything by genre artist etc. Virtually makes you the master of all digital media. It is superb.

 

[JustJones]

I have a DA2 DAC on my C53 .But whats the use of a DAC without the streamer and Roon? I have never used the DAC portion of my pre for that exact reason! Roon streams and organizes all my digital files ripped CD's, downloaded high rez files and all metadata and Tidal with one simple interface. Classifies everything by genre artist etc. Virtually makes you the master of all digital media. It is superb.

That's reasons to use Roon which could be done with a raspberry pi4 connected to his MA8950 so it wouldn't make sense to buy the DS200. The same thing could be done with the C53. You just need an inexpensive device to use as a Roon endpoint.

 

[BlackSpider777]

I have a DA2 DAC on my C53 .But whats the use of a DAC without the streamer and Roon? I have never used the DAC portion of my pre for that exact reason! Roon streams and organizes all my digital files ripped CD's, downloaded high rez files and all metadata and Tidal with one simple interface. Classifies everything by genre artist etc. Virtually makes you the master of all digital media. It is superb.

I m using the Node X streamer since a while. I don't use Roon, i got the Node X attached to the MA8950's coaxial input.
I have ordered the Node Icon & should be getting delivery in few weeks..

 

[WisEd]

That's reasons to use Roon which could be done with a raspberry pi4 connected to his MA8950 so it wouldn't make sense to buy the DS200. The same thing could be done with the C53. You just need an inexpensive device to use as a Roon endpoint.

It works, but has no bluetooth, no wifi, no airplay, no preamp, no phone control, etc. All of which is fine if you're simply going to run it as a dongle off your computer. It's a computer card not a component that you'd want sitting next to a 9000 dollar preamp. Vanity, I know. But for all we know a raspberry or something equivalent might be inside a DS 200 among all the other stuff. I already have a privious gen first class streamer/ preamp, a Cambridge Audio 851N. personally I don't think a DS200 would sound any better, but it would look perfect with my MC preamp and amp! What really worries me is it could actually sound worse abd allthat additional $$$ for appearence would be for naught