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Problem with McIntosh C-47 and MCT-450 using Digital DIN cable to playback SACD

I have the McIntosh C-47 Preamp and the McIntosh MCT-450 Transport and I have it connected to the C-47 via Digital DIN cable so I can playback SACD. I purchased the MCT-450 with the hope of growing my SACD collection (I have about 20+ SACDs and thousands of Redbook CDs). I have never had any issues when playing back Redbook CDs. However, when I playback SACD the player intermittently has audio dropout for a second or so throughout the disc. I know it’s not bad disc because if I go back to the same spot where the dropout occurred I will not be able to duplicate the issue.  Again, this happens to all of my SACDs (Example: I have the entire Dead Can Dance SACD MoFi Japanese release and it happens on all of them). It appears if I leave the MCT-450 on for awhile the chances of the audio dropout occurring is reduced. 

I have tried all suggestions from McIntosh Support: Their recommendation was to connect the power cable of both C-47 and MCT-450 to a cheap power strip that doesn’t have any complex circuit so as it won’t cause grounding potential issue on the MCT-450. That sounded fishy to me but  still I tried it with no success. They now want me to take it (MCT-450) to the dealer and see issue occurs there - to eliminate DAC (on C-47) and/or DIN cable issue- which I haven’t gotten around to because I have such a small collection of SACD that these days if I know I’m going to be listening to SACD I just power on the transport and leave it on for few hours prior to my listening session and that normally seems to do the trick - but not always.

Other than the brief audio drop out - as if someone presssd mute- on rare occasions instead of silence I have heard what sounded like digital noise - chirping etc.  Again- all this happens only during SACD playback and never occurs during Redbook playback.

I had searched for anyone reporting similar issse but didn’t come across it so would appreciate feedback from those with the MCT-450 using the Digital DIN cable.

Thanks.




insightfulman

Showing 2 responses by insightfulman

insightfulman OP
2 posts
 
Hi, 

Thank you but I had indeed seen that thread; however, my issue is bit different in that it doesn’t happen only during when a track starts or in eternity tracks but happens even during middle of a song even in the middle of loud passage. I do think it’s a DAC issue because it’s so specific to SCAD only.
insightfulman OP
2 posts
 
...I meant to say, for my case “it doesn’t only happen during when a tract starts, as the other thread seem to indicate as known issue, but in my case it happens even in the middle of a song....”

I had a Classé CP-800 that broke and liked the idea of using DIN for SACD between the MCT and MC-47 but seems the issues is in the DSD conversion by the DAC in the C-47 if I’m understanding correctly and not an issue when the MCT-450.
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