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Okay, first of all, I am a vinyl guy. I am truly one of the lucky ones because my wife is very understanding and appreciates the music (and me staying home to listen to it). So, I had been using my Rotel DVD player to listen to CDs and had retired the old Denon DCM-440 changer to the basement. Now that I splurged on a 42" Sony Grand WEGA I had to shift everything around in my living room to accomodate the TV, and as a result my DVD player became seperated from my stereo. Now I needed a CDP and was not into buying one while format was still an issue. Pleas from my wife for CD based music drove me to resurrect the Denon. Unfortunately, the old Denon didn't sound nearly as good as the Rotel DVD, so I had to do something. I read many articles singing the praises of the X-DAC V3 and decided, what the heck. I ordered the whole MF package deal from Music Direct (the local guy was a snob stating he doesn't sell low end equip. like Rotel and MF small X series). I connected the equip (via a Green Hornet digital coax on the Denon) piece by piece and listened to the changes as suggested by the reviewers. I was blown away! I have a VPI Super ScoutMaster and know great sound, this was almost there. I still cannot believe it. The sound got better each time I connected a component. Now, I will buy CDs!
Follow Ups:
Im a 50-50 vinyl to cd kind of guy. I has a reasonalble analogue side with a Sota Star with a Shelter 501. On the CD side I have a Rotel that I have been slowly tweaking after reading AA. I tried the MF tube buffer (recent model) and I really liked what I heard after a long run in. Reading a thread on AA I tried a home brew power supply. It's just a big transformer, the actual PS is on the tube buffers board. This tweak was more than worth the effort. Much more dynamic range. Once I decided to keep the little buffer I went to work on it with a lot of internal dampining, added cones on the bottom and lead shot weight on the top. All noticable and good effects. Next will be the diodes and better filter caps.
I believe MF's mixed rep hear in the states comes from the tremendous ink they get in Stereophile both in favorable reviews and in the amount of advertising they do. Is there a connection. Some think so. I feel I got good value for he greenbucks and will try more MF in the future.
On the other hand, I just fired off my vynil rig and am blown away with t he difference with digital. maybe you need a new crtridge.
Yes, you might think so, but this is not true. I have a Dynavector that sings on my TT, and I'm not saying it is as good as that ever-lovable wrm vinyl sound, but it does come much much closer. I now have about 30 hours on the MF setup, and I still continue to spin LPs; but, my wife loves the CD changer while she is working in the kitchen and working around the house, and if I am to receive continuous support in this hobby she has to reap the benefits too. It can be hard trying to find everything on vinyl, but CDs are pretty easy, and I am truly glad I invested in the digital camp. I was playing some Miles last night that I have not found on vinyl, and was truly loving the higher end of digital.Best yet, my wife thinks it was the best $1200 I spent yet! (She freaked when I bought the Scoutmaster setup).
I have a variety of MF X series products and more than happy with all. They're MKI (round) versions including:X-DAC and X-10D line conditioner between my TEAC VRDS T1 CDP...definatley more musical than the TEAC T1 partnering DAC I also auditioned, and similar price in combo. I'd also audition Audio Alchemy DAC in The Box and a couple of others around the £400 mark. I also tried it with my old Philips CD650, and in combo they knocked the socks off much more expensive one box CDPs.
Originally connected to an Ion Obelisk 3, then an MF Electra 200/300 preamp/twin power amp combo, and now with a Nu-Vista pre-amp.
I reckon the MF X series have been excellent value for money sonically, as well as cosmetically different. My son's got my old X-LP phono stage between his Revolver and Pioneer A-400. Wow!
I really must audition an MF power supply upgrade.
Luckily I have a pretty good MF dealer only 20 minutes drive away (UK).
rich
In your opinion what do most UK audiophiles think
of MF equipment?? Here in the states I have found
that some love it and some don't. MF catches alot
of flak due to some of the reviews Sam T gives the
equipment. If you have read any of the threads in
the critics asylum, then you know what I am talking
about. I personally like most of the MF products I
have heard. I have a A3.2 Integrated amp and a A3.24
DAC. I would love to get one of the A3.2 CD players,
but financials will not allow at this time. I did
listen to one of the new X series integrated amps
and thought it was OK. But I thought my A3.2 was
much better. But the A3.2 cost quite a bit more also.
I feel that MF is one of those companies that gives
you tremendous value for your money. Your thoughts???
Bill,I think the X series products revived interest in what was one of many look-a-like mid-price product ranges. The Nu-Vista shook things up a bit too. But the quirkiness made them something of a niche. It's a kind of love 'em/hate 'em thing. As with much in the hi-fi world, image counts. I've always considered MF to give tremendous value for money, but there are brands with greater cache even if not sonic performance.
MF have seemed to be trying to cultivate a more audiophile image with the more recent developments in their product range. But, of course, distribution is also key. The best MF dealer in my locale stopped stocking a long time ago due to lack of consumer interest, but there is still one 20 minutes drive away in the other direction. Trouble is you have to know he's there. I auditioned some of the current range when I recently took my Electra power amps in for a service and reckon they are still very good value.
As with a lot of 'audiophile' product, pricing policy is directly linked to perceived sonic performance. 'If I pay a lot for it, I better damn sure tell my friends how outstanding it is'.
What is the claimed effect of the buffer? I am always willing to try somethin that will upgrade the system if it is not snake oil.
My Wadia got me liking ceedee's for sure. Still though, on top notch recordings my TT wins out.
Until 5 years ago I hated digital also - harsh, gritty, irritating, .....But that was not the fault of the medium, it was the playing gear. Even now with space age technology available, few players can reproduce it well. I guess this is because few people care & are happy wiuth MP3.
With top playing gear, CDs I once could barely listen to, sound very musical & enjoyable.
Good to hear you have found a player (unknown to me previously) which does it for you.
I too consider myself a hardcore vinyl devotee. I've been collecting for the past 20 years and got into the audiophile side about 10 years ago. Never liked digital with a only a few exceptions (SACD didn't work out for me but sounds great IMO) and have always been stuck tracking down vinyl editions of new releases or not buying them at all. I'm not an extremist -- just knew I wouldn't enjoy it on cd.Well that's all changed with the MF X series. Actually the X-Ray v3 changed it but the DAC, tube stage and power supply elevate it darn close to what I enjoy with my Nottingham/Dynavector combo. Nobody is more surprised than me.
Enjoy grooverider -- how many hours do you have on it? I found that the tube stage esp. improved after breaking in -- some glare in the first 100 hours. After 200 hours everything sounds very nice and balanced.
I was wondering, how big a difference does the X-Ray make over another transport? Ever try the small X stuff with a different transport to compare?
...and one that I wonder about myself. Have not heard the X gear with anything other than the X-Ray.Since I'm relatively new to digital I have no idea how the $1K X-Ray would fair in the world of transports -- new and used markets.
I didn't have an existing player to use such as in your case with the Rotel -- that makes the MF X series definitely a bargain.
Glad to hear your comments. The $1200 question -- is this combination better, the same, or inferior to the now-superseded MF Tri-Vista DAC, which seems to be going for $1200-$1400 used on audiogon?
Seems to be best to buy used, they change so much.I used to be a bit down on MF .I still probley wont consider a purchase even though my good friends a local dealer.I get to hear much of it ,some in home.But the MF kilo watt and preamp are the best gear I have heard but they dont drive horns worth the dam lol.Did sound cool on my f200a TL.Depth of image seemed to extend 20 ft behind loudspeakers.But after extended listening I missed the connection I feel to the music I hear on my SET horn combos.As does the owner, he mostly uses tube gear, his main system edilons ,MF, Val.Mostly sits unused.But it does have the best sound I have heard ,just less soul.Wierd
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