Price Paid:  $2400.00 from Audio Classics

Summary:
The Mac is a very very good sounding CD player/ changer.
Mind you not a Resolution Audio OPUS 21 but there is NOTHING out there that is but this CD player does get close. It is musical...erotic...and very very analog sounding with NO edge. Good air and depth of listening field...nice tight bass and wonderful mids and highs, and again without that added edge. This player even blows away my very outstanding Maverick SACD player in the SACD MODE !!!!!!!!!!!!
A darn good purchase with good build quality and very very nice to look at.

Strengths:
Very very accurate and musical

Weaknesses:
A little slow cueing up a CD

Similar Products Used:
Music Hall Maverick SACD
Resolution Audio OPUS 21
Jolida JD100
REGA Jupiter

confa

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
4.67 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $2900.00 from Italy

Summary:
In front of a MC...chapeau!
Built like a tank, black classic style, magnificient sound: very clean, deep soundstage, perfect tonal balance, quick and accurate to an perfection.

Strengths:
the SOUND...only the SOUND.

Weaknesses:
The display can't be excluded...But who interests???

Similar Products Used:
Copland 823, Monrio, Orelle, Marantz 17, Densen 400, Exposure 3017

Price Paid:  $1500.00 from Echo Audio, Portland

Summary:
I like to be able to put it 3-6 cd's, press "random" and enjoy music for hours. So, I have long liked CD changers but have not always been crazy about the sound.
Behold behold this nice MCD 205. I got lucky and found a nice one used and snatched it up. No more compromise on the sound or features, this player is great. Sounds great, looks great, built solidly, variety of output features, what more could I ask. I don't switching to any other CD changers for a long time to come.

Strengths:
D/A converter. I spent a few months A-B ing the output of this unit versus running the digital through a sepate 5K Classe DA converter using all kinds of digital cables. I honestly could not tell the difference so I sold the Classe, in my opinion that says a lot about the quality of this Mac.

Others: build quality, remote

Weaknesses:
Loud disc changer. Also, I wasn't that happy when I took the rubber feet off the bottom to facilitate use of BDR cones. 2 screws did not come out cleanly, they stripped a little bit and left metal dust. The should use small bolts with nut/washer instead of screws. This is potentially pretty important because if you ever have to send this unit in for servicing, McIntosh is ADAMANT that you attach the rubber feet during shipping to prevent damage and properly fit the original foam.

Similar Products Used:
Various California Audio Labs (CAL) and Sony ES changers. Although I loved the CAL gear, this unit is better and presents a more balanced, listenable sound. It was not subtle, especially in bass.

drtannis

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $2500.00 from HARVEYS

Summary:
As a digital audiophile iam very sensitive about my equipment.I have had the Onkyo Integra DX-7911 cd player for many years and never believe a better player existed particularly in the $1000.00 to $3000.00 range.Then about 6 months ago i purchase the MCINTOSH MCD- 205.At first i connected to my Onkyo reciever($3500.00)using the digital coaxial output.The sound was not as great as i expected from a player of this caliber but it was almost as good as the Onkyo...which has amazing specs ie 110db signal to noise ratio and 110db dynamic range.Two days ago i made a change from digital to anolog connection and WOW what a difference..my Mcintosh is now # 1 in sound besting my beloved Onkyo Integra Gold masterpiece player.The Mcintosh is an audiophile masterpiece and is worth every penny.

Strengths:
Solid tight refine bass,superb mids and classic high quality highs that is NOT harsh just polish and refine.The build quality is rock solid and the look is classic in design.Excellent warranty and resale value makes this player a keeper.

Weaknesses:
Some noice during disc change but not too loud or annoying.

Similar Products Used:
Denon,Onkyo Integra,Sony Sacd Players.

MikeMasztal

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 5.00 votes

Price Paid:  $2500.00

Summary:
I decided to go with an integrated player about a year ago. The MCD205 replaced an Audio Note CDT2 transport/DAC 3.1x Balanced DAC. Since I was using a McIntosh pre-amp and map, I thought I would listen to their player. Simply put, this unit performs to a level near that of the Audio Note rig which cost almost 4X as much. Whether the sonic excellence is due to the unit synergizing with the other McIntosh gear in my system, I don't know, but I am listening to my system more and more and enjoying it immensely. This unit is well worth the price. Recommended tweaks include Symposium Rollerblocks w/titanium balls and a Symposiun Ultra platform which extracts every bit of sound this player can play.

Strengths:
Excellent all aound sonic performance for not a lot of $$$

Weaknesses:
None from a performance standpoint. WHen changing discs it is a tad noisy, but not excessively so

Similar Products Used:
Audio Note CDT2, Audio Note DAC 3.1x Balanced DAC; Audio Note DAC2 Signature.