I heard the MF today. I did not buy it. My initial impression is that for $300 it is a giant killer, BUT it's major weakness (in the system I heard it in) is brightness & sibilance in the vocals & cymbals. Unfortunately, I am really sensitive to upper midrange issues. I can not speak to the low end as despite this system having big floor standers, with this system, none of the 3 dac's had much of a low end. Based on what I heard, I would recommend it to anyone who has an older 1 box cd with an spdif out who wants an inexpensive upgrade. IF the USB sound equal (I didn't hear it), it could also be great tp upgrade a pc sound card.
I know I asked for inexpensive, but the upper mid issues were too much for me. It seems interesting that Martin Colloms rates it twice as good as the Meridian 203 & quite a bit better then the 263. That does not jibe at all with my memory, but it's been a long time since i owned the Meridians.
The system is was partnered with for the demo included VTL Amps, A Bel Canto Transport & this is embarrassing, but I don;'t know what the speakers were. They were large, expensive floor standers. Digital cable was MIT, i don't know what the Analog cable was. The shop appeared to know how to demo the gear appropriately. I was told the MF had been powered p constantly for around 2 months, & had 25-30 hours playing music so it should have been pretty burned in. It very well may also improve with the power supply, & I heard it in a system I honestly didn't like much. The dealer actually wanted to demo it on a much cheaper system, but with KEF bookshelves & a Marantz 1 box I was afraid it was too far from my system.
I also listened to the Bel Canto seperates, & to the unit I unexpectedly bought, a Xindac DAC-5. I'd never heard of Xindac before, & wasn't planning on spending $700, but.......
It basically sounded at least as good if not better then the much more expensive Bel Canto 2 piece & 2 things made p my mind:
1. The Classic Records Gold CD of Cowboy Junkies: I"ve owned this in some form since it was released. I've never heard the background ambiance in the church so clearly.
2. After listening to several cd's from my collection on all 3 set ups, what finally really pushed me to buy it was Duke Ellington C Jam Blues on the MFSL hybrid SACD of Blues In Orbit. The very loud cymbal was unlistenable on the MF. On the Bel Canto, the cymbal was much better, but Ray Nance's Violin was screechy. On the Xindac, I didn't want the track to end!
I had not intended to judge the unit at all in my system until i got my NAD-2600 repaired. As I've stated elsewhere I'm using an Adcom 555 Mk2 & everything now sounds the same on my system - brittle. I was pretty surprised when immediately after plugging in the DAC-5 with no time to warm up (I am told the demo I bought is burned in), the system became much more musical. I don't know if it's that much better then the PS Audio SL-3, or if it has a better synergy with the Adcom, or........... I know I'm looking forward to hearing it with the NAD.
Of course all of the above is based on initial impressions.
The good news is the store Resolution Audio which i had never heard of until this week is giving me at least 30 days to return for a cash refund & 60 for a 100% exchange.
They're also giving me a huge trade in on the Adcom (exactly what I'd hoped to sell it for on Craig's list), & since i only paid $150 for the Adcom, I expect to break even on the NAD repair AND the $150 for the Adcom for what he's giving me.
Thanks again to Stanwal. I found this dealer from researching the MF he suggested.
