I just had the Mephisto at home this week end for a brief shootout with my 861. It was only two afternoons and one night (8 - 10 hrs. in total), the Mephisto d/a section was not burned in yet since it was being used with a separate d/a due to lack of a pre available. I used it with a Placette pasive volume control. The comparison was not complete apples to apples becuse the vol. control was rca and the interconnects were Cardas Golden Reference, the 861 uses XLO signature xlr interconnects. Despite the short period I had with marvelous unit and the differences in setup I reached certain conclusions which I do'nt think would change but probably be enhanced with an equaling of the conditions.
The Mephisto is a superb music making machine. As compared to the great 861, it's presentation is conclusively more musical,liquid and sweet with at least the same level (if not a bit more) of resolution and detail. By no means a warm, laid back or boring presentation but one smooth, relaxed but very vivid, in other words extremely analog and much closer to live music. The Mephisto clearly dominates the Wadia in the top extreme and the middle, the Wadia on the other hand has a better low end definition and impact. Some of it may be due to the different nature of the cabling used and the lack of burn in time of the Mephisto, I can'nt say. What I do can say is that I know very well the Wadia sound and for years have been a great believer in it's many strenths and yet no matter whith what cables you use them, I have never heard them produce music like the one I heard this week end from the Mephisto.
To what now remains is to hear the Aereo Capitole which I understand has a very similar presentation to that of the Mephisto with certain advantages in cost and in flexibility. I should be doing that over the next weeks and what I need to hear is if it can live to the high standards set by the Mephisto. The other unit under consideration, the Electrocompaniet EMC II I have'nt been able to get access to and based on the feedback received appears to be an outstanding unit, maybe the best overall value considering it's cost, but maybe a notch below this other two very fine units, althou a couple of persons have preffered the EMC over the Mephisto, a matter of taste perhaps?. I do hope I can get my hands on one before the shoot out is over. Will keep you posted. Thanks.
The Mephisto is a superb music making machine. As compared to the great 861, it's presentation is conclusively more musical,liquid and sweet with at least the same level (if not a bit more) of resolution and detail. By no means a warm, laid back or boring presentation but one smooth, relaxed but very vivid, in other words extremely analog and much closer to live music. The Mephisto clearly dominates the Wadia in the top extreme and the middle, the Wadia on the other hand has a better low end definition and impact. Some of it may be due to the different nature of the cabling used and the lack of burn in time of the Mephisto, I can'nt say. What I do can say is that I know very well the Wadia sound and for years have been a great believer in it's many strenths and yet no matter whith what cables you use them, I have never heard them produce music like the one I heard this week end from the Mephisto.
To what now remains is to hear the Aereo Capitole which I understand has a very similar presentation to that of the Mephisto with certain advantages in cost and in flexibility. I should be doing that over the next weeks and what I need to hear is if it can live to the high standards set by the Mephisto. The other unit under consideration, the Electrocompaniet EMC II I have'nt been able to get access to and based on the feedback received appears to be an outstanding unit, maybe the best overall value considering it's cost, but maybe a notch below this other two very fine units, althou a couple of persons have preffered the EMC over the Mephisto, a matter of taste perhaps?. I do hope I can get my hands on one before the shoot out is over. Will keep you posted. Thanks.