Overrated, it is "just" a TEAC VRDS 10 with redesigned front panel. Even the missing decoupling capacitors at some servo's ICs were not fitted. Not a single modification. BTW it sounds the same, great amount of details but over-smoothed by a dull sound card ( aka internal DAC ). Add a clock at Sony IC CXD2500 and it becomes more detailled with a fantastic 3D feeling yet keep being very analog and smooth sounding. LME49720 opamps at output buffer and you get a giant killer. Further mods will bring it on a dynamic and brutally honnest transport, hence loosing artificial sweet highs, then calling for a top external DAC to flavor the sound.
Remember that as most KSS151A Sony laser player it does require manual adjustments of the laser ( scope and signal generator required ), a skipping player may just be an out of adjustment player, not a dead one!

I had the chance to listen to the player today. Im like wow! This is definately a very "analog" sounding CD player as other suggest. It comes close to sounding like SACD discs. It has really good timing of notes, and voice presentation is excellent. The voices sound very natural like they are in the room. I can hear the decay of strings while guitars are playing. The high end is smooth smooth smooth. No edgy sound I typically hear with CD music. The high end may very slightly be rolled off giving a more natural sound and more presentation to the midrange where it counts. If I can hear all this on my lowly system, I wonder how the player would really perform on an optimum system. Dynamics aren't quite as punchy as I've noticed, but it could be the amp Im running and not the CD player. The natural-ness of the sound is what this player does well. I guess this is what makes a Mac a Mac. Since the technology in this player is from 1995, being 16 years ago, Im really interested in hearing what todays Macs can do with digital music. I may just have to save some pennies and get that 301 SACD player everyone raves about. I dont expect that time will be anytime soon or even next year. Im really wondering now how that D/A converter in that Rotel tuner will sound compared to this. Its new tech, but somehow I don't think it will quite compare.

Natural presentation of music. Fine analog sound. Build quality. The LAST CD you will ever need.

None.

This CD player is amazing. I've been a firm believer in turntables and only use CDs when I'm not in serious listening mood but ever since I've changed to the mcd7009 player, I've begun to listen to my CDs more! This player has a vinyl like quality to the music it produces. Piano passages no longer sound bright but now it just sounds right in it's timbre character and tonal nature. Details from CDs are well retrieved and presented in a natural presentation with good tight bass and vocal warmth. Mcintosh produces fine equipment and this cd player is on par with their highly priced transport and DAC combo (the Mac1000 transport and DAC combo) or the Linn Sondek. Get this cd player if you can as it will be the last cd player you will ever need to enjoy/immerse yourself in emotional aspects of each musical presentation. I've owned many hi-end cd players from Mark Levinson, Wadia, Meridian (506.24 and 588), Electrocompaniet, Krell but none can match the mcintosh in it's natural and emotional presentation of music. Build quality is first class. (hey its a Mc!)

Similar Products Used:

Too many hi-end brands.

Detail; Smooth, refined high end

Can't afford the equipment to go with it

I went with the GIGO (garbage in->garbage out) method of purchasing equipment. I am starting from scratch, and am putting together a system that I want to sound great for both stereo and HT. After purchasing my other components, I was looking at several CD players in the $500-$800 range. One shop I went into had a 7009 on their used rack, and I had them set it up with equipment comparable to mine. I A-B'd it with each of the CD players mentioned below. The Mac blew some of them away, but was noticably more detailed and less harsh on the high end than all of them. Needless to say, I am now playing a Hi-Fi CD player through my decidedly mid-fi system and it sounds great. Of course, it sounded better through the all Mac system I listened to in the store after deciding to buy it. This will definitely not be my last Mac purchase. My System: JM Lab Chorus 725 Monster Z2 BiWire Denon AVR3802 Audioquest Coral Interconnects McIntosh MCD7009 Realistic LAB-2000

Similar Products Used:

Rega Planet, Music Hall CD25, Musical Fidelity. All with Marantz 7200 and Paradigm Monitor 9s.

I had recently purchased a used McIntosh MCD-7009 for the price that was roughly 1/3 of it's original cost. The problem with it was that it sometimes wouldn't return the disks that it was playing. That was probably the reason for my getting it so cheap in the first place. Being afraid of the worst I sent it to McIntosh for repairs. The unit was manufactured in 1996 so it was still under warranty. They called me when they received the unit and informed me that it arrived in one piece!!! How many manufacturers will do that?! After I spoke to the repair rep a couple of times she told me that the problem wasn't mechanical but due to some kind of debris in the tray and that the unit was thoroghly cleaned and calibrated. It came back to me 12 days after I sent it to them. After I received the unit back(it was sent UPS and insured by McIntosh for the original value!!!)I found it in a brand new double box, wrapped in factory plastic with the cord securely packaged and the plug capped in hard plastic so it wouldn't damage or scratch the face-plate. It looked brand new and souned better than ever. That's McIntosh for you!Now - to the review: The sound is nothing short of truth. No sweetness, no harshness, but purity and honesty. I have discovered so many new sounds on the CDs that I thaught I knew in-and-out, that I decided to myself that it would be the last CD Player I'll ever need.
The bad, or rather the uncomfortable part: The remote. There is no on/off swith on it and the volume control ia also missing. Instead there is a "fade" feature which I will probably never use. Other than that it's flawless. Silent tray, clarity, truthfulness, I don't want to repeat myself.
Associated equipment:
Jolida SJ502A Integrated Amp
Vandersteen 2CE Speakers
Kimber Kable biwired speaker cables
DHLabs SilverSonics BL-1 interconnects
I know that it's not up to most of us to afford the MCD-7009(now MCD-7010), but mine is a good example that applying oneself and having access to internet can get you a solid piece of used equipment.
Once again, quality and research stands for itself. McIntosh is a legend and will remain as such for a long time. And rightly so.

It's a great CD player. Someone had told me that MCD7009 is identical to MCD7010, the only difference is the price tag of $3500.00.

The MCD7009 is the best CD-Player that i ever had.

fine finish; built for a long use; rich and detailed sound

no

Absolutely high end finished, built for a very long use.

The MCD 7009 is an audiophile CD with extremly low distortion and a deep and full "analog-sound" (a mixture of Wadia and Spectral).

Don't applause the few people who assert that in general McIntosh's sound is artificial (without any proof). You shold give an own expert opinion on the Mc-sound, especially on the MCD 7009. Its sound is very neutral and clear with a wide frequency range.

The innate rightness and truthfulness of the MCD 7009 come to the listener as a unity; the 7009 is accurate in the real sense of having the warmth, beauty, purity and clarity, the coherence and tonal reality of live music with a very deep and wide stereopanorama.

You have to pay from USD 1750 up to 2500,00 for a used one (the same as the MCD 7010; in very good condition). You should use it with McIntosh-equipment.

Similar Products Used:

drive/converter: Parasound; Audio Alchemy; Players: Sudgen, Sony, Marantz

Bought mine two years ago and wouldn't trade it for a spotted hog. Besides the comfort of having McIntosh Labs behind it, the MCD7009 is a fine piece of design and engineering, worth every penny. I had no idea digitized sound could be so vast.

The age old addige, you get what you pay for couldn't be more true about the McIntosh MCD7009. As an owner of other McIntosh equipment; (x2) 7104 Amplifiers and a MAC3 Preamp/Processor, the 7009 build quality is extraordinary. The sonic quality is smooth, balanced and open. If you are looking to purchase your "last" CD player and money is no object, seriously consider the MCD7009. When you're done with it, Will it to your kids......it's that good.