Had the Mcintosh mcd1100 around 9 months now, can't compare it to the other players but can to the Meridian 808.2 which it replaced. Please excuse my lack of fancy words as I'm only a blue collar feller with expensive taste. The Mcintosh in my system, (c1000 preamp, 1.2kw monos, B&W 800ds, AQ Wild cabling and 3 dedicated 20amp w/isolated ground outlets in a large room with no reflection issues) is a step above the Meridian. The Mc goes higher, has greater transparency with more detail, keeps the same level of natural tonality, has improved imagining, has an even lower noise floor and much stronger bass response. That being said the Meridian was very easy to love, and on lesser recordings is much more forgiving and in some cases improves on discs with digital glare. If I could afford both I would buy another Meridian, but since I can't I'll keep the Mcintosh. just my 2 $ YMMV
