McIntosh has unveiled its new flagship CD/SACD player, with the MCD12000 also doubling up as the company’s reference-level DAC.
With a distinctive McIntosh style, the MCD12000 has quite a striking design with the illuminated logo and glass panel on the front offering a glimpse inside, along with the 60dB output meters. Its stainless steel frame with hairline-brushed titanium is in keeping with the likes of its very compatible C12000 preamp sibling, while the top of the player also includes a panel displaying the key specifications and an audio signal path block diagram, if you wanted a further insight into those inner workings.
Doubling up as 2-channel reference level CD player and DAC, the MCD12000 is built around a pair of ESS Sabre Pro ES9038Pro 32-bit/8-channel DACs (one each dedicated for the left and right audio channels), which combine the HyperStream II architecture with Time Domain Jitter Eliminator technology “to deliver an unprecedented performance level that will satisfy the needs of the most demanding digital audio applications”. These DACs come with eight outputs, configured in Octal-Balanced Mono mode.
The MCD12000 has seven digital inputs, with its pair of coaxial and optical connections supporting up to 24-bit/192kHz data, and a USB Type B port pushing this up to 32-bit /384kHz PCM, along with AES/EBU and MCT inputs. There’s also DSD 512 and DXD 384kHz playback, and the MCD12000 also comes Roon Tested.
It has solid state and valve outputs, driven by discrete amplifiers, or a blend of vacuum tubes and discrete amplifiers. Solid state uses a discrete balanced co-amp for the hybrid output, while 12AT7 and 12AX7A valves are used for the left and right channels. Rounding up the collection are coaxial and optical outputs to add further flexibility to your DAC options.
On the inside, you’ll find separate digital and analogue power supplies to help avoid any unwanted interference, with a purpose-built R-Core transformer also helping to minimise noise. McIntosh also points to the precision die-cast aluminium disc tray that comes with an advanced digital servo for a fast and smooth delivery, with audio data read at twice the standard speed. Elsewhere, all of the main file formats are supported, from AAC through to WMA.
Orders for the McIntosh MCD12000 are being taken now, with the model priced at £13,995. It’s expected to start shipping in the US and Canada before the end of the month, with the rest of the world to follow “shortly thereafter”. You can find out more and check up on your local/regional registered dealer for the latest shipping info via the McIntosh website.
SOURCE: McIntosh (via press release)
IMAGES: McIntosh