Product Previews

McIntosh MCD600 SACD/CD Player Preview

The all-new McIntosh MCD600 SACD/CD Player boasts a newly-designed digital circuit highlighted by a premium 8-channel, 32-bit PCM/DSD digital-to-analog converter (DAC).

See the complete review for the McIntosh MCD600 SACD/CD Player.

The DAC is used in Quad Balanced mode, with 4 DAC channels allocated to each of the left and right audio channels, resulting in truly exceptional sound reproduction. All PCM signals are up-sampled up to 32-bit/384kHz for superb audio quality.

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The MCD600 accepts optical, coaxial, and USB inputs so your other devices can take advantage of its considerable processing power. The analog outputs can be used in either fixed, variable balanced, or unbalanced mode of operation for greater flexibility (I’ll be comparing both in my music system).

A newly-designed transport with a twin-laser optical pickup reads data from discs at twice the normal speed and assures optimal reading of all common formats including SACD, CD, CD-R/RW, and DVD-R. It can covert DSD directly to analog and will read both stereo and multi-channel SACDs, though it will output all music into stereo only.

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The McIntosh MCD600 has the same McIntosh classic design of polished chrome, glass, and solid construction you would expect from this company; and the top of the player has a glass panel with the schematics silk screened onto it. Classy!

Look for my upcoming review in the next several weeks as I explore and re-discover my extensive SACD/CD collection yet again and compare the MCD 600 to my current music system.

See the complete review for the McIntosh MCD600 SACD/CD Player.

Jim Milton

Jim Milton has been interested in high fidelity since his college years in the late 70's. It was there that he first became interested in classical music. He has been part of choral music, both in opera and oratorio and is an avid collector of classical music from the Baroque through the Romantic periods. He enjoys an occasional night at Boston Symphony Hall or attending an organ concert at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, ME. Currently he is the director of Nuclear Medicine at the North Shore Medical Center, located just outside of Boston. He also serves as an adjunct professor for Salem State University where he teaches a course in nuclear instrumentation. During his leisure time, he enjoys listening to his music collection and an occasional movie with his wife of 30+ years. Living on the longest stretch of sandy beach north of Boston offers him plenty of opportunities to take a relaxing stroll or soak up some sun. "Remember, acquiring good A/V gear takes lots of time...but doesn't necessarily take lots of money."