McIntosh Laboratory, a provider of home entertainment systems for nearly 60 years, recently announced the introduction of its new flagship Model MCD500 SACD/CD Player (US and Canada SRP: $6,500), a source component that leads the company's lineup of SACD/CD players. The flagship MCD500 joins McIntosh's MCD201 SACD/CD player and MCD301 in the company's line of solutions for disc playback. The MCD500 is now available at McIntosh authorized dealers.

Like all McIntosh products, the MCD500 was handcrafted with pride in the United States by dedicated, highly trained craftspeople. It combines flexibility with a unique parallel DAC topology that features four 24-Bit, 192 KHz PCM/DSD digital to analog converters per channel arranged in a differential balanced configuration. Additionally, all internal clocks are generated by a phase-locked loop generator.

Selectable Digital Inputs for External Sources

Notably, the MCD500 is not limited to internal CD and SACD playback. Two selectable digital inputs are provided for use with external digital sources like the MS750 Music Server. As such, the MCD500 has the potential to improve the sound of any 2-Channel digital music source. Both Coaxial and Optical Digital Inputs are also included for use with the internal Digital to Analog Processor Circuitry to Decode PCM Signals from an external source.

Newly Designed Transport

The MCD500 features a newly designed transport with a Die Cast Mechanism Base and a wrap-around chassis with a steel top cover to dampen resonance for silent operation, as well as with a digital servo. The die-cast disc tray runs on a single steel bearing. A linear power supply features an R-Core transformer and nested regulation. The MCD500 analog stages employ a differential balanced topology. Both fixed and variable outputs are supported and a headphone amplifier with ¼" jack is provided. The SACD and CD Audio Data is read into memory from the disc at twice the normal rate for disc tracking and error correction processing.

For total listening convenience, with headphones connected to the MCD500, the Level Control allows varying the volume level of the music. It can also be used for matching the volume level of the MCD500 with other components in the system. The Multi-Function Front Panel Display indicates the current disc playback status, digital input status and the variable audio output volume level.

The MCD500's Variable Output Connections provide up to 6 Volts. This is more than enough signal to drive any Power Amplifier directly, forming an SACD/CD Disc Playback System. And because the MCD500 has both variable and fixed Balanced Outputs, users may employ long cable lengths without a loss in sound quality.

McIntosh Style and Design

The sides of the MCD500 are extruded aluminum panels with a bead blast textured surface and a black anodized finish. In the recessed area of the Top Panel is a screened glass panel with a block diagram of the MCD500 Circuitry. The Illumination of the Glass Front Panel is accomplished by the combination of custom designed Fiber Optic Light Diffusers and extra long life Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). This provides even Front Panel Illumination and maximizes display life.

The MCD500's Remote Control provides complete control of the MCD500 operating functions including adjustment of the volume level. The push-buttons on the Remote Control are illuminated.

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