McIntosh have released their new flagship CD player, the MCD12000 SACD/CD Player. The new disc-spinner also works as their reference-level DAC, by enabling up to seven digital devices to benefit from its top-performance internal ESS digital-to-analogue convertors and is Roon Tested.
The MCD12000 utilises two ESS Sabre Pro ES9038PRO 32-bit DACs each giving ESS’s HyperStream® II architecture and ‘Time Domain Jitter Eliminator’ technology.
The seven digital inputs include two coaxial, two optical, USB Type-B, AES/EBU and one MCT (SACD) input. Both the coaxial and optical inputs support up to 24-bit/192 kHz data, with USB rising to 32-bit/384 kHz PCM, with DSD 512 and DXD 384 kHz playback.
The outputs are driven by discrete amplifiers or a blend of valves and discrete amplifiers. Solid-state uses a discrete balanced op-amp and for the hybrid output, 12AT7 and 12AX7A valves are assigned to the left and right audio channels. In addition, coaxial and optical digital outputs offer further flexibility for use with external high-end DACs etc.
Internally, separate digital and analogue power supplies keep the power and audio signals free from cross-contamination, and a specially constructed R-Core power transformer is used to further minimise noise.
The look of the MCD1200 is extremely nice. It is in keeping with a number of the latest McIntosh products including the MA12000 integrated and the C12000 two-piece preamp. This would match up perfectly in terms of look at performance.
We will be getting the MCD12000 in for permanent demonstration here at KJ West One. It will be added to our large selection of Mac products already available making it the UK’s biggest collection.