McIntosh MCD600 SACD/CD Player

The McIntosh MCD600 is McIntosh's premium two-channel SACD/CD player and DAC — the tier below the MCD12000 flagship, without Hybrid Drive but built around the same premium 8-channel 32-bit PCM/DSD Quad Balanced DAC architecture (four DAC channels dedicated to each audio channel) that appears across McIntosh's serious digital sources. All PCM signals are up-sampled to 32-bit/384 kHz internally before analog conversion.

The output configuration is where the MCD600 pulls ahead of the MCD350 in system flexibility. Both fixed and variable balanced/unbalanced analog outputs are provided — the variable outputs, combined with McIntosh's digital volume control, let the MCD600 connect directly to a power amplifier for a two-component all-digital system that skips the preamplifier entirely. Coax and optical digital outputs are provided for sending the digital signal to an external DAC or processor, and coax and optical digital inputs let the MCD600 serve as a DAC for external streamers or CD transports. A High Drive headphone amplifier is built in, optimized for the full range of headphone impedances.

Playback covers SACD, CD, CD-R/RW, and DVD-R data discs, and a front-panel USB input handles USB flash drives with support for AAC, AIFF, ALAC, DSD (up to DSD128), FLAC, MP3, WAV (up to 24-bit/192 kHz), and WMA files. Twin laser optical pickup, 2x read speed with buffer memory for error correction, precision die-cast aluminum disc tray.

The MCD600 pairs naturally with any McIntosh preamp or integrated amp — or, when configured for variable output, directly with a McIntosh power amplifier. Available at LMC — walk in during business hours or book ahead.