McIntosh MCT500

The McIntosh MCT500 is a dedicated SACD/CD transport — a digital-only unit that does one thing well: reads discs with precision and hands the raw digital signal to an external DAC for conversion. Separating the mechanical disc-reading function from the digital-to-analog conversion is a serious engineering choice, isolating the DAC circuitry from motor noise, servo hunting, and mechanical vibration that a combined SACD/CD player has to manage internally.

Four digital outputs cover every meaningful integration path. Industry-standard balanced AES/EBU, coax S/PDIF, and optical Toslink connect the MCT500 to any DAC or preamp with digital input — dCS, Chord, other Tier-1 DAC brands, or a McIntosh D-series digital preamplifier. The proprietary McIntosh MCT DIN output is the key differentiator: it is the only way to transmit the DSD signal from an SACD out of the transport and into a compatible McIntosh preamp, integrated amp, or DAC. Coax and optical can carry a CD-tier PCM signal, but SACD's DSD stream needs the MCT connection. Compatible MCT-input products include the D1100 digital preamplifier, C55 and C2800 preamplifiers, MA9500 and MA8950 integrated amplifiers, and the MCD12000 reference DAC.

Plays SACD, CD, CD-R/RW, and DVD-R data discs. A front-panel USB input accepts flash drives and plays AAC, AIFF, ALAC, DSD (up to DSD128), FLAC, MP3, WAV, and WMA files. Twin laser optical pickup, 2x read speed with buffer memory for error correction, precision die-cast aluminum tray, R-core linear power supply.

Available at LMC as the transport-side answer for buyers building around a serious external DAC or an MCT-compatible McIntosh preamp — walk in during business hours or book ahead.