MCD600

The McIntosh MCD600 is a SACD/CD player with a newly designed digital circuit centred on an 8-channel, 32-bit PCM/DSD digital-to-analogue converter. The DAC operates in Quad Balanced mode, with 4 DAC channels allocated to each of the left and right audio channels. All PCM signals are up-sampled to 32-bit/384kHz.

Alongside commercial SACDs and CDs, the MCD600 plays music from user-generated CD and DVD Data Discs and USB flash drives. Supported formats include AAC, AIFF, ALAC, DSD up to DSD128, FLAC, MP3, WAV up to 24-bit/192kHz and WMA. A front-panel USB input provides a direct connection for flash drives.

Fixed and variable balanced and unbalanced outputs are provided. The variable outputs and volume control allow the player to connect directly to an amplifier without a preamplifier. Coaxial and optical digital outputs can send the digital audio signal to an external processor for analogue conversion, while coaxial and optical digital inputs allow other digital sources to be connected.

The High Drive headphone amplifier section has increased gain and output power and is optimised for virtually all headphone types. A twin-laser optical pickup reads SACD, CD, CD-R/RW and DVD-R discs. The disc transport uses a precision die-cast aluminium tray for smooth, quiet handling, while an advanced digital servo provides fast, quiet and accurate operation. Audio data is read at twice the normal rate to support disc tracking and error-correction processing.

Power Control and data ports allow the MCD600 to integrate with other McIntosh system components. Its construction combines a polished stainless steel chassis, black glass front panel, illuminated logo, knobs and aluminium end caps. Direct LED backlighting is used for the front panel, while the top panel has a screen-printed glass panel listing performance specifications and showing a block diagram.