Audio Video News

What? You thought SACD was dead? How wrong you would be. At least at the CEDIA Expo, SACD was making a strong comeback showing. Maybe higher-end installer types are presenting more demand than lowly big-box store customers. In any case, the high-end audio format is certainly alive and well on the Expo floor in Denver.

Case in point, the McIntosh MCD500 SACD/CD player is their flagship model, joining the MCD201 and MCD301 players. It features two selectable digital inputs, coaxial and optical digital inputs, fixed and variable balanced outputs (up to 6 volts), dedicated headphone amplifier with level control, and die-cast disc tray.

Also inside, you'll find four 24-bit/192-kHz D/A converters per channel arranged in a differential balanced configuration. Of course, all clocks are phase-locked looped. Data is read from the disc at twice the normal rate. The glass front panel is illuminated by a combination of custom-designed fiber optic light diffusors and LEDs. An illuminated remote control is included

Price? Take a guess....

The MCD500 will retail for a mere $6,500. -Ken C. Pohlmann