McIntosh just launched the MCD85, a new compact chassis SACD / CD player that promises to bring the company’s latest and greatest digital technologies to your record collection, as well as USB connectivity for your digital devices.

Designed to complement the MC830 solid-state amplifier and C8 vacuum tube preamplifier launched in September (see below), the new open-frame drive combines CD and SACD playback with USB input supporting High resolution audio up to DSD256 and DXD 384 kHz.

“Carefully hand-built” in the company’s New York plant, McIntosh says, the player’s advanced internal DAC enables playback from smart devices, computers and USB devices. Two other coaxial and optical digital inputs (192 kHz) are also included.

The MCD85’s digital-to-analog converter is an 8-channel 32-bit / 192 kHz balanced quad device. Here, four DAC channels are dedicated to the left audio channel and four to the right, promising leveled stereo reproduction.

For CD and SACD data, the MCD85 features 2x read speed and buffer memory for advanced error correction and tracking. The rotors are housed in a high-quality die-cast platter with a new front bevel nose customized to match the angle of the chassis, while promising smooth and quiet handling of the rotors. Disc playback is performed by a high quality disc mechanism, using a dual laser optical sensor that each uses different wavelengths optimized for SACD and CD.

McIntosh’s power and data control ports should allow seamless integration with other McIntosh equipment (and other home audio equipment). To this end, the MCD85 also has balanced and unbalanced fixed analog stereo outputs.

As we’d expect from McIntosh, the company’s die-cast aluminum name badge is affixed to either side of the chassis; the front, top and rear of this chassis are polished to achieve a mirror finish, similar to the aforementioned MC830 and C8; and, to complete the look, there’s the black glass front panel with direct LED backlighting, silver trim, an illuminated logo, and rotary control knobs.

Ready for the prizes? Orders for the £ 4,995 McIntosh MCD85 SACD / CD player ($ 4,500, AU $ 8,995) can now be placed, with delivery expected later this month in the US and Canada, and by March in UK and Australia.

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