$5500

The MCT500 SACD transport was introduced for audiophiles who already own a McIntosh preamp, integrated amp, or receiver equipped with one of the company’s proprietary DAC modules. It will handle virtually any 4.75-inch disc on the planet, including MQA (though only at Red Book resolution) and, of course, hybrid SACDs. With no built-in DAC, the MCT500 allows direct access to the DSD files on an SACD disc via a proprietary cable that can be connected only to other McIntosh products with the reciprocal MCT jack. It’s thus impossible to speak of its sound because its sound is that of the partnering McIntosh component. As auditioned by PS with the C52 and C53 preamps, its reproduction is as good as he has experienced with any other SACD/CD players or DACs, bettered by none and equaled only by a very few. (315)