McIntosh MCD12000
High-end McIntosh SACD/CD player and DAC, fitted with two ESS SABRE PRO ES9038PRO converters, designed for demanding audiophile digital systems.
Description
The McIntosh MCD12000 is a SACD/CD player conceived first and foremost as a high-end digital-to-analogue converter, with the playback of compact discs and SACDs being just one of its functions. Music can be played via one of the unit's digital inputs or directly from a disc, then processed by the internal conversion circuitry. It is designed to be paired with the McIntosh C12000 reference preamplifier.
At the heart of the MCD12000 are two 32-bit, 8-channel ESS SABRE PRO ES9038PRO DACs, one per channel, operating on the HyperStream II architecture combined with a time-domain jitter elimination system. Each DAC is configured in octal-balanced mono: its eight outputs jointly drive the analogue audio of the corresponding channel. Separate digital and analogue power supplies, together with a dedicated R-Core transformer, limit interference between the different stages of the circuit and electromagnetic radiation.
In terms of performance, the unit offers a signal-to-noise ratio of 110 dB, total harmonic distortion of 0.003% at 1000 Hz and channel separation exceeding 98 dB. Frequency response extends from 4 Hz to 40 kHz for SACD playback and from 4 Hz to 20 kHz for CD playback. The USB input accepts streams up to 32-bit/384 kHz, including DXD and DSD up to DSD512, while the coaxial and optical inputs handle 24-bit/192 kHz.
The DAC section of the MCD12000 has received Roon Tested certification, which eases its integration into systems with a substantial digital music library, regardless of the computer or operating system used. This player is aimed at audiophiles who already own a high-end system and are looking for a source combining reference-grade physical playback with top-level digital conversion.
Technical specifications
| Dimensions (H × W × D) | 19.4 x 44.45 x 48.3 cm |
| Weight | 14.7 kg |
| Fixed output level (unbalanced) | 2.0 Vrms |
| Fixed output level (balanced) | 4.0 Vrms |
| Output impedance | 600 ohms (unbalanced and balanced) |
| Frequency response (SACD) | 4 Hz to 40 kHz, +0.5/-2 dB |
| Frequency response (CD) | 4 Hz to 20 kHz, ±0.5 dB |
| Signal to noise ratio | 110 dB (A-weighted) |
| Dynamic range | greater than 100 dB |
| Total harmonic distortion | 0.003% at 1000 Hz |
| Channel separation | greater than 98 dB (1000 Hz) |
| Converter type (DAC) | 8 channels, 32-bit PCM/DSD, quad balanced, 1 DAC per channel (2 DACs total) |
| Sampling rate (coaxial input) | 16, 24-bit/192 kHz |
| Sampling rate (optical input) | 16, 24-bit/192 kHz |
| Sampling rate (USB input) | 16, 24, 32-bit/384 kHz |
| DXD | DXD 352.8 kHz, DXD 384 kHz |
| DSD | DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, DSD512 |
| Coaxial digital input | 0.5 V p-p / 75 ohms |
| Optical digital input | -15 dBm to -21 dBm |
| Digital output (sampling rate) | up to 24-bit/192 kHz |
| Optical digital output | -15 dBm to -21 dBm |
| Coaxial digital output | 0.5 V p-p / 75 ohms |
What to check before buying used
On a SACD/CD player of this calibre, the optical drive unit deserves particular attention: check that the tray opens and closes smoothly and that playback of both SACD and CD discs runs without skipping or errors. It is worth testing the digital inputs (coaxial, optical, USB) individually to ensure none shows any signal loss. Checking the fixed outputs, particularly the balanced output, confirms that the stated levels are indeed met.
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