The disc-based-audio-source buck stops here with McIntosh Labs’ flagship player. Equipped with dual laser elements that read discs at twice the normal rate, the MCD500 plays back both CDs and SACDs with McIntosh’s famed fidelity. The eight-channel, 24-bit, 192 kHz digital-to-analog converter is one of the industry’s best, providing a dynamic and colorful frequency range that is virtually distortion-free. Whether pumping audio to a pair $80,000 loudspeakers or filling hi-fi headphones, the MCD500 will hold its own with any player on the market.
