MCD350 msrp?

[ejr1953]

I have a PS Audio DirectStream memory player and DirectStream DAC , and (I presume with Sony's approval) are able to output DSD using their I2S interface to their DAC.

I wonder if the McIntosh transports, connected to the McIntosh preamp with their proprietary "MCT" offers the same benefit, outputting native DSD from the transport to the DAC. If it does, from my experience with the PS Audio pair, that separates the "bits" from the timing, resulting in the best sounding digital I've ever auditioned.

When McIntosh says:

"For SACD playback, the MCT500’s proprietary MCT output needs to be connected (via the included cable) to a McIntosh product with an MCT input."

I presume they mean that they output the DSD layer from an SACD!

[xv21]

Originally Posted by Evitzee

The flimsy plastic tray on the MCD201 always bothered me but I don’t know if the new unit has a metal tray or not.

Originally Posted by mcintoshlabs.com

The MCD350 features 2x read speed so that all discs placed in its rigid aluminum die-cast tray are read at higher speeds allowing their data to be stored in a buffer memory for a better error correction and tracking. A twin laser optical pickup uses a single objective lens with two laser units each employing different wavelengths that are optimized for SACD and CD playback.

Originally Posted by Evitzee

$4,500 is really the most I want to spend and I can probably get some salvage value out of the MCD201. Money isn’t the biggest factor but I figure this will be my last CD/SACD player. Any ideas, comments or suggestions? Do I just bite the bullet and get the MCD350 and be done with it, or save $2,000 and get the high grade Marantz? Or something else. I suspect sound quality will be comparable among these units. Unfortunately I don't have the opportunity to audition any of these units, where I live high end audio really doesn't exist.

I tested with McIntosh C2600+MCT80 and C2600+MCD350. C2600+MCT80 was a little bit better than C2600+MCD350.

I haven't heard McIntosh MCD550, but it should be better than MD350.

McIntosh D150+MCT450 could be a good option, if you find it at a suitable price. It should be a little bit better than MCD350.

[Formerly YB-2]

See if you can find an Oppo 205 or 203. Both get rave reviews. As soon as mine arrives the MCD301 (which has been faultless) is out of here.

[Evitzee]

Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2

See if you can find an Oppo 205 or 203. Both get rave reviews. As soon as mine arrives the MCD301 (which has been faultless) is out of here.

Not interested in getting into an orphan brand now that Oppo is getting out of this business. Rave reviews maybe, but support down the road?

I ended up getting the MCD350 at the old price of $4,500 and was given a nice trade in value for my sick MCD201, so I'm happy.

[Evitzee]

Seems like McIntosh raised the price of the MCD350 another $500, now at $5,500. So it has gone from $4,500 in mid 2017 to $5,500 at end of 2018. Guess there is still a good market for just a spinner player.