Anyone here in the McIntosh forum, or elsewhere, own or have listened to the new McIntosh MCD12000 CD/SACD PLAYER?

[ChasFreeland]

I don't think Soulution or CH Precision digital will work in my digital setup. Those are solid state and I prefer tubes.

Maybe if I used really neutral speakers like ATC SCM50 studio monitors the differences would be obvious especially between a all Soulution setup vs my CJ preamp and MAC tube amp, for example.

Based on the top digital playback components that I've looked at and listened to I believe the McIntosh MCD12000 is best suited for a McIntosh amplifiers, in my case my MC2102 tube amp & CJ Classic tube amp type setup.

Burmester, Soulution, CH Precision, Allnic, Audio Note, Shindo, and FM Acoustics electronics all seem to work best with electronics of the same brand. In the case of Burmester ,Audio Note, Shindo, & FM Acoustics using speakers and cables of the same brand work best. Burmester ,Shindo & Audio Note offer turntables as well that are best matched with the same brand of electronics.
These are my observations over the 3 years or so and became more obvious in August of this year when I was auditioning the MCD12000 as a possible upgrade. I have favored McIntosh digital since 2006 when I purchased my first CDP: McIntosh MCD201.

While McIntosh has had reference digital players before they've not offered one as good as the MCD12000 SACD/CD player in my opinion.

Now, I may be the only one that has such a opinion regarding new high end components.
I personally don't care if anyone agrees with me or not. From my perspective I value the music over components and when the tones and synergy line up just so then I get off of the upgrade bus and focus on playing my records, tapes, CD's ECT. I have a rather large collection of physical media(LP's, tapes, CD's), and at the end of the day I want my music collection to sound the best so patience and much listening is required so that I can make the best choices for me and my setup.

I remember reading back in 2007 regarding Ken Shindo. Someone asked him which one of his amps & preamps are the best. His response(not a exact quote but gets to the point):Each one of his amps and preamp designs are the best. Each one has a certain sound and that certain sound has a price. Customers can choose their own flavor of excellence and budget within his product line.

If you do purchase the MCD12000 be sure to post some photos if you can.

Happy Listening

Thanks for your communications. You emphasize the synergy the MCD12000 enjoys with your McIntosh gear. I use Pass amps and a Pass preamp. Sound is good with those, too. My speakers are Gary Koh designed Genesis Maestros. They're now singing better than ever. This CD player is also not tiring to listen to. Usually I can only listen to CDs for a couple hours at the most, then I get bored with it. But this MCD12000 is better, I listen to a lot of SACDS/CDs these days just to hear the improvements over the way(s) these CDs/SACDs sounded with older gear, like Spectral. The sound seems more engaging, closer to live music, a spacious and luscious sound stage. Spectral player is very good, but lean compared to this player.

 

[A-Line]

Thanks for your communications. You emphasize the synergy the MCD12000 enjoys with your McIntosh gear. I use Pass amps and a Pass preamp. Sound is good with those, too. My speakers are Gary Koh designed Genesis Maestros. They're now singing better than ever. This CD player is also not tiring to listen to. Usually I can only listen to CDs for a couple hours at the most, then I get bored with it. But this MCD12000 is better, I listen to a lot of SACDS/CDs these days just to hear the improvements over the way(s) these CDs/SACDs sounded with older gear, like Spectral. The sound seems more engaging, closer to live music, a spacious and luscious sound stage. Spectral player is very good, but lean compared to this player.

One thing that I've recently noticed is that at the top end certain hifi brands is that these brands tend to perform the best within a brand.

Pass Labs may very well be a good match for the MCD12000. The last Nelson Pass amp/pre combo that I looked at was from the early 1980's with his Power Stasis stuff which was quite good for analog back then. Pass Labs does not make any CDP's as far as I know but might make a DAC or something.

Try before you buy, at least a proper audition, is necessary before all purchases, at least for me.

 

[Charles S]

I haven't done vinyl since about 1984. But I did vinyl for years before that. I think there's a certain coloration to vinyl or magnetic tape that is very pleasing to the ear that is almost impossible to achieve with digital sources like the MCD12000. It's not resolution. Digital is more resolving and even more dynamic, etc. It's a coloration that removes the sharpness and mechanical nature that my ear has always heard and tolerated regarding digital. Using the tube outputs of the MCD12000 and C-12000 going to my MC3500 to drive my XVX off the 2-ohm tap, a subtle coloration occurs that is extremely pleasing to my ears. This chain of McIntosh gear imparts a coloration to all my music that is very much like vinyl and tape I heard as a child and a young man. It's not a veil like what I hear with analog or digital equalization. It doesn't affect resolution. It's subtle and pervasive and extremely pleasing to my ears. It's always there, easy to hear, but I have to listen for it to hear it. It removes the sharpness and mechanical quality from digital play back. It really does. This vinyl quality over the past 7 months that I have had using this chain of gear has become extremely important to me and why I will never change from the units. It has nothing to with McIntosh per se. It just so happens that McIntosh has produced the sound I've been looking for all my life since I abandoned vinyl years ago. I love to listen to music. Vinyl is just way too much trouble for me and so is tape. So, I tolerated digital playback and bought the best that I could afford.

For me personally, I'll just take the sound signature that I have achieved through my XVX to the much more expensive ultra-high-end gear like the 2.1 million XVX/Subsonic/dCS stack/Gryphon Apex system explored elsewhere on WBF. However, as GaJimin has said, this system must be heard to be understood. To achieve all that an XVX is capable of, you need a thousand watts of Class A power at 2-ohms and vinyl or magnetic tape. The MC3500 is the only tube power amp I am aware of that will easily produce 350 watts continuously all day at 2-ohms and drive my XVX in my room to insane sound levels. However, in larger rooms it would be eclipsed by these solid-state super amps. An XVX is just warming up at 350 watts.



Charles

Charles Updated System: Wilson McIntosh Audioquest

Amps: McIntosh: MC3500MKII (2); MC1.25KW (2); MC2.1KW An
Preamp: C-12000 An
Sources: MCD12000 An; MVP881; MVP851; MR87; Marantz 510LV; Lenovo Yoga laptop
Speakers: Wilson Chronosonic XVX
Sub-Woofer: Wilson Thor’s Hammer; Wilson ActivXO Stereo Electronic Crossover
Cables Main System AQ: WEL Signature speaker cables; 24’ balanced IC; balanced 1-meter Dragon IC ; WEL Signature digital, Coffee digital coaxial cables; Diamond optical (2); Diamond USB; Dragon (5 HC, 3 source cords); Thunder & Monsoon power cords
Cables Subwoofer System AQ: Redwood speaker cable; Wolf balanced subwoofer IC; Wind balanced IC to ActivXO; Hurricane HC; Firebird HC; Firebird Source; Dragon HC, power cords
Power Conditioners: AQ Niagara 7000; Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines.
Isolation: Wilson Pedestals; Bassocontinuo McIntosh Ultra Feet; X-material plinth
Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD)
Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes

 

[A-Line]

I haven't done vinyl since about 1984. But I did vinyl for years before that. I think there's a certain coloration to vinyl or magnetic tape that is very pleasing to the ear that is almost impossible to achieve with digital sources like the MCD12000. It's not resolution. Digital is more resolving and even more dynamic, etc. It's a coloration that removes the sharpness and mechanical nature that my ear has always heard and tolerated regarding digital. Using the tube outputs of the MCD12000 and C-12000 going to my MC3500 to drive my XVX off the 2-ohm tap, a subtle coloration occurs that is extremely pleasing to my ears. This chain of McIntosh gear imparts a coloration to all my music that is very much like vinyl and tape I heard as a child and a young man. It's not a veil like what I hear with analog or digital equalization. It doesn't affect resolution. It's subtle and pervasive and extremely pleasing to my ears. It's always there, easy to hear, but I have to listen for it to hear it. It removes the sharpness and mechanical quality from digital play back. It really does. This vinyl quality over the past 7 months that I have had using this chain of gear has become extremely important to me and why I will never change from the units. It has nothing to with McIntosh per se. It just so happens that McIntosh has produced the sound I've been looking for all my life since I abandoned vinyl years ago. I love to listen to music. Vinyl is just way too much trouble for me and so is tape. So, I tolerated digital playback and bought the best that I could afford.

For me personally, I'll just take the sound signature that I have achieved through my XVX to the much more expensive ultra-high-end gear like the 2.1 million XVX/Subsonic/dCS stack/Gryphon Apex system explored elsewhere on WBF. However, as GaJimin has said, this system must be heard to be understood.

Charles

Charles Updated System: Wilson McIntosh Audioquest

Amps: McIntosh: MC3500MKII (2); MC1.25KW (2); MC2.1KW An
Preamp: C-12000 An
Sources: MCD12000 An; MVP881; MVP851; MR87; Marantz 510LV; Lenovo Yoga laptop
Speakers: Wilson Chronosonic XVX
Sub-Woofer: Wilson Thor’s Hammer; Wilson ActivXO Stereo Electronic Crossover
Cables Main System AQ: WEL Signature speaker cables; 24’ balanced IC; balanced 1-meter Dragon IC ; WEL Signature digital, Coffee digital coaxial cables; Diamond optical (2); Diamond USB; Dragon (5 HC, 3 source cords); Thunder & Monsoon power cords
Cables Subwoofer System AQ: Redwood speaker cable; Wolf balanced subwoofer IC; Wind balanced IC to ActivXO; Hurricane HC; Firebird HC; Firebird Source; Dragon HC, power cords
Power Conditioners: AQ Niagara 7000; Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines.
Isolation: Wilson Pedestals; Bassocontinuo McIntosh Ultra Feet; X-material plinth
Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD)
Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes

Thanks for your comments here Charles.
The new McIntosh MCD12000 is not just another audio reference component, it's a experience.

I suspect the same from the new MC3500 MKII tube amplifiers, as well as the other new reference products from McIntosh as of late.

Like you I grew up with McIntosh in the house. My dad had bought a new MC275, C22, MR67, Garrard 301, and Klipsch Cornwall speakers in 1965. This sounded magical to me at time during the 1960's.

Lots of great choices these days for those seeking quality hifi that will last and stand the test of time. Lots of dead ends too as a result of overthinking stuff.

McIntosh really is about music and quality musical reproduction. McIntosh has been a part of my music for most of my life. I had ReVox for amplification from 1983-2006, the rest of the time it's been all McIntosh.