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

[A-Line]

Hi,

Greetings from the new members,

I just made a purchase (down payment) for MCD12000. The player should be arriving in late April 2025.

Like you, it will be my last CD player. I mainly listened to vinyl, but from time to time, I listened to CDs, as I collected a lot of CDs during my high school and college years in the USA. My genre focuses on Jazz, Classic Rock, and R&B from the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s.

I just have several questions regarding your setup for the MCD12000:

1. Do you change the power cable from the beginning? Or using the manufacturer's cable.
2. Do you use a balanced or unbalanced cable to connect to your preamp or integrated amp?

I appreciate your input on the two questions above.

The CD player will be connected to my Mac C53 (solid-state) and powered by Audio Research tube Reference 80S. I am using Martin Logan electrostatic speakers - Ethos.

Thank you and have a wonderful day.

Cheers

Hi!

Well I use a certain molded power with all of my electronics. So I save the factory cord and use the aftermarket power cord. It's molded just like the factory cord and the only way to notice a difference in physical appearance is to look at the writing on the cord.

I've tried balanced cables before and never liked them as much as the unbalanced ones that I use now. So all of my cables are unbalanced.
My current preamp only allows for unbalanced connections.

After owning the MCD12000 now for about 9 months I feel now no need to upgrade, just keep up the basic maintenance on the unit. Seems to be still breaking in too, the sound is superb in my opinion.

The sound is very satisfying to me and I've not had any problems whatsoever with this unit. I have 2 sets of replacement tubes from McIntosh for this unit. Now I'm just going to focus on my music library as my next and final project.

 

[JohnnySaleh]

Hi!

Well I use a certain molded power with all of my electronics. So I save the factory cord and use the aftermarket power cord. It's molded just like the factory cord and the only way to notice a difference in physical appearance is to look at the writing on the cord.

I've tried balanced cables before and never liked them as much as the unbalanced ones that I use now. So all of my cables are unbalanced.
My current preamp only allows for unbalanced connections.

After owning the MCD12000 now for about 9 months I feel now no need to upgrade, just keep up the basic maintenance on the unit. Seems to be still breaking in too, the sound is superb in my opinion.

The sound is very satisfying to me and I've not had any problems whatsoever with this unit. I have 2 sets of replacement tubes from McIntosh for this unit. Now I'm just going to focus on my music library as my next and final project.

Thank you, and appreciate your response.

Is there any specific reason for you not liking the balance cable?

Cheers

 

[A-Line]

Thank you, and appreciate your response.

Is there any specific reason for you not liking the balance cable?

Cheers

Hi

In 2006 I redid my audio setup and added basically 2 new setups, analog & digital.

Well at the first time that I tried a balanced cables was with my first CD player that I bought new in 2006, McIntosh MCD201. I tried some Kabala Sosna balanced IC cables based on the McIntosh dealership recommendation. I don't remember the model but those were like 3rd or 4th from the bottom in that line.

Then in 2010 I sold my MCD201 and bought a McIntosh MCD500 CD player, it was sonically better than the MCD201. I decided that it was time to investigate IC cables and power cords.
Daunting task to be sure. I ran across RM Crimson Music Link unbalanced which to caught my attention because these cables didn't act as a tone control or a filter of sorts. These were unbalanced and had Eichmann Bullets Plugs as end connectors.

I then got in touch with Peter Moor at Crimson and he recommended that I try a certain molded power cord(Volex #17504 which I now use on all of my components) which he sent me to try out. Also, he sent me one pair of Crimson IC cables with Neutra-Link balanced end connectors. I ran these cables from my CD player to my amp, my CD player ,MCD500 as well as my previous CD player MCD201, had a independent volume knob that allows for a connection straight to a amplifier. After a couple of A/B comparisons using the new Crimson cables with and without the balanced end connectors, I decided on the Crimson cables with the unbalanced Eichmann Bullet Plugs as sounding the best.

I decided to use all RM Crimson Music Link IC unbalanced cables and their speaker cables with Eichmann Bullet Plugs also.

During the time between 2006- 2010 I was also looking for a preamp but didn't find one that complemented my amp until in 2011 I bought a Conrad Johnson Classic preamp. This preamp has no balanced connections but it didn't matter because I'm already using and very happy with the new RM Crimson Music Link cables.

I'm told that the new McIntosh C12000 preamp combo is the most synergetic preamp for the new MCD12000 CD player in which running balanced cables are the way to go. I'm very happy with my current preamp and have no interest in changing it out for another preamp.

Anyway, I tried around 100 different cables in various combinations, same for power cords and settled on RM Crimson Music Link unbalanced cables. I tried around 40 different preamps before deciding on my current CJ Classic preamp.

Kind of a long story. The new McIntosh MCD12000 has a superb sound which I feel is reference quality. I've always liked the McIntosh CD players mainly for the sound but also is that it matches with my other McIntosh components.

So if you have not already done so maybe audition the MCD12000 with the new C12000 preamp combo and see if that works for you.
For analog I like solid state and for digital I like tube components so I have 2 separate systems.

Hope this information helps.

Here's a list of my current components:

Analog Playback: Linn Sondek LP12 SE turntable (Ekos SE, Keel, Radikal w/Dynamik, Karousel), EAR Yoshino 324 solid state phono stage, Lyra Kleos MC pickup, ReVox B77 MKII tape deck, McIntosh MA6500 solid state integrated amplifier, ReVox B780 solid state receiver, Stax headphones with solid state energizer, Klipsch Heresy lll speakers.

McIntosh Tuners In Constant Rotation Between My 2 Setups:
MR74/MR75/MR77/MR78/MR7083

Digital Playback: McIntosh MCD12000 hybrid tube reference CD/SACD player, McIntosh MB25 solid state Bluetooth Transceiver, Cambridge Audio iPod dock, Conrad Johnson Classic tube preamp, McIntosh MC2102 tube amplifier, Stax headphones with tube energizer, Spendor S8e speakers.

Interconnects: RM Crimson Music Link UK with Eichmann Bullet plugs, McIntosh Digital Audio RCA Coax Cable for iPod & McIntosh MB25 Bluetooth Transceiver

Speaker Cables: RM Crimson Music Link UK with banana plugs

Power Cords: Volex #17504

Source Stands: Quadraspire UK

 

[JohnnySaleh]

Hi

In 2006 I redid my audio setup and added basically 2 new setups, analog & digital.

Well at the first time that I tried a balanced cables was with my first CD player that I bought new in 2006, McIntosh MCD201. I tried some Kabala Sosna balanced IC cables based on the McIntosh dealership recommendation. I don't remember the model but those were like 3rd or 4th from the bottom in that line.

Then in 2010 I sold my MCD201 and bought a McIntosh MCD500 CD player, it was sonically better than the MCD201. I decided that it was time to investigate IC cables and power cords.
Daunting task to be sure. I ran across RM Crimson Music Link unbalanced which to caught my attention because these cables didn't act as a tone control or a filter of sorts. These were unbalanced and had Eichmann Bullets Plugs as end connectors.

I then got in touch with Peter Moor at Crimson and he recommended that I try a certain molded power cord(Volex #17504 which I now use on all of my components) which he sent me to try out. Also, he sent me one pair of Crimson IC cables with Neutra-Link balanced end connectors. I ran these cables from my CD player to my amp, my CD player ,MCD500 as well as my previous CD player MCD201, had a independent volume knob that allows for a connection straight to a amplifier. After a couple of A/B comparisons using the new Crimson cables with and without the balanced end connectors, I decided on the Crimson cables with the unbalanced Eichmann Bullet Plugs as sounding the best.

I decided to use all RM Crimson Music Link IC unbalanced cables and their speaker cables with Eichmann Bullet Plugs also.

During the time between 2006- 2010 I was also looking for a preamp but didn't find one that complemented my amp until in 2011 I bought a Conrad Johnson Classic preamp. This preamp has no balanced connections but it didn't matter because I'm already using and very happy with the new RM Crimson Music Link cables.

I'm told that the new McIntosh C12000 preamp combo is the most synergetic preamp for the new MCD12000 CD player in which running balanced cables are the way to go. I'm very happy with my current preamp and have no interest in changing it out for another preamp.

Anyway, I tried around 100 different cables in various combinations, same for power cords and settled on RM Crimson Music Link unbalanced cables. I tried around 40 different preamps before deciding on my current CJ Classic preamp.

Kind of a long story. The new McIntosh MCD12000 has a superb sound which I feel is reference quality. I've always liked the McIntosh CD players mainly for the sound but also is that it matches with my other McIntosh components.

So if you have not already done so maybe audition the MCD12000 with the new C12000 preamp combo and see if that works for you.
For analog I like solid state and for digital I like tube components so I have 2 separate systems.

Hope this information helps.

Here's a list of my current components:

Analog Playback: Linn Sondek LP12 SE turntable (Ekos SE, Keel, Radikal w/Dynamik, Karousel), EAR Yoshino 324 solid state phono stage, Lyra Kleos MC pickup, ReVox B77 MKII tape deck, McIntosh MA6500 solid state integrated amplifier, ReVox B780 solid state receiver, Stax headphones with solid state energizer, Klipsch Heresy lll speakers.

McIntosh Tuners In Constant Rotation Between My 2 Setups:
MR74/MR75/MR77/MR78/MR7083

Digital Playback: McIntosh MCD12000 hybrid tube reference CD/SACD player, McIntosh MB25 solid state Bluetooth Transceiver, Cambridge Audio iPod dock, Conrad Johnson Classic tube preamp, McIntosh MC2102 tube amplifier, Stax headphones with tube energizer, Spendor S8e speakers.

Interconnects: RM Crimson Music Link UK with Eichmann Bullet plugs, McIntosh Digital Audio RCA Coax Cable for iPod & McIntosh MB25 Bluetooth Transceiver

Speaker Cables: RM Crimson Music Link UK with banana plugs

Power Cords: Volex #17504

Source Stands: Quadraspire UK

Dear A-Line,

Thank you for your detailed responses and the information provided here. Its very useful.

I'll update you again once I get my MCD12000, hopefully by the end of this month or early next month. I will try both balanced and unbalanced cables to connect MCD12000 to my Mac C53 Preamp. Currently, I connect my Marantz CD player using a balanced cable from Nordost. Before using Nordost, I was using a balanced cable from Cardas.

Thank you and have a great weekend.

Cheers

 

[A-Line]

Dear A-Line,

Thank you for your detailed responses and the information provided here. Its very useful.

I'll update you again once I get my MCD12000, hopefully by the end of this month or early next month. I will try both balanced and unbalanced cables to connect MCD12000 to my Mac C53 Preamp. Currently, I connect my Marantz CD player using a balanced cable from Nordost. Before using Nordost, I was using a balanced cable from Cardas.

Thank you and have a great weekend.

Cheers

Be sure to post some photos of your new MCD12000 when you get it setup with your system. Most people favor using the tube outputs vs the solid state outputs with this new CD player.