McIntosh MCT80 brings disc playback to Lifestyle range

By Becky Roberts
published

The disc isn’t dead for McIntosh. The company has expanded its high-end component range with the MCT80 CD/SACD transport.

The MCT80 supports CD, SACD and CD-R/RW playback, as well as discs formatted with DSD (up to DSD128), WAV (up to 24bit/192kHz) and FLAC.

Discs aside, coaxial and optical inputs cater for hi-res file playback up to 24bit/192kHz, while McIntosh’s proprietary MCT input can connect compatible McIntosh components for optimum SACD audio playback.

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McIntosh claims the MCT80 reads a disc’s audio data at twice the normal rate for more accurate disc-tracking and error-correction processing.

The MCT80 marks the latest add-on module for the McIntosh MXA80 integrated system (£7500), joining the MB50 streaming audio player, MP100 phono stage and MHA150 headphone amplifier.

The MCT80 costs £4495 and is expected to begin shipping to the US in September, with UK deliveries set to follow by November.

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Becky Roberts
Becky Roberts

Becky is the managing editor of What Hi-Fi? and, since her recent move to Melbourne, also the editor of Australian Hi-Fi magazine. During her 10 years in the hi-fi industry, she has been fortunate enough to travel the world to report on the biggest and most exciting brands in hi-fi and consumer tech (and has had the jetlag and hangovers to remember them by). In her spare time, Becky can often be found running, watching Liverpool FC and horror movies, and hunting for gluten-free cake.