McIntosh MCD85 SACD/CD Player

Physical Media Isn't Dead. Not Even Close.

The McIntosh MCD85 SACD/CD Player is built for music lovers who still value the ritual—and sound quality—of putting on a great disc.

Designed to play both SACDs and CDs, the MCD85 combines a precision disc transport with a sophisticated McIntosh DAC, while additional digital inputs allow it to become a high-resolution digital source for much more than physical media.

And unlike components designed to disappear into an equipment rack, the MCD85 is meant to be seen. Its open-chassis, retro-inspired design makes it a natural companion to some of McIntosh's most distinctive amplifiers and preamplifiers.

SACD and CD Playback

The MCD85 is equally at home with a prized SACD collection or decades of standard CDs.

Its disc mechanism uses a twin-laser optical pickup, with different laser wavelengths optimized for reading SACDs and CDs.

Discs are read at 2x normal speed, allowing data to be stored in buffer memory for improved tracking and error correction before playback.

The mechanism itself is built around a substantial die-cast disc tray, engineered for smooth and quiet operation.

The goal is to extract the information on the disc as accurately as possible before digital-to-analog conversion even begins.

Quad Balanced 32-Bit DAC

Once the digital information has been recovered, conversion is handled by a Quad Balanced, 8-channel, 32-bit/192kHz DAC.

Four DAC channels are dedicated to the left channel and another four to the right.

This Quad Balanced configuration is designed to deliver exceptional stereo reproduction while giving both channels dedicated conversion resources.

It also means the MCD85 is much more than a disc transport—the digital conversion stage is an integral part of its design.

Turn the MCD85 Into Your Digital Hub

The DAC inside the MCD85 isn't reserved for discs.

A USB Audio input allows a computer or compatible digital source to take advantage of the MCD85's internal conversion, supporting high-resolution playback up to DSD256 and DXD 384kHz.

Two coaxial and two optical digital inputs are also provided, supporting PCM signals up to 192kHz.

So while you may buy the MCD85 for your SACD and CD collection, it can also become the DAC for several other digital sources in the system.

That makes it particularly useful for someone who wants physical media and modern digital playback to coexist in one high-end system.

More Than Store-Bought Discs

The MCD85 can also play music stored on user-created CD and DVD data discs.

A wide range of popular digital file formats is supported, including AAC, AIFF, ALAC, FLAC, MP3, WAV, WMA and DSD up to DSD128.

For someone with a large digital music archive built over the years, that gives the MCD85 considerably more flexibility than a conventional CD player.

Balanced and Unbalanced Analog Outputs

Both balanced and unbalanced fixed analog outputs are provided for connection to a preamplifier, integrated amplifier or other compatible audio component.

The MCD85's relatively narrow chassis can also make placement more flexible.

For example, it can be positioned closer to the listening area for convenient disc loading while using longer balanced interconnects to reach the main system.

That's a practical advantage for anyone who actually uses physical media regularly rather than treating the disc player as a piece of equipment that's rarely touched.

Retro McIntosh With a Purpose

The MCD85 takes a different visual approach from the traditional full-width McIntosh chassis.

Its open-chassis design and polished metalwork recall the styling of components such as the MC275 and MC1502 tube amplifiers, along with the MA252 and MA352 integrated amplifiers.

The front, top and rear surfaces are polished to a mirror finish, while die-cast aluminum McIntosh name badges appear on both sides of the chassis.

Up front, there's still no mistaking the brand.

A black-glass panel, direct LED backlighting, silver trim, illuminated McIntosh logo and rotary controls bring the classic McIntosh design language into the more compact format.

It's designed to be displayed, not hidden.

Built to Become Part of a McIntosh System

The MCD85 includes Power Control and data connections for integration with compatible McIntosh components.

That allows it to operate as part of a coordinated McIntosh system rather than simply functioning as an isolated source.

Its combination of traditional McIntosh design elements and the distinctive open-chassis format also means it can work visually with both classic full-width McIntosh components and the newer retro-inspired models.

The Grid's Take on the McIntosh MCD85

The MCD85 is a great example of why a high-end disc player still makes sense.

If you've spent 20 or 30 years building a CD and SACD collection, there's no reason that music should become secondary just because streaming is convenient.

But McIntosh also hasn't designed the MCD85 as a nostalgia piece.

Connect a computer through USB and it handles DSD256 and DXD 384kHz. Connect additional digital sources through coax or optical and they can use the same McIntosh DAC. Then switch back to a favorite SACD or CD whenever you want.

We also think the design is a major part of its appeal. Paired with an MC275, MC1502, MA252 or MA352, the MCD85 can create a McIntosh system that looks every bit as distinctive as it sounds.

At The Grid HiFi & Home Theater, we can help match the MCD85 with the right McIntosh amplification, preamplifier and speakers to build a system around both your physical and digital music collections.