How Are the DACs on the McIntosh MX200?


Hey folks, looking for your opinions here…

I use a McIntosh MX200 as my pre/pro for both 2 channel listening and for a 5.1 home theater use…

The MX200 claims to have “7 premiums DACs…”

Does anyone have opinions as to the quality of these DACs?  Would you recommend that I get another high quality DAC for high quality 2 channel listening?

I listen to classic rock…sometimes from CDs, sometimes from my music server which stores ripped CDs, and sometimes from streaming Qobuz.

Many thanks in advance…appreciate your thoughts!

Running B&W 801 D4s for 2 channel listening.

nankaroad

Showing 1 response by v-fi

I have only limited experience with the MX200 (friend of a friend owns it, I've heard it a few times in his system) but I think it is excellent.

The predecessor MX100 used an ESS DAC solution if I remember correctly, and it was very transparent and clean. They don't give us details about the DAC part on board the MX200 but I bet it is similarly excellent.

Now, you can totally use an outboard DAC if you wanted to achieve something different for stereo playback. Maybe a warmer, smoother, more forgiving sound for example, if that would fit your system's tuning better. But the MX200 should already be a really high caliber performer with a neutral, accurate presentation. So unless you have a specific goal, I'd stick with it at least for a while.