Mcintosh MCD-12000

Optical disc players were perfected decades ago. A $12K player is sonically indistinguishable from a $300 player. McIntosh's company motto might as well be "We proudly fleece the rich".

A year ago I considered a McIntosh CD/SACD transport and the MA12000. I only had 25 or so SACDs and I decided that I really didn’t need, given other options, SACD. Next, ripping bit perfect CD files to my NAS, or Aurender eliminated the need for the transport without losing any quality. I say this because playing my ripped CDs almost rivals my analog play and that is high praise.  $12000 gives you lots of options, but CD player/transport no longer makes any sense.

@vonhelmholtz 

Now all you gotta do is figure out how to rip those SACDs DSD perfect.

@fuzztone

Perhaps there are some SACDs that are not available on Qobuz, but my Aurender N20 downloads streamed files to an internal SSD and plays the SSD, just like it plays ripped CDs, only higher resolution, so no need for SACDs. I purchased my Aurender used and the Holo May DAC KTE for just a bit more than a $12K budget. I use a Shunyata Sigma AES/EBU between the streamer and DAC. I’ve not found an affordable USB that bests the Shunyata AES/EBU. I use a Shunyata Sigma Ethernet cable between the wall and the streamer and Sigma 2 NR power cords to all components from a Shunyata Everest power conditioner. All components were critical. I spent more on the power components than on the streamer and DAC combined.  So, just buying the MCD12000 isn’t the only consideration.

As long as you are happy, bueno.