McIntosh MDA200 DAC Review: The Premium D/A Converter
In the modern age of high-end audio, an expert translator between digital and analog components is often needed. That’s where the McIntosh MDA200 D/A Converter (or DAC) comes in: this coveted digital-to-analog converter can add digital listening to an analog system or serve as a worthy upgrade to an older, potentially outdated DAC.
Audio expert Jerry Del Colliano of Future Audiophile praises the MDA200 in a recent review, describing the MDA200 as a “sonic smooth operator.” Through Colliano’s meticulous testing process, the MDA200 proves to shine as an excellent continuation of McIntosh’s relentless commitment to crafting premium audio equipment.
High-End Audiophile Review: McIntosh MDA200 DAC
As a fixture of legendary McIntosh audio systems, the MDA200 digital-to-analog converter bridges the gap between your vintage and modern equipment. The MDA200 allows listeners to replace an older, outdated converter or add digital source to an all-analog system with 7 digital inputs and balanced and unbalanced analog outputs.
As explained by Colliano, “The McIntosh MDA200 is a well-built DAC that is voiced to make more of your music sound more musically engaging and approachable, without the use of user-controlled EQ. It also uses some of the best DAC chips from ESS that are well-regarded in engineering as well as audiophile circles.” The MDA200 plays well with modern interfaces, supporting Dolby and DTS audio formats, with an HDMI (ARC) input. From home theater use to the ideal converter for your record collection, the MDA200 excels.
Putting the converter to the test, reviewer Colliano cycled between the likes of Hendrix and Beyonce finding that, “This recording session…sounds sweet to the ears with the McIntosh MDA200 DAC in the loop. Bass sounds fantastic, but the layered vocal overdubs are even more compelling. The soundstage is very wide, and nothing sounds harsh or too brash. There’s a slight smoothness to the sound that is appealing sonically, especially compared to my Benchmark Media DAC3 B or my Bricasti M3 DAC – which are both very raw, accurate and tight-sounding digital-to-analog converters.”
As said by Colliano in closing, “The McIntosh MDA200… is capable of providing world-class sound that is warm, engaging and musically easy to listen to. If you are upgrading from a legacy digital component and you power this with any number of HD music sources…you are going to get some drastically upgraded sound that anybody can hear and that everybody can enjoy.”
Read the full review here.
(Excerpts taken from original review by Jerry Del Colliano / futureaudiophile.com / September 25, 2024.)
