The McIntosh MCD350 is a high‑performance SACD/CD player designed for discerning audio enthusiasts who want top‑tier physical‑disc playback with modern conversion technology, wrapped in McIntosh’s iconic aesthetic. It handles both conventional CDs and Super Audio CDs (SACDs), offering flexibility for legacy collections and high‑resolution disc formats.

Visually, the MCD350 features McIntosh’s signature black‑glass front panel, illuminated logo, sturdy aluminum end caps, and robust build quality — a unit meant to be as much an elegant centerpiece in a high‑end stereo system as a functional source component. The player is built to deliver refined sonic performance, combining precision transport mechanics, advanced DAC technology, and premium analog output circuitry.

In practice, the MCD350 excels when paired with quality downstream components (preamp, amplifier, speakers). The advanced DAC and transport mechanics deliver clarity, excellent dynamic range, and low distortion — allowing subtle details in well‑recorded discs to be heard, while also retaining the musical flow and full band dynamics.

Because the outputs are fixed (rather than variable volume outputs), the MCD350 is ideal as a dedicated source feeding either a high‑quality preamp or directly into an amplifier with appropriate input (if the amplifier allows volume control). It is less aimed at “all‑in‑one” simplicity and more at serious systems where source fidelity matters.

For owners of SACD collections or those who wish to maintain a high‑end physical‑disc playback path (alongside streaming or vinyl), the MCD350 offers a strong option. Its build, design and feature set mean it also serves as a long‑term investment component in a high‑fidelity system.

Design & Features

• High‑Precision Digital‐to‐Analog Conversion: The MCD350 uses a two‑channel, 32‑bit/192kHz DAC architecture, ensuring very high fidelity conversion from digital disc data to analog output. 

• Disc Transport/Mechanics: The player features a twin‐laser optical pickup (one laser tuned to SACD, one to CD) and a die‑cast aluminum tray with 2× read speed capability to buffer disc data, improve error correction and tracking stability. 

• Outputs: The MCD350 includes fixed analog stereo outputs in both balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) formats, plus digital coaxial and optical outputs if you choose to send the digital signal to an external DAC or external processor. 

• Fidelity & Build Quality: With output impedances of 600 ohms, gold‑plated outputs, and a linear power supply with special transformer design, the unit is built for low noise, long life and premium performance. 

• Legacy and Format Support: The MCD350 supports SACD, CD, MP3 and WMA formats burned onto CD‑R/CD‑RW (depending on disc compatibility) — making it compatible with both newer and older media. 

Key Specifications

Here are some of the main technical specs for the MCD350:

• Number of Channels: 2 (stereo)

• Digital‑to‑Analog Converter (DAC): 2‑channel; 32‑bit/192 kHz PCM/DSD

• Fixed Output Level:

  • Unbalanced (RCA): 2.0 Vrms 

  • Balanced (XLR): 4.0 Vrms 

• Output Impedance: 600 ohms (both unbalanced & balanced) 

• Frequency Response:

  • SACD: 4 Hz – 40 kHz, +0.5 dB / ‑2 dB 

  • CD: 4 Hz – 20 kHz, ±0.5 dB 

• Signal‑to‑Noise Ratio (S/N): Better than 108 dB (A‑weighted) 

• Dynamic Range: Better than 100 dB 

• Total Harmonic Distortion (THD):

  • SACD: 0.003% @ 1,000 Hz 

  • CD: 0.002% @ 1,000 Hz 

• Channel Separation: Better than 98 dB at 1 kHz 

• Disc Formats: SACD, CD, MP3, WMA 

• Digital Output Sample Rate: Up to 24‑bit/192 kHz 

• Dimensions (W × H × D): Approximately 17‑½″ × 6″ × 19″ (≈ 44.45 cm × 15.24 cm × 48.3 cm) 

• Weight: ~28 lbs (12.7 kg) net