McIntosh MCD550 User Manual

McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. 2 Chambers Street Binghamton, New York 13903-2699 Phone: [phone] www.mcintoshlabs.com

MCD550

SACD/CD Player

Owner’s Manual

The lightning ash with arrowhead, within an equilateral
triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of
uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s en­closure that may be of sufcient magnitude to constitute
a risk of electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is
intended to alert the user to the presence of important
operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the
literature accompanying the appliance.

WARNING - TO REDUCE RISK

OF FIRE OR ELECTRICAL

SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE

THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR

MOISTURE.

CAUTION -

Invisible Laser Radiation when open.
DO NOT stare into the beam or view
directly with optical instruments. Use
of controls or adjustments or per­formance of procedures other than
those specified in the Owners Manual
may result in Hazardous Radiation
Exposure.

LUOKAN 1 LASERLAITE

KLASS 1 LASER APPARAT

VAROITUS!

Laitteen kayttaminen muulla kuin
tassa kayttoohjeessa mainitulla
tavalla saattaa altistaa kayttajan
turvallisuusluokan 1 ylittavalle
nakymattomalle lasersateiiylle.

NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS

INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO

QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.

To prevent the risk of electric

shock, do not remove cover or

back. No user-serviceable parts

inside.

VARNING!

This product incorporates an embedded

CLASS 3R Laser (IEC60825-1).

2

Om apparaten anvands pa annat satt
an i denna bruksanvisning specifi­cerats, kan anvandaren utsattas for
osynbg laserstraining, som over­skrider gransen for laserklass 1.

MCD55 0

SACD/C D PLAYER

McINTOSH LABORATORY, INC.,

BINGHAMTON, NY

HANDCRAFTED IN USA WITH US AND IMPORTED PARTS

IMPORTANT SAFETY

INSTRUCTIONS!

PLEASE READ THEM BEFORE
OPERATING THIS EQUIPMENT.

1. Read these instructions.

2. Keep these instructions.

3. Heed all warnings.

4. Follow all instructions.

5. Do not use this apparatus near water.

6. Clean only with a dry cloth.

7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install
in accordance with the manufacturer’s instruc­tions.

8. Do not install near any heat sources such as
radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other appa-

ratus (including ampliers) that produce heat.

9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polar­ized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug
has two blades with one wider than the other.
A grounding type plug has two blades and a
third grounding prong. The wide blade or the
third prong are provided for your safety. If

the provided plug does not t into your outlet,

consult an electrician for replacement of the
obsolete outlet.

10. Protect the power cord from being walked on
or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience
receptacles, and the point where they exit
from the apparatus.

11. Only use attachments/accessories specied by

the manufacturer.

12. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket,

or table specied by the manufacturer, or sold

with the apparatus. When a cart
is used, use caution when mov­ing the cart/apparatus combina­tion to avoid injury from tip­over.

13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms
or when unused for long periods of time.

14. Refer all servicing to qualied service person­nel. Servicing is required when the apparatus
has been damaged in any way, such as power­supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has
been spilled or objects have fallen into the
apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to
rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or
has been dropped.

15. Do not expose this equipment to dripping or

splashing and ensure that no objects lled

with liquids, such as vases, are placed on the
equipment.

16. To completely disconnect this equipment from
the a.c. mains, disconnect the power supply
cord plug from the a.c. receptacle.

17. The mains plug of the power supply cord shall
remain readily operable.

18. Do not expose batteries to excessive heat such

as sunshine, re or the like.

19. Connect mains power supply cord only to a
mains socket outlet with a protective earthing
connection.

Table of Contents

Safety Instructions .................................................. 2-3

Table of Contents .......................................................3

Thank You and Please Take a Moment ......................4

Technical Assistance and Customer Service .............4

General Information ..................................................4

Connector and Cable Information .............................4

Disc Information ........................................................ 5

Introduction ................................................................5

Performance Features ................................................5

Dimensions ................................................................6

Installation .................................................................7

Connections:

Rear Panel Connections ............................................. 8

MCD550 Connections ...............................................10

Connection Diagrams (Separate Sheet) ............. Mc1A

MCD550 Direct to Power Amplifier Connections ...11

Connection Diagram (Separate Sheet) ............... Mc1B

Front Panel Features:

Front Panel Displays, Controls, Push-buttons

and Jack .....................................................................12

Front Panel Displays .................................................13

Remote Control:

Remote Control Push-buttons ................................... 14

How to use the Remote Control ................................15

Operation:

How to Operate the MCD550 ............................. 16-22

Additional Information:

Photos .................................................................. 23-25

Specifications ........................................................... 26

Packing Instruction ...................................................27

Copyright 2013 © by McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.

3

Thank You

Your decision to own this McIntosh MCD550 SACD/
CD Player ranks you at the very top among discrimi­nating music listeners. You now have “The Best.” The
McIntosh dedication to “Quality,” is assurance that
you will receive many years of musical enjoyment
from this unit.
Please take a short time to read the information in
this manual. We want you to be as familiar as pos­sible with all the features and functions of your new
McIntosh.

Please Take A Moment

The serial number, purchase date and McIntosh Dealer
name are important to you for possible insurance
claim or future service. The spaces below have been
provided for you to record that information:

Serial Number: _______________________________

Purchase Date: _______________________________

Dealer Name: ________________________________

Technical Assistance

If at any time you have questions about your McIntosh
product, contact your McIntosh Dealer who is familiar
with your McIntosh equipment and any other brands
that may be part of your system. If you or your Dealer
wish additional help concerning a suspected problem,
you can receive technical assistance for all McIntosh
products at:

McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.
2 Chambers Street
Binghamton, New York 13903
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Customer Service

If it is determined that your McIntosh product is in
need of repair, you can return it to your Dealer. You
can also return it to the McIntosh Laboratory Service
Department. For assistance on factory repair return
procedure, contact the McIntosh Service Department
at:

McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.
2 Chambers Street
Binghamton, New York 13903
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

General Information

1. For additional connection information, refer to the

owner’s manual(s) for any component(s) connected

to the MCD550 SACD/CD Player.

2. The Super Audio Compact Discs Audio Signals are
converted internally from Digital to Analog. There
is no Digital Audio Signal present at the MCD550
Digital Output Connectors during playback of a
SACD Disc.

3. A PCM version of the decoded MP3 and WMA
Signals is available at the Digital Audio Outputs.

4. The MCD550 internal Digital to Analog Converter
is designed to decode 2 channel PCM (Pulse Code

Modulation) signal present at the Digital Audio

Inputs into 2 channel analog audio.

5. The IR Input, with a 3.5mm mini phone jack, is
configured for non-McIntosh IR sensors such as
a Xantech Model HL85BK Kit. Use a Connection
Block such as a Xantech Model ZC21 when two
or more IR sensors need to be connected to the
MCD550.

5. When discarding the unit, comply with
local rules or regulations. Batteries should
never be thrown away or incinerated but

disposed of in accordance with the local regulations
concerning battery disposal.

6. For additional information on the MCD550 and
other McIntosh Products please visit the McIntosh
Web Site at www.mcintoshlabs.com.

Connector and Cable Information

XLR Connectors

Below is the Pin configuration for the XLR Balanced
Output Connectors on the MCD550. Refer to the dia­gram for connection:
PIN 1: Shield/Ground
PIN 2: + Output
PIN 3: - Output

Data and IR Input Port Connectors

The MCD550 Data In Port receives Remote Control
Signals. A 1/8 inch stereo mini
phone plug is used for connection.
The IR Ports also use a 3.5mm
stereo mini phone plug and allow
the connection of other brand IR
Receivers to the MCD550.

Power Control Connector

The Power Control Input Jack receives Power On/Off
Signals (+12 volt/0 volt) when connected to other Mc­Intosh Components. The Power
Control Output Jack sends
Power On/Off Signals (+12

volt/0 volt) when connected to

other McIntosh Components.
An additional connection is for

PIN 1

Data
Signal

IR Data
Control

Power
Control

Meter
Illumination
Control
Pass Thru

PIN 2

N/C

Data
Ground

N/C

Ground

Ground

4

General Information, Cable Information, Disc Information, Introduction and Performance Features

controlling the illumination of the Power Output Me­ters on McIntosh Power Amplifiers. A 3.5mm stereo
mini phone plug is used for connection to the Power
Control Jacks.

Disc Information

1. The MCD550 is designed to play round Compact
Discs do not try other shapes or possible damage
may occur.

2. The MCD550 SACD/CD Player is designed to play
all industry standard “Redbook” CD Audio Discs
as indicated by the Symbol. It will also play
most CD-R, CD-RW and Dual Discs, however
some recorded discs may not be able to play due to
the condition of the recording or manufacturing.

3. Disc with tracks recorded with MP3 and WMA
Formats will playback on the MCD550 when the
writing software used to create them conforms to
the ISO9660 Level 1 standard.

4. Several of the SACD performance features avail­able on the MCD550 are active only if the SACD
Disc includes the supporting encoded information.

5. The Audio from playback of SACD Two Channel
Layer and Multichannel Layer Discs is available at
the MCD550 Analog Output Jacks and Connectors;
the Digital Outputs will be muted.

Introduction

The McIntosh MCD550 SACD/CD Player offers the
latest in audio technology, providing state of the art
reproduction of audio program sources. A full comple­ment of performance features allows for the enjoyment
of the SACD special audio format available on discs.
Audio CDs are also reproduced with f lawless real­ism. The advanced mechanical design of the transport
ensures many years of smooth trouble free operation.

Performance Features

• Twin Laser Pickup

The MCD550 incorporates two laser elements, with
different wavelengths, that are focused through one
lens assembly. This unique design allows reading both

the CD and Super Audio Compact Disc (SACD) Discs

Formats.

• Advanced Transport

The MCD550 has a new transport with a Die Cast
Tray. It has the latest in advanced digital servo for
faster, quieter and accurate operation. The Disc Audio
Data is read at twice the normal rate insuring better
disc tracking and error correction processing.

• Quad Balanced Digital to Analog Converter

The 8 channel 32-bit, 192kHz Digital to Analog
Converter is used in a Stereo Quad Balanced Mode,
assuring the music is reproduced with a wide dynamic
range and extremely low distortion, for both Disc and
external sources.

• Digital Audio Inputs and Outputs

The MCD550 has Digital Coaxial and Optical Inputs/
Outputs along with an USB Input Connection.

• Front Panel Level Control

The Level Control allows varying the music volume
level with headphones, matching the volume level of
the MCD550 with other components in a system and
can drive any Power Amplifier directly.

• Power Control and Full Function Remote Control

The Power Control Input Connection switches the
MCD550 On/Off with other McIntosh Components in
a system. The Remote Control with illuminated push-
buttons provides complete control of the MCD550

operating functions.

• Multi-Function Front Panel Display

The MCD550 Front Panel display indicates the current
disc playback status, digital input status and the vari­able audio output volume level.

• Balanced Outputs

The MCD550 has both variable and fixed Balanced
Outputs, permitting long cable lengths without a loss
in sound quality.

• Special Power Supply

The Linear Power Supply has both a special R-Core
Power Transformer and Multiple Regulators to ensure
stable noise free operation even though the power line
varies.

• Glass Front Panel and Super Mirror Chassis

The MCD550 has the famous McIntosh Illuminated
Glass Front Panel and Stainless Steel Super Mir­ror Finish Chassis ensures the pristine beauty of the
MCD550 will be retained for many years.

• Fiber Optic Solid State Front Panel Illumination

The Illumination of the Front Panel is accomplished
by the combination of custom designed Fiber Optic
Light Diffusers and extra long life Light Emitting Di­odes (LEDs). This provides even Front Panel Illumina­tion and is designed to ensure the pristine beauty of
the MCD550 will be retained for many years.

5

Dimensions

The following dimensions can assist in determining
the best location for your MCD550.

Front View of the MCD550

17-1/2"

44.5cm

Dimensions

01 0m20s

Rear View of the MCD550

17-1/8"

43.5cm

MCD55 0

SACD/C D PLAYER

McINTOSH LABORATORY, INC.,

BINGHAMTON, NY

HANDCRAFTED IN USA WITH US AND IMPORTED PARTS

5-3/8"

13.7cm

4-5/8"

11.8cm

6"

15.2cm

13/16"

2.1cm

1-15/16"

4.9cm

Side View of the MCD550

16-3/8"

41.6cm

14-1/2"

36.8cm

10-9/16"

26.8cm

3/16"

0.5cm

2"

5.1cm

4-7/8"

12.8cm

13 -1/4"

33.7cm

6

Installation

The MCD550 can be placed upright on a table or
shelf, standing on its four feet. It also can be custom
installed in a piece of furniture or cabinet of your
choice. The four feet may be removed from the bottom
of the MCD550 when it is custom installed as out­lined below. The four feet together with the mounting
screws should be retained for possible future use if the
MCD550 is removed from the custom installation and
used free standing. The required panel cutout, ventila­tion cutout and unit dimensions are shown.

Always provide adequate ventilation for your
MCD550. Cool operation ensures the longest possible
operating life for any electronic instrument. Do not
install the MCD550 directly above a heat generat­ing component such as a high powered amplifier. If
all the components are installed in a single cabinet, a
quiet running ventilation fan can be a definite asset in
maintaining all the system components at the coolest
possible operating temperature.

A custom cabinet installation should provide the
following minimum spacing dimensions for cool
operation.

Allow at least 2 inches (5.1cm) above the top, 2
inches (5.1cm) below the bottom and 1 inch (2.5cm) on

each side of the SACD/CD Player, so that airflow is

not obstructed. Allow 17 inches (43.2cm) depth behind
the front panel. Allow 1-1/8 inch (2.9cm) in front of

the mounting panel for knob clearance. Be sure to cut
out a ventilation hole in the mounting shelf according
to the dimensions in the drawing.

MCD550 Front Panel
Custom Cabinet Cutout

MCD550 Side View
in Custom Cabinet

MCD550 Bottom View
in Custom Cabinet

Cabinet
Front
Panel

Support
Shelf

1"

2.54cm

17-3/16"

43.65cm

Cutout Opening for Custom Mounting

Cutout Opening for Ventilation

1-1/16"

2.70cm

8-5/8"

21.91cm

15-1/2"

39.37cm

Cutout Opening
for Ventilation

Installation

4-15/16"

12.54cm

Chassis
Spacers

15-1/16"

38.26cm

3"

7.62cm

Note: Center the cutout Horizontally on the unit.
For purposes of clarity, the above
illustration is not drawn to scale.

12-5/16"

31.27cm

7

Rear Panel Connections

UNBALANCED FIXED
level AUDIO OUTPUTS
supply analog audio signals
to Unbalanced Inputs of
other components

BALANCED FIXED
level AUDIO OUTPUTS
supply analog audio sig­nals to Balanced Inputs
of other components

UNBALANCED VARIABLE level
AUDIO OUTPUTS supply analog
audio signals to Unbalanced Inputs
of other components

BALANCED VARIABLE
level AUDIO OUTPUTS
supply analog audio signals
to connect to Balanced In­puts of other components

SACD /CD P LAYER

McINTOSH LABORATORY, INC.,

HANDCRAFTED IN USA WITH US AND IMPORTED PARTS

POWER CONTROL IN receives
turn-on signals from a McIntosh
component and POWER CONTROL
OUT sends turn-on signals on to
another McIntosh Component

Connect the MCD550 power cord to
a live AC outlet. Refer to information
on the back panel of your MCD550
to determine the correct voltage for
your unit

MCD 550

BINGHAMTON, NY

OPTICAL and COAXIAL DIGITAL
AUDIO INPUTS receive a Digital Audio
Signal1 from an external source component
such as a Disc Player and uses the MCD550
internal D/A Converter to decode the signal
into analog audio

OPTICAL and COAXIAL DIGITAL
AUDIO OUTPUTS send a Digital
Audio Signal to a Preamplifier or
an A/V Control Center with a D/A
Converter or a decoder

1

- For additional information Refer to page 4 “General Information”, note 4.

8

IR IN for connecting an
IR Receiver

USB DIGITAL AUDIO INPUT
receives a Digital Audio Signal
from a computer connection

DATA IN receives control data
from a McIntosh Control Center

Notes

9