Стримеры — McIntosh MS500

The MS500 is a music streamer from McIntosh Laboratory that brings internet streaming services and a locally stored library together in one full-width chassis. It was announced alongside the MCD600 SACD/CD player, with shipments expected from May 2018 at a US price of USD 6,000. McIntosh now lists the model as retired with limited availability. The front uses the familiar black glass panel with an illuminated logo, framed by aluminium end caps.

Key specs that matter

Local music and the operating system sit on a 500 GB solid state drive, and uncompressed lossless files are played at up to 24-bit/192 kHz. Frequency response runs from 2 Hz to 22,000 Hz, total harmonic distortion is 0.005%, signal to noise ratio is 102 dB and dynamic range is 96 dB. The analogue outputs deliver up to 4 V RMS balanced and 2 V RMS unbalanced, both at a 600 ohm output impedance. Digital connections include a coaxial output, an optical output carrying PCM S/PDIF up to 24-bit/192 kHz, three USB audio outputs of which one works at a time, and three USB inputs - two USB 2.0 and one USB 3.0. The network port is gigabit Ethernet. The case is 44.45 cm wide, 9.8 cm high and 40.64 cm deep, and it weighs 6.1 kg.

Engineering and use context

The unit runs a Linux-based operating system on a fanless processor, and because both software and music live on the SSD there are no moving parts, which keeps the box silent in operation. McIntosh isolates the DAC from the motherboard. Built-in interfaces cover Deezer, Murfie, Pandora, Rhapsody, SiriusXM, Slacker, Spotify, TIDAL and TuneIn, and favourite internet radio stations can be stored as presets. The MS500 can synchronise music held on networked computers automatically and works with Amazon Cloud Drive, Apple iCloud and Google Drive for backup. External drives connect through the USB inputs to extend capacity. An HDMI output and a VGA output exist only to display the graphical interface on a screen. Control comes from the supplied remote, a web browser, free iPhone, iPad and Android apps, or popular home automation systems, and power control and IR sensor inputs are on the rear panel. McIntosh covers the unit with a 3-year limited warranty.

Pairing

The MS500 can feed an integrated amplifier or preamplifier through its analogue outputs, or pass digital data to a McIntosh product with a built-in DAC over USB. McIntosh names the MA9000, MA8900, MA7200 and MA5300 integrated amplifiers, the MAC7200 receiver, the C2600, C52, C47 and D1100 preamplifiers, the MX160 processor and the MHA150 headphone amplifier as compatible. Connecting an external USB DAC creates an additional independent audio zone.

Alternatives

The McIntosh MB50 is a smaller streaming audio player with DTS Play-Fi wireless multi-room playback, built between 2015 and 2022.