McIntosh MDA1000 (2003)
The MDA1000 is McIntosh's upsampling digital-to-analog converter. It was introduced in 2003 as the companion to the MCD1000 CD transport. McIntosh's own brochure called the pair "the introduction of a new and elite product category," and the logic behind the split was stated plainly: as distinctions among source components grow finer, the ultimate in sonic purity is derived through separation - one box for the transport, one box for the converter. It is a two-channel D/A converter with seven digital inputs, balanced and unbalanced analog outputs, a built-in volume control, and automatic selection of sampling frequency from 32 to 96kHz. Everything coming in was upsampled to 768kHz/24-bit and handed to eight 24-bit DAC circuits.
The analog section is fully balanced. It can run with variable output, so the MDA1000 can act as a preamplifier and drive a power amp directly, or with fixed output for a conventional chain. McIntosh quoted a signal-to-noise ratio of 110dB or better, dynamic range above 100dB, and total harmonic distortion of 0.002%. Frequency response is specified at ±0.5dB from 4Hz to 45,000Hz at 96kHz and 88.2kHz sampling. It tightens to ±0.3dB from 4Hz to 22,000Hz at 48kHz and 4Hz to 20,000Hz at 44.1kHz. Rated output is 2V unbalanced or balanced in bypass mode and 6V with bypass off. The chassis measures 17-1/2 inches wide, 6 inches tall including feet, and 16-1/8 inches deep, and it draws 20 watts.
Stereophile reviewed the MDA1000 in 2004 and paired it with the reissued MC 275 tube amplifier. McIntosh product manager Ron Cornelius reportedly greeted that matchup with incredulity. The reviewer's framing was "Best of the past meets best of the present. 1961, meet 2004," and the conclusion was warm: the two units worked splendidly together, though the same piece conceded that "eight grand is a lot to pay for a D/A converter." The price is where the record disagrees. Stereophile, TMR Audio, and Reverb all cite an $8000 MSRP, while Audio Classics lists an original list price of $8500. Treat the original US price as $8,000 to $8,500 depending on the source. Japanese pricing was ¥1,260,000.
What the record doesn't settle
Surviving documentation on the MDA1000 is thin in the places collectors care about most. No production end year is firmly established, only that the unit is no longer in production. The unit weighs 11 kg. No jitter specification, no channel separation measurement, and no confirmed DAC chip part number survive in the available material. One seller's note claims later McIntosh DACs moved to ESS delta-sigma chips afterward, implying the MDA1000 did not, but that is a claim rather than documentation. There are no service bulletins, no notes on common failures, and no serial number ranges or production quantities. The unit has a quiet but devoted following. Used examples in excellent condition have surfaced recently around €1,800 to $2,400 AUD, with cleaner US listings asking considerably more.
- Type: two-channel upsampling D/A converter, 768kHz/24-bit, eight 24-bit DAC circuits
- Inputs: seven digital (three coaxial, three optical, one AES/EBU balanced)
- Outputs: one RCA and one XLR pair; variable or fixed, fully balanced
- THD: 0.002% · S/N: >110dB · Dynamic range: >100dB
- Dimensions: 17-1/2 × 6 × 16-1/8 in (W×H×D, incl. feet and front panel)
- Power: 20W
eBay Listings
As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our independent vintage technology research.