McIntosh CS7500 Streaming Preamp – Quick Look

All Image Credit: McIntosh

McIntosh has released the new CS7500 two-channel streaming preamplifier that combines high-res network audio, extensive analogue connectivity and a dedicated preamplifier. Visually, the CS7500 is clearly part of  McIntosh family with its a mirror-finished stainless steel lower section with a hairline-brushed black titanium stainless steel upper chassis, familiar black glass front panel, illuminated logo and signature blue output meters giving it the brand’s unmistakable look and feel. Yours for £14,000, $12,500 or €16,000.

The CS7500 supports; Apple AirPlay, Bluetooth, Google Cast, Qobuz Connect, Roon Ready, Roon Tested, Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect, with audio formats to include; MP3, AAC, FLAC, ALAC, WMA, Ogg Vorbis,, WAV, M4A, OGG, AIFF. All bringing locally stored music and everyday wireless playback into the same ecosystem. With Bluetooth 5.0 support for AAC, Qualcomm aptX HD and Qualcomm aptX Adaptive, giving compatible devices access to higher-bitrates. Roon users are also catered to as the CS7500 is Roon Ready and carries a Roon Tested certification.

Analog and digital connectivity is well catered for having; six analogue inputs, made up of two balanced, three unbalanced and a dedicated phono input for turntables, plus seven digital audio inputs. Its next-generation, Quad Balanced, 8-channel, 32-bit DAC architecture providing high-resolution playback, with USB supporting native DSD512 and DXD up to 384KHz, coaxial and optical inputs handle up to 24-bit/192KHz and there is HDMI ARC for TV audio. Outputs connectivity is similarly well catered having two pairs of balanced and unbalanced variable outputs plus a fixed unbalanced output, while the second set of variable outputs can be assigned for subwoofer use, either as a single sub or stereo pair.

The two-channel technical performance is stellar too, having a quoted total harmonic distortion of 0.005%. Its high-level signal-to-noise ratio is rated at 100dB. Vinyl enthusiasts are not forgotten either having a phono input that can be configured for moving coil or moving magnet cartridges, with selectable gain options of 40dB, 46dB, 52dB, 58dB or 64dB and an SNR specified at 80dB for moving coil cartridges and 82dB for moving magnet. Frequency response is quoted at +0/-0.5dB from 20Hz to 20KHz and +0/-3dB from 15Hz to 100KHz.

Rear panel analog connectivity includes; 2 x stereo XLR and 3 x Stereo RCA line level and 1 x RCA MM/MC phono inputs plus, 1 x stereo XLR and 1 x stereo RCA line level variable outputs, 1 x stereo RCA fixed line level output and 1 x stereo RCA and XLR subwoofer outputs. Digital signal connectivity includes; 2 x optical, 2 x coaxial, 1 x USB, 1 x HDMI ARC, 1 x RJ45 Network  and 1 x MCT. Control is available using the 3.5mm; 4 x 12VDC trigger I/O and passthru, IR in, RS232 and 4 x data out connectors.

Features At A Glance:

• Frequency Response:
  • +0, -0.5 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz
  • +0, -3 dB from 15 Hz to 100 kHz
• Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.005% from 20 Hz to 20 KHz
• Rated Output:
  • Unbalanced: 2.5 V
  • Balanced: 5 V
  • Fixed Output: 450 mV
• Maximum Voltage Output:
  • Unbalanced: 8 V RMS
  • Balanced: 16 V RMS
• Sensitivity (for rated output):
  • Unbalanced: 450 mV
  • Balanced: 900 mV
  • Phono MM: 4.5 mV
  • Phono MC: 0.45 mV
• Signal To Noise Ratio (A-Weighted):
  • High Level: 100 dB (Below rated output)
  • MM Phono: 82 dB (Below 5 mV input)
  • MC Phono: 80 dB (Below 0.5 mV input)
• Input Impedance:
  • Unbalanced: 22k ohms
  • Balanced: 44k ohms
  • Phono: 100, 400, 750, 1k, or 47k ohms, 50 to 400 pF in 50 pF steps
• Maximum Input Signal:
  • Unbalanced: 5 V
  • Balanced: 10 V
  • Phono MM: 80 mV
  • Phono MC: 8 mV
• Voltage Gain:
  • High Level to Fixed Output: 0 dB
  • High Level to Main Output: 15 dB
  • Phono: 40 dB, 46 dB, 52 dB, 58 dB, or 64 dB
• Output Impedance
  • Unbalanced: 100 ohms
  • Balanced: 200 ohms
• Headphone Load Impedance: 100 ohms to 600 ohms
• Digital Input Signal Format:
  • Coaxial: SPDIF (PCM), bitstream
  • Optical: SPDIF (PCM), bitstream
  • MCT: SACD, PCM
  • USB AUDIO: DSD, DXD, PCM
  • HDMI: PCM, Dolby Digital, DTS
• Digital Input Sample Rates:
  • Optical: PCM 16-bit, 24-bit 44.1-192 KHz
  • Coaxial: PCM 16-bit, 24-bit 44.1-192 KHz
  • MCT: PCM, 16-bit, 24-bit 44.1-192 KHz, SACD
  • USB: PCM 16-bit, 24-bit, 32-bit 44.1-192 KHz
  • DXD DXD352.8 kHz, DXD384 KHz
  • DSD DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, DSD512
  • HDMI: PCM 24-bit, 44.1-192 KHz, bitstream
• Digital Inputs:
  • Coaxial: 0.5 V p-p/75 ohms
  • Optical: -15 dBm to -21 dBm (TOS Link)
  • MCT: 0.5 V p-p/75 ohms
  • USB 2.0:USB Type-B Connector
  • HDMI: 2.0 ARC
• Digital Network/Wi-Fi Input Sample Rate 24-bit/44.1k Hz to 192K Hz
• Streaming Support: Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal, Connect, Roon, Qobuz Connect
• Supported Audio Formats: MP3, AAC, FLAC, ALAC, WMA, Ogg Vorbis,, WAV, M4A, OGG, AIFF
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi CERTIFIED a, b, g, n, ac, WPA, WPA2, WMM, 2.4/5 GHz, Ethernet
• Bluetooth 5.0: AVRCP, A2DP, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
• Power Consumption (On): 30 Watts
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 17.5″ (44.45cm) x 6″ (15.2cm) x 17” (43.2cm)
• Weight: 25 lbs (11.3 Kg)
• Remote: HR085