McIntosh Laboratory has launched the new D150 digital preamp — a flexible DSD- and DXD-compatible digital preamp. 

The new D150 has been designed to offer flexibility when adding digital source components to an audio system and supports many of the latest digital audio formats. With its five digital inputs (2x coaxial, 2x optical and 1x USB), plus balanced and unbalanced connections for both variable and fixed volume audio outputs, the D150 is suited to exploiting today’s high-resolution studio-master- quality digital music.

Its USB input accepts up to 32-bit/384kHz signals and supports DSD64, DSD128, DXD 352.8kHz and DXD 384kHz. Its two coaxial and two optical inputs accept up to 24-bit/192kHz signals, plus its DIN input also connects to select McIntosh SACD/CD transports/ players.

The D150 is a simple and cost-effective solution to adding digital music to an existing system, or with the addition of a power amp, speakers and digital source, the D150 can become the high-performance ‘hub’ of an all-digital set up.

The D150 also boasts a built-in headphone amplifier and uses the same DAC as the D100 (launched at CES 2013) and features an eight-channel 32-bit/192kHz D/A converter (used in stereo Quad Balanced mode.

The D150 is distinctly McIntosh, too: it shares the same classic visuals, controls and hand- crafted black-glass front panels as all the other McIntosh components and yet is easy to position with its compact, 10cm-tall chassis.

Specifications

Distortion                                                                    0.002%

Frequency response                                                    (+0, -3db) 4Hz to 68kHz Maximum output voltage (balanced/unbalanced)                      16/8V rms

Input impedance (balanced/unbalanced)                  44kohm, 22kohm

Signal to noise ratio                                                    110db

Headphone output                                                      6.35mm

Variable outputs unbalanced                                      1x stereo

Variable outputs balanced                                          1x stereo

Digital USB input                                                         1x 2.0, 32-bit/192k asynchronous; 44.1kHz to 384kHz, 32-bit (PCM) DSD64, DSD128, DXD352.8kHz, DXD384kHz

Digital S/PDIF inputs                                                   2x Opt, 2x Coax, 24/192

Power control output                                                  1x

Rear panel data ports                                                 1x

Rear panel IR sensor input                                         1x

Dimensions (WxHxD)                                                  44.45 x 9.8cm x 40.64cm

Weight                                                                        6.1kg

The D150 sells for £3,495 and will be available in the UK in late January