Personally not a McIntosh fan. Here is the result of an inquiry to Google Gemini AI (not really a fan of AI either...)
Philips TDA1543A mcintosh mcd12000
The McIntosh MCD12000
SACD/CD player and DAC does not use the Philips TDA1543A chip; instead, it uses modern, high-performance ESS SABRE PRO ES9038PRO DACs. The Philips TDA1543A is a much older, more basic DAC chip.
McIntosh MCD12000 Technical Overview
The McIntosh MCD12000 is a reference-level audio component that functions as both a high-end SACD/CD player and a full-featured digital-to-analog converter (DAC).
DAC Chips Used: The MCD12000 features two ESS SABRE PRO ES9038PRO 32-bit/8-channel DACs, with one dedicated to each stereo channel. Each DAC operates in Octal-Balanced Mono mode for optimal performance.
Analog Outputs: It offers both solid-state and vacuum tube (using one 12AT7 and one 12AX7A tube per channel) analog output stages, allowing users to choose their preferred sound signature.
Connectivity: It includes a wide range of inputs, such as two coaxial, two optical, one USB Type-B (supporting up to 32-bit/384kHz, DSD512), AES/EBU, and an MCT input for connection to other McIntosh components.
Disc Playback: The unit features a precision die-cast aluminum tray and a twin-laser optical pickup, reading data at twice the normal rate for enhanced error correction.
