McIntosh has announced a new turntable that brings the famous McIntosh sound and build quality at a new low price point to vinyl collections everywhere (£4,995) www.mcintoshlabs.com
McIntosh’s new MT2 Precision Turntable is its most affordable turntable ever produced. It combines the latest turntable technology with the New York giant’s legendary aesthetic, design and build quality.
The entry-level MT2 Precision Turntable features an advanced electronic and mechanical design ensuring many years of smooth, trouble-free operation. The deck plays both 33-1/3 and 45 rpm records and is ready to use straight from the box, with all presets taken care of at the New York factory.
Highly versatile, the MT2 comes with a pre-installed moving coil- (MC) type cartridge with an output high enough to enable compatibility with moving magnet (MM) inputs on partnering equipment, enabling huge flexibility with a range of devices.
The MT2’s unique cartridge design benefits from noise-free musical reproduction thanks to its high impedance and high output voltage. This cartridge features an alloy cantilever and an elliptical diamond stylus with exceptional tracking capability.
Its lightweight yet rigid tonearm is constructed from duraluminium with special damping materials. The noise-free vertical bearings feature two precision-ceramic surfaces with damping fluid; the horizontal bearing is a gimballed sapphire design.
The belt-driven solid black outer platter is made from a special dynamically balanced polyoxymethylene (POM) and is over 1” (25.4mm) thick. Its mass helps to both resist and absorb the external vibrations that can cause unwanted noise during playback; its large mass also provides the perfect flywheel action for stable playback speed.
The inner platter is made of CNC-precision milled aluminium. The platters rotate on a polished and tempered steel shaft in a sintered bronze bushing. The DC motor is driven by an external voltage-stabilised power supply and is completely decoupled from the chassis, isolating the record from any mechanical interference.
The MT2’s sturdy plinth has a resonance-optimised and highly compressed wood base with a black lacquer finish, while the top and middle acrylic plates help absorb unwanted vibrations.
A subtle green glow emanates from under the platter and the outside edges of the plinth for a touch of refined ambience and connection to the McIntosh design aesthetic. A clear, contoured dust cover is included.
Pricing and availability
Orders can be placed now with authorised McIntosh dealers with shipping expected to begin in May (UK) £4,995