McIntosh unveils the high-end MS750 digital music server

High-end audio manufacturer McIntosh Laboratory (they were around long before a couple kids named Steve started fooling around in their garage) is looking to take back some space on the audiophile shelf from all those wannabe-pro upstarts like the Slim Transporter with its new MS750 music server. The unit features a 750GB drive, CD burner, and a FLAC encoder that can be run in real time from the unit's inputs, so purists can rip their precious vinyl at least without lossy encoding. In addition, the MS750 supports WMA, MP3, and AAC -- perfect for those newly DRM-free "high-quality" iTunes Plus tracks. Music can be streamed to and from the rig via the built-in Ethernet and McIntosh's Music Guide software, and the server can be network controlled or integrated into a home automation rig through the multiple RS-232 serial ports. All those connections don't come cheap, though -- McIntosh says the MS750 will set you back six large when it drops in June.

[Anthony @ May 31st 2007 1:17PM]

This is interesting ($6k notwithstanding), but I'd really like a digital media receiver. My dream would be to pop in a DVD, move contents to the hard drive receiver & then play at will.

I'd ask Engaget if something like this exists, but of course they don't do a question/answer session anymore on their podcasts. Wait. They don't do podcasts anymore either.

[Gordon @ Jun 1st 2007 2:11PM]

UK-based media server specialist imerge has announced a DVD media server (MS5000) to complement its range of CD media servers
(http://www.imerge.co.uk). Not sure if it's shipping yet.

[Whackmushrooms @ May 31st 2007 2:53PM]

podcasts are so 2006.

anyway this thing is just slightly smaller than the original xbox and for "high-end" item it looks straight out of the hi-fi era .. UGLAH!

but if it does what it promises i guess we can just put a paper bag over it or something.

[kakapo @ May 31st 2007 2:52PM]

OK... let me get this straight - I buy a Mcintosh Lab goodie (a technical term for this so 1980s piece of almost ran) and I load all of my music onto it (from my CDs and Digital Files on my confuser) and then I burn CDs to play in my car, boat or protable CD player... Yep, that's with the times. AND I have the opportunity to pay $6,000 for it. OH, OH! The clincher - multiple RS232 ports in the back!!! Woohoo... please! reserve me one or ten -

Who in Mcintosh marketing came up with tis idea. And I have owned Mcintosh Lab equipment yonks ago - bought my first Mcintosh Black receiver in 1980s.. hmmmm.

(by the way - a kakapo is a flightless bird from New Zealand for all the wise crackers)

[Matt @ May 31st 2007 3:05PM]

Save your $ and buy a Sonos - it will change your life

[blessingx @ May 31st 2007 4:51PM]

Save even more of your money and buy a Squeezebox.

[Andy @ May 31st 2007 3:10PM]

Music servers are definitely the wave of the future. If audiophiles can drag themselves away from their LPs I'm sure they will snatch up plenty of these.

[Jeff @ May 31st 2007 3:09PM]

"anyway this thing is just slightly smaller than the original xbox and for "high-end" item it looks straight out of the hi-fi era"

Not familiar with McIntosh equipment, I guess?

[Whackmushrooms @ May 31st 2007 3:38PM]

you left the uglah part out of the quote

[Chuck @ May 31st 2007 3:25PM]

I have McIntosh gear and wouldn't buy this. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure this thing sounds amazing, but I'd rather have a PC with digital out that allows my external dac or McIntosh processor / preamp to decode it (pretty good dacs there too).

[Emre Aydinceren @ May 31st 2007 3:32PM]

RS232 what port? Do they still exist?

[mike @ May 31st 2007 3:41PM]

This is the Altair reborn I take it... by the sounds of Engadget readers "lives" being changed by it..

[Matt @ May 31st 2007 5:14PM]

Squeezebox is the Vic 20 of digital music players. Sonos is the standard. Use it and you will see.

[Marky Mark @ May 31st 2007 6:54PM]

Aww man this stuff id OLD news!
A company called ReQuest has been doing this for 8 years!!!

check out their products here:
http://www.request.com/products/default.asp

get on the ball engadget!

[BobTurbo @ May 31st 2007 9:16PM]

High-end = rip-off

[Mikael @ Jun 1st 2007 1:56AM]

Just because it is FLAC doesn't mean that it is lossless for vinyl. FLAC is lossless for CDs, and they in turn are lossy compared to vinyl (Nitpickers corner: yes, CDs almost always sound better than vinyl in practice, but that doesn't mean that vinyl has higher resolution).

[L.Ellison @ Jun 9th 2007 6:59PM]

To my ears mbl sounds better