McIntosh MT5 Precision Turntable

Belt-drive turntable with magnetic platter bearing, custom tonearm, and Sumiko Amethyst Moving Magnet cartridge

The McIntosh MT5 Precision Turntable is a complete record-playing system supplied with its tonearm and Sumiko Amethyst Moving Magnet cartridge installed and adjusted at the factory. Tracking force, anti-skate, cartridge overhang, and tonearm height are preset, reducing setup to a few straightforward steps before playback.

The substantial silicon-acrylic platter rides on a magnetically suspended ceramic bearing that minimizes mechanical contact and helps isolate the record from bearing noise. A servo-controlled DC motor drives the platter by belt at 33-1/3, 45, or 78 rpm, with fine speed adjustment available for precise calibration.

The custom tonearm uses magnetic sapphire and ceramic bearings to reduce friction, along with magnetic anti-skate. Vertical tracking angle, azimuth, and anti-skate are adjustable, allowing the arm to accommodate cartridge changes if desired.

The included Sumiko Amethyst is a high-output Moving Magnet cartridge using an extended line-contact stylus on an aluminum cantilever. Its 2.5 mV output and recommended 47 kΩ loading make it compatible with conventional MM phonostages.

The MT5 also incorporates one of McIntosh’s most distinctive turntable design elements: its translucent platter is softly illuminated in the company’s familiar green. The layered chassis is engineered to suppress vibration, resonance, and coloration, while a clear fitted dust cover protects the platter, tonearm, and cartridge when the turntable is not in use.

Features

Magnetically Suspended Platter Bearing

The silicon-acrylic platter rides on a magnetically suspended ceramic bearing designed to minimize mechanical contact, friction, and bearing noise while maintaining stable rotation.

Servo-Controlled Belt Drive

A DC motor with servo speed control drives the platter at 33-1/3, 45, or 78 rpm. Fine speed adjustment allows each playback speed to be precisely calibrated.

Custom Tonearm

The MT5 tonearm uses magnetic sapphire and ceramic bearings together with magnetic anti-skate to minimize friction as the cartridge traces the record groove. Vertical tracking angle, anti-skate, and azimuth are adjustable.

Sumiko Amethyst Cartridge

The factory-installed Sumiko Amethyst Moving Magnet cartridge features an extended line-contact stylus and aluminum cantilever. Its 2.5 mV output is suitable for standard Moving Magnet phono inputs.

Factory Adjusted

Tracking force, anti-skate, cartridge overhang, and tonearm height are adjusted at the factory, simplifying initial setup while providing a properly configured starting point for playback.

Illuminated Platter

The translucent platter is softly illuminated in McIntosh green, visually tying the MT5 to the company’s amplifiers and preamplifiers.

Power Control

McIntosh Power Control input and output connections allow the MT5’s power and platter illumination to be coordinated with compatible McIntosh components.

What’s Included

• McIntosh MT5 Precision Turntable
• Custom tonearm
• Sumiko Amethyst Moving Magnet cartridge
• Dust cover

Specifications

Drive Type: Belt drive

Playback Speeds: 33-1/3, 45, and 78 rpm

Motor: DC motor with stainless-steel brushes

Speed Control: Servo system with fine adjustment

Platter: Silicon acrylic

Platter Bearing: Magnetically suspended ceramic

Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 36–41 dB

Wow and Flutter: 0.15–0.20%

Tonearm Bearing: Magnetic sapphire and ceramic

Tonearm Tube: Duraluminum

Counterweight: Eccentric

Tonearm Adjustments: Vertical tracking angle, anti-skate, azimuth

Cartridge: Sumiko Amethyst Moving Magnet

Cartridge Output: 2.5 mV at 5 cm/s

Recommended Load Impedance: 47 kΩ

Cartridge Frequency Response: 12 Hz–35 kHz

Channel Separation: 30 dB at 1 kHz

Channel Difference: Less than 0.5 dB at 1 kHz

Compliance: 12 × 10⁻⁶ cm/dyne

Recommended Tracking Force: 2 g

Cartridge Mass: 6.5 g

Stylus: Extended line contact

Cantilever: Aluminum

Analog Outputs: 1 stereo unbalanced

Power Control Inputs: 1

Power Control Outputs: 1

Platter Illumination: Yes

Dust Cover: Included

Dimensions (H × W × D): 7" × 17-1/2" × 17" (17.8 × 44.45 × 43.18 cm); 7-1/2" (19 cm) high with dust cover

Weight: 31.5 lb. (14.3 kg)