Taking advantage of new advances in digital audio can be tricky if your hardware is stuck in a technological rut but McIntosh may have the answer, for at least some of their products, with the arrival of the DA2 Digital Audio Module.
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I think not offering the DA2 pre-installed is a clever move - this way, they can clear out their stock of DA1's & not have to bulid up a stock of all these various amplifiers with DA1's AND DA2's. Then when they refresh each line, it can come with the DA2.