McIntosh CS7500
Free Shipping On All Orders, No Minimums.
We offer free 2-day shipping on most products within the continental US.
Weekdays - Orders placed by 2pm EST ship same day. Orders placed after 2pm EST will ship the following business day.
Weekends - Orders placed on Saturday and Sunday will ship Monday.
Orders requiring motor freight delivery may take more than two business days. Once your order has shipped, you'll receive a shipping confirmation email with a tracking number for easy tracking.
Orders for Open Box products ship with free ground shipping within the continental United States.
Orders that contain items that are currently backordered, special order, or out of stock will ship complete once all items are in-stock unless otherwise requested.
If you need it faster, you will have the option of choosing a quicker shipping option when you checkout on the website.
At this time, we do not ship internationally and orders to Hawaii and Alaska may incur an additional shipping charge. Please contact us at 888.899.8776 or email support@audioadvice.com to confirm.
Rerouting and Address Changes
We cannot make ANY address changes once an order is placed. If you are unable to accept delivery of your package as ordered, we will need to cancel your order, return the package to sender and have you replace your order through our website.
Keep the Box
We suggest you keep the shipping box or boxes for at least 30 days. It is actually a great idea to keep boxes for audio products for the life of the product. Having the box and all packing will increase the trade-in value should you decide to move up and they are handy to have should you ever need to send the unit in for repair.
How To Receive a Motor Freight Order
The trucking company will contact you to schedule a convenient time to deliver the order. Please note that you must be present for delivery.
Visually inspect the box to make sure you see no signs of damage. If you notice any damage at all, take some pictures with your phone and make a note of them on the delivery receipt the driver will ask you to sign. If it is obvious that the product is damaged, please refuse the order and contact us immediately at 888.899.8776 or email support@audioadvice.com.
Open your box as soon as possible and inspect the product for damage and contact us if you find anything wrong.
FedEx Freight Service Comparison
| Feature / Service | Scheduled Curbside Delivery | White Glove Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled delivery appointment | ✔ | ✔ |
| Delivery location | Ground level only (garage, front door, loading dock) | Room of choice, any floor |
| Delivery team | 1 person | 2 people |
| Placement inside home/business | ✘ | ✔ |
| Upstairs / downstairs delivery | ✘ | ✔ |
| Unpacking | ✘ | ✔ (upon request) |
| Packaging removal | ✘ | ✔ (upon request) |
| Assembly / installation | ✘ | ✘ |
| Old item removal | ✘ | ✘ |
At Audio Advice, we pride ourselves on customer satisfaction. We'll bend over backward to make sure you're 100% satisfied and we won't accept anything less. We offer 30-day hassle-free returns and personalized service from real, live people.
If an item doesn't meet your expectations, you may return or exchange it in its original condition and packaging within 30 days for a full refund, minus shipping fees. Items shipped back in like new condition through standard shipping carriers will incur a minimum $15 return shipping fee. If the items were initially shipped through free scheduled delivery via motor freight (commonly referred to as LTL), returning them will result in return shipping fees starting at $150. These items include but are not limited to, oversized items such as TVs, certain subwoofers, floorstanding speakers, furniture, and most items weighing over 75 pounds. Return fees will also apply for exchanges. We want to treat your system as if it is our own and want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase.
Please see the instructions below. We only accept returns for any product purchased directly from our website. If merchandise is not returned in its original condition or is missing packaging, manuals, accessories or other parts, or the resale value of the product has been impaired, a partial refund will be given and calculated on a case-by-case basis.
Non-Returnable Items
The following items cannot be returned or cancelled:
- Special/Custom Order Items
- Gift Cards
- In-ear headphones cannot be returned once the packaging has been opened due to personal hygiene reasons. Please contact our customer care team if you'd like help choosing.
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Turntables With a Broken Stylus: All turntables ship out with the stylus intact. If you return a turntable or phono cartridge with a broken or missing stylus you will be subject to a return fee. Please be careful when setting up your turntable and contact us with any questions.
Is It Easy To Return An Item?
Yes, simply give us a call at 888.899.8776 or you can email our support team at support@audioadvice.com. Many times our team of experts can help figure out why the product might not be working like you expected and get things fixed over the phone, so don’t be surprised if we ask a few questions, we love troubleshooting!
If our tech help can not make you happy, we will email over a return shipping label with a Return Number.
Hopefully, you saved all of the original item’s box and packaging inserts. You will want to pack back up your return or exchange in the same way it came out of the original box. Once you have everything packaged correctly, tape the box on the top and bottom to assure it stays together. If Audio Advice shipped the item to you inside a second box, it's a good idea to use that same extra box to help prevent damage on its way back to us. To avoid it accidentally coming back to you, use a magic marker to cross out the old shipping label or just tear it off.
The return shipping label we send you will have our address on it, just make sure you take the box to the right shipper (UPS, FEDEX, or USPS) as per the label.
If you are close to one of our stores, please let us know if it is more convenient for you to return it to us directly. You will still need to get a return number by contacting us and shipping and/or restocking charges may apply.
When Will I See My Refund?
It usually takes around 7-14 days for the refund to show up on the payment method you used. We do inspect all returns for damage and accuracy of the item inside the box before issuing a refund. Some items may be subject to shipping and restocking fees.
Can I Exchange My Purchase For Something Different?
Sometimes those big speakers just don’t fit in the room or you might have bought a small subwoofer and later found out you’d love a bigger one. If you would like to make an exchange within 30 days of receiving your item, just give us a call at 888.899.8776 or email support@audioadvice.com and we will help work out the details. Additional shipping charges and return costs may apply.
How Do I Cancel An Order?
If the item has already shipped out or is a special order item, it is not possible to cancel the order. Please contact us at 888.899.8776 or email support@audioadvice.com to start the return process.
What If I Find Shipping Damage?
We need to know right away about any shipping damage. Please contact us at 888.899.8776 or email support@audioadvice.com within 48 hours of your delivery so we can get the ball rolling on making things right. It’s very helpful to take some pictures and email them to us if possible.
Can I Refuse A Shipment?
You can, but unless the item is damaged, shipping and restocking fees will be deducted from your refund. If your item arrives damaged and you are lucky enough to be there, snap some quick pics and refuse the order. Then contact us so we can get a replacement on the way.
What Happens If My Order Is Defective?
This is actually pretty rare, most consumer electronics work fine out of the box 99.9% of the time. We’d like for you to contact us first by calling 888.899.8776 or email support@audioadvice.com so we can help get to the bottom of things. If your item is indeed defective during the first 30 days, we can usually exchange it for a new, replacement unit.
What About Service After 30 Days?
Audio Advice has a great relationship with all of our brands and can help you with warranty service by the brand after our 30-day guarantee period. Even after the warranty expires, we can arrange for service by the brand on products purchased from Audio Advice. Just call 888.899.8776 or email support@audioadvice.com.
How Do You Determine A Restocking Fee?
You may not believe it, but sometimes we receive items back that were put in the box with zero packaging and are completely destroyed or are missing many of the pieces that came with the item. We also track serial numbers and will get back different serial numbers. We’ve even seen different items than what we shipped out be returned. However, it’s very important to package your return properly so that nothing goes missing or gets damaged in shipping, which will result in a restocking fee or even no refund at all. If a product is opened and the market value of the product is reduced, then a restocking fee may be applied to the cost of restocking and the reduced market value of the product. The bottom line is if you treat us fairly, we will do the same.
Audio Advice strives to provide industry-leading support and service while also maintaining the lowest prices available on products for our customers. We work hard with our vendors to bring our customers the best products at each price point. As a part of that process, we work with our vendors to provide the lowest pricing in our stores and on our website.
Our prices should always be the same as any other authorized dealer, including big-box retailers and major online retailers.
If you believe that you have found a lower advertised price from a legitimate authorized seller, call us and let us know so we can make sure we can correct any inadvertent error on our side. As a matter of policy, we update our prices automatically if a vendor changes its authorized pricing policies, so we generally have the best prices all the time. Increasingly, there are knock-off copies of products online, usually sold by non-authorized dealers.
Please be sure that the item meets the following conditions:
- The item is brand new, in stock, and available for purchase
- The item has the identical model number, color, etc as the item on our site.
- The seller is an authorized dealer
As always, our goal is to provide a terrific customer experience, including industry low prices. We appreciate your support.
Overview
Everything connects
The CS7500 Streaming Preamplifier brings together state-of-the-art streaming and expert preamplification in one uncompromising component – combining the roles of a dedicated preamplifier and network streamer in an unmistakable McIntosh design. Serving as the centerpiece of your system, the CS7500 lets you choose the power amplifier that best suits your needs today while providing the freedom to grow and refine your system over time.
Whether rediscovering a classic or streaming something entirely new, the CS7500 ensures each listening session feels intentional and connected – between artist, system, and listener. Every detail, every part, every element of its design exists to preserve what matters most: music's ability to move, inspire, and connect us.
Connected to everything that moves you
Streaming is more than just convenience, it’s about connection – connection to the world, to music, to culture. The CS7500 integrates modern digital ecosystems with effortless precision, giving you instant access to the music that moves you without sacrificing fidelity.
Built-in support for Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect (including Spotify Lossless), and TIDAL Connect (including TIDAL Max) allows music to stream directly from each service to the CS7500. This direct connection bypasses your phone or smart device and avoids unnecessary audio compression, ensuring that the highest available audio signal reaches your system. Your smart device becomes a simple, intuitive remote control, with no need for additional complex apps – just use the Connect option in the native Qobuz, Spotify, or TIDAL app interfaces you already know.1, 2 In addition, music stored on your devices can be streamed via Apple AirPlay, Bluetooth, or Google Cast, bringing all of your streaming sources together in one cohesive platform.
Streaming over Bluetooth is elevated through a suite of advanced technologies engineered for performance. The CS7500 supports high-bitrate Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), along with Qualcomm aptX HD for high-resolution playback, and Qualcomm aptX Adaptive for consistently stable, high-quality streaming.
The CS7500 has received Roon Ready certification from Roon, making it an endpoint device for use with the Roon music player. Roon Ready network devices have Roon streaming technology built in and are certified by Roon to provide the highest level of quality and performance in network streaming. It has also received Roon Tested certification to ensure simple setup and effortless daily use.
Built to bring everything together
A comprehensive suite of physical inputs ensures seamless integration with your audio system. The CS7500 features 6 analog inputs consisting of 2 balanced, 3 unbalanced, 1 dedicated phono input for turntables, plus 7 digital audio inputs. Each digital input is engineered for high-resolution playback – the USB input supports native DSD512 and DXD up to 384kHz, while the coaxial and optical inputs handle up to 24-bit / 192kHz, delivering exceptional fidelity across formats.
At the heart of its digital performance is an audiophile-grade digital-to-analog converter (DAC) designed to extract the full potential from every file. This next-generation, Quad Balanced, 8-channel, 32-bit architecture delivers expansive dynamic range with extremely low distortion. The result is a level of clarity, depth, and precision that brings digital music to life with remarkable realism.
Elevate every moment on screen with the HDMI (ARC) input, seamlessly connecting your TV to a higher standard of sound.3 Experience your favorite shows and movies with a level of clarity, depth, and presence that built-in TV speakers and conventional soundbars simply cannot match. Popular multi-channel audio formats from Dolby and DTS are expertly converted to two-channel audio, preserving the integrity of the original mix while delivering a refined and immersive listening experience.
The CS7500 outputs are designed for both flexibility and performance. It features 2 pairs of balanced and unbalanced variable outputs, along with a fixed unbalanced output, allowing seamless connection to your system’s power amplifier(s). The second set of balanced and unbalanced outputs can be dedicated to low-frequency reinforcement, supporting either a single subwoofer or a pair of stereo subwoofers – delivering greater depth, weight, and authority to every note.
A visual signature of performance
The iconic blue meters on the CS7500 do more than indicate output levels – they become an integral part of the listening experience. Beyond their visual presence, they capture the movement and intensity of the music, deepening the connection between system and listener. The result is a performance that resonates on multiple levels, where sound is not only heard, but visibly expressed with a sense of authority that defines the entire experience.
The CS7500’s aesthetics matches its elevated performance. It features a stainless steel lower chassis polished to a mirror finish, paired with a hairline-brushed black titanium stainless steel upper chassis. All of this creates a striking balance of depth, contrast, and refinement – designed to be proudly displayed.
Featuring the signature McIntosh black glass front panel, iconic blue meters, illuminated logo, precision rotary knobs, an elevated chassis, and custom-machined brushed end caps, the CS7500 stands out and makes a statement even before the music begins.
Built for how you listen
The CS7500 is a statement of intent – a streaming preamplifier that unites analog with digital while elevating both. It is designed for those who expect connection, presence, and meaning in every note. With the authority of McIntosh engineering, it reveals layers in your music you didn’t know existed – deeper textures, wider staging, and a sense of control that transforms listening into immersion.
With comprehensive connectivity and seamless streaming integration, the CS7500 brings modern access to a legacy of performance. Contact your local McIntosh dealer to unite your digital libraries and timeless analog sources into one cohesive, effortless experience.
Footnotes
1. To connect the CS7500 to your wireless network via an Android device, or to enable Google Cast functionality from any type of device, you will need to use our McIntosh Cast Connect app that is available for both Android and Apple devices.
2. All services may not be available in all regions; certain services may not yet be enabled for all apps; subscriptions may be required.
3. The HDMI (ARC) input will only play audio from a compatible TV. It will not pass video to or from a TV, or play audio from any non-TV source. TV must have an HDMI (ARC) output.
Non-McIntosh-Provided Services: Embedded and/or non-embedded services, e.g. those listed above, are necessary for full functionality, are provided by companies unrelated to McIntosh, and are beyond McIntosh’s control. McIntosh cannot and does not warrant against interruption, discontinuance, unsatisfactory performance, reduced Product functionality, or damages of any kind attributable to such services or their providers.
