McIntosh MTI100 Sun Records Turntable: Because Elvis Hated Cheap Gear and Cash Only Rolled With Tubes

Sun Records didn’t just record rock & roll—it set it on fire. Memphis was the crossroads, Sam Phillips was the match, and names like Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Roy Orbison were the gasoline. From gospel and blues to hillbilly stomp and western swing, Sun didn’t care what you called it—as long as it moved.

Now that same spirit gets the full McIntosh treatment. The MTI100 Integrated Turntable: Sun Records Limited Edition isn’t just a piece of audio gear—it’s a celebration of American music history, built by the tube-loving perfectionists in Binghamton. With a custom-printed Sun Records glass plinth and matching felt slipmat, this limited run is as collectible as it is functional.

It’s a fully integrated system—turntable, preamp, and amplifier in one—with Bluetooth, aux inputs, and that unmistakable McIntosh sound. Just add speakers and your favorite Sun-era LPs.

Only a handful will be made. And like Sun’s early catalog, once they’re gone—they’re gone.

The McIntosh MTI100 Sun Records Edition Rocks Harder Than a Drunken Jerry Lee on a Steinway

At a glance, the McIntosh MTI100 Sun Records Limited Edition looks like a turntable with a nice badge and a few tubes for show. Look again. This is a full-blown hi-fi system dressed in Memphis swagger and Binghamton brains—a modern-day music machine that just happens to spin records. It’s a one-box wonder for anyone who wants real audio performance without sacrificing their living room to a rack of separates.

And this isn’t just any MTI100—it’s a custom Sun Records Edition, complete with a stunning glass plinth printed with the legendary logo and a matching felt slipmat. It’s a tip of the hat to the birthplace of rock & roll, but built for today.

Under the hood, it’s packing a high-performance belt-drive turntable that plays both 33-1/3 and 45 RPM records. A 7-pound aluminum platter and matching tonearm sit atop McIntosh’s signature 3/8” glass and a 1/4” thick steel plate—because mass matters when you’re trying to keep the shakes of the modern world away from your vinyl. The industrial-grade synchronous motor keeps things locked in time with the precision of a Sun studio tape machine in its prime.

The cartridge? That’s a Sumiko Olympia Moving Magnet—punchy, dynamic, and just refined enough to do justice to your mono Elvis pressings and your Sunday jazz records.

But the MTI100 isn’t just about the turntable. There’s an 80-watt-per-channel (into 4 ohms) Class D amplifier inside—clean, efficient, and more than capable of waking up a pair of bookshelf or tower speakers. Two 12AX7 vacuum tubes run the main preamp section, while a separately shielded phono stage handles vinyl duties with the kind of care Roy Orbison reserved for heartbreak ballads.

Digital inputs? Covered—optical and coaxial. Bluetooth? High Definition 4.2 with an external antenna for better range and fidelity. Plug in your phone, stream whatever guilty pleasure you won’t admit to owning on vinyl, and it’ll still sound like McIntosh.

There’s an analog input for your old CD player or cassette deck, a subwoofer output to add some extra Memphis thump, and a front-panel headphone jack driven by McIntosh’s High Drive amp, which doesn’t care if you’re using vintage Beyers or planar cans from the future—it powers everything with ease.

You can control it all with the included remote or via the two aluminum knobs on the front panel. There’s a glowing McIntosh logo in the top glass (because of course there is), and the die-cast aluminum name badge on the front reminds you this isn’t some flash-in-the-pan reissue—it’s real McIntosh gear.

Limited. Custom. Built like a Cadillac with tubes under the hood. The MTI100 Sun Records Edition isn’t for everyone. But if you know where rock & roll was born—and you know how you want to hear it—this one’s already speaking your language.

McIntosh SESSIONS Volume 2: Pure Johnny Cash — More Than Just a Turntable

Johnny Cash’s legendary grit and gravitas get the McIntosh treatment on SESSIONS Volume 2: Pure Johnny Cash — a no-nonsense, 18-track collection of rare, early Sun Records recordings you probably haven’t heard this clear before. This is the Man in Black like you’ve never experienced: raw, rough, and remastered to sonic perfection.

This collaboration between Sun Records and McIntosh digs deep into Cash’s formative years, pulling out seldom-heard versions of classics like Train of Love, Ballad of a Teenage Queen, and yes, I Walk The Line. All tracks were painstakingly remastered from the original analog tapes, preserving that gritty authenticity while adding layers of richness and detail that only a high-end system can reveal.

Pressed on heavyweight 180-gram vinyl, spun at 45 RPM across two 12-inch records, this isn’t just another Cash compilation. It’s a vinyl event crafted for collectors, audiophiles, and anyone who knows that Johnny’s voice deserves to be heard in full, unvarnished glory.

Available now in the US and soon hitting McIntosh dealers worldwide — $150 gets you the kind of audio treasure that turns any setup into a front-row seat at Sun Studios.

McIntosh MTI100 Sun Records Edition — Key Specifications

• Turntable Playback Speeds: 33-1/3 & 45 RPM (manual speed change via 2-speed pulley)
• Motor Type: Permanent magnet AC synchronous — precise speed control synced to power line frequency
• Platter: 7 lb machined aluminum for stable, vibration-resistant playback
• Cartridge Included: Sumiko Olympia Moving Magnet (dynamic and punchy)
• Amplifier Output: 80W per channel (4Ω), 50W per channel (8Ω) — Class D power with vacuum tube preamp warmth
• Preamplifiers: Dual vacuum tube main preamp + shielded phono stage for pristine vinyl signal
• Inputs & Outputs:
  • Analog input (1 unbalanced)
  • Digital inputs (1 coaxial, 1 optical)
  • Bluetooth 4.2 HD wireless with external antenna
  • Subwoofer output
  • Speaker outputs (4 or 8Ω compatible)
  • Front headphone jack powered by High Drive amp
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 75dB (Moving Magnet phono), 90dB (High-level inputs)
• Dimensions & Weight:
  • 19.25” W x 6.75” H x 14” D
  • 33.5 lbs (15.2 kg)

The Bottom Line

$8,500 is a lot for a turntable, no sugarcoating it. But the McIntosh MTI100 Sun Records Edition isn’t just spinning records—it’s handling everything else too. Amp, preamp, Bluetooth, digital inputs, sub out, headphone jack. Just add speakers and cables. That’s it.

The only thing this rig will really “hurt” is your wallet — but hey, at least your ears won’t suffer. And with Johnny Cash on vinyl to soften the blow, you might even enjoy it.

Where to buy:

• McIntosh MTI100 Sun Records Edition – $8,500 at McIntosh Labs
• McIntosh MTI100 – $8,000 at World Wide Stereo
• McIntosh Sessions Volume 2 – $150 at McIntosh labs

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