McIntosh MA8950 integrated amplifier

Founded in 1949, McIntosh can be said to be the world's most legendary hi-fi equipment manufacturer. All McIntosh products offer the ultimate experience in music and movies. Our iconic blue Watt power meter is recognized worldwide as a symbol of quality sound. With the help of a McIntosh home stereo system or home theater, listeners can experience their own luxurious sound experience, the rooting of which bites into the body and mind is unparalleled.

McIntosh's flagship products are designed and handcrafted in our Binghamton, New York factory by a team of dedicated, long-time employees with a burning passion for music and the McIntosh legacy. Since its inception, McIntosh has played a significant part in the most important moments in music history and pop culture. From President Lyndon Johnson's commencement speech to Woodstock's famous "Wall of Sound" by the Grateful Dead; McIntosh hasn't just seen history, he's shaped it.

The MA8950's predecessor, the MA8900, has been a very popular model in McIntosh's range of integrated amplifiers. The novelty further strengthens its predecessor's incredible performance, e.g. with power supply improvements, as well as bringing the top-level DA2 digital card to the standard equipment.

The mass of more than 34 kilograms indicates that it is a convincing amplifier. The Autoformer™ transformers guarantee that your speakers receive a minimum of 200 watts of virtually distortion-free power per channel in all situations, regardless of whether the speakers have an impedance of 2, 4 or 8 ohms. Thanks to the MA8950 Autoformers, the matching of the amplifier to the speakers is optimal. In this way, the amplifier also works amazingly cool, which contributes to McIntosh's characteristic, traditionally decades-long reliability.

The amplifier has 9 analog inputs consisting of one balanced XLR and six RCA stereo inputs, as well as MC and MM inputs for connecting turntables. The MC input has an adjustable load, so practically any sound box fits nicely with the MA8950. All analog RCA connectors are gold-plated and made of high-quality solid brass to ensure a clean signal path and solid grounding. The MA8950 also includes the possibility of RCA separation of the front and rear stages, if you want to connect to it, for example, an amplifier in another room, a room corrector or a subwoofer. There is also a fixed RCA input for analog recording, for example.

A DA2 Digital Audio Module card is pre-installed in the amplifier for digital music and TV connection. DA2 has 7 digital audio inputs: 2 coaxial, 2 optical, 1 USB and 1 MCT (for use with MCT series SACD / CD players) and 1 HDMI input (TV ARC connection). The heart of DA2 beats a new generation 32-bit and Quad balanced architecture. This audiophile-quality DAC has a wider dynamic range and even lower harmonic distortion. DA2 supports high-resolution digital audio playback. The USB input supports studio-quality formats even in DSD512 and DXD formats up to 384 kHz sample rate, while the coaxial and optical inputs can decode digital music up to 24-bit / 192 kHz.

The HDMI ARC input allows you to connect a TV equipped with a compatible interface. In this way, TV and movies get a sound world that TV speakers or soundbars cannot offer in the first place. The DA2 also supports multi-channel Dolby® and DTS® audio formats, which are converted to stereo with piete. When CEC communication is enabled on both the amplifier and the TV, the TV remote control can control the volume of the MA8950. DA2 can be replaced with future modules to keep the MA8950 up to date as new digital audio formats and technologies evolve.

The DA2 has received the Roon Tested designation from Roon Labs, which can be especially useful if you have a large digital music library. Both Roon and McIntosh have profiled and tested the device to ensure perfect compatibility. Roon automatically detects the device and automatically sets sound settings optimized for its features. No scrolling through checkboxes or extra clicking; Roon Tested devices are automatically detected and configured for the best listening experience.

The whole device is wrapped in classic McIntosh aesthetics, the most visible example of which are the blue gauges, black glass front panel, precise control knobs, durable LED lighting in the logo and indicator lights, aluminum end fins and a beautiful stainless steel body with a polished mirror surface.

Features of the MA8950:

• At least 200 watts of pure continuous power to both channels
• 5-band analog tone control
• 16 inputs (9 analog + 7 digital)
• Pre-installed modular DA2 digital card
• Power Guard® monitors the output signal for overdrive and makes real-time micro-adjustments to the input signal to prevent unexpected signal clipping that could damage the speakers
• The Sentry Monitor™ fuseless short-circuit protection circuit shuts down the output level before the current supply exceeds a safe level, then automatically resumes operation when operating conditions return to normal
• Two "McIntosh Blue" peak signal wattmeters show the real-time output power of each audio channel
• McIntosh Monogrammed Heatsinks™ heatsinks are connected to advanced high-current terminal transistors that minimize thermal equalization delay (and warm-up time) and help keep the MA8950 cool in real-world operation
• The home theater's Passthru connection enables seamless integration into the home theater system
• The five-band analog tone control allows you to adjust the sound balance to suit your favorite recordings or the room's acoustics - without reducing the sound quality!
• The High Drive headphone amplifier with McIntosh's Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®) function enables a soundscape reminiscent of listening to speakers from headphones
• Power Control commands the connected McIntosh components so that the entire system can be turned on and off easily
• Doubling the filtering capacity of the power source compared to the previous generation ensures the extreme distortion of the signal even in difficult situations, and improves the control of low frequencies
• The latest reference class components ensure the best possible sound
• Powerful microprocessors make the device reliable and sophisticated
• Easy to use with high-quality switches on the front panel and the included remote control
• Amplifier power: minimum 200W per channel (8/4/2 Ohm)
• Dynamic capacity: 3.1 dB
• Harmonic distortion: 0.005% (max. 400W with burst power for both channels)
• Frequency response: 10 Hz to 100 kHz +0 dB, -3 dB
• Power consumption in standby mode: less than 0.25 W
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 44.5 x 19.4 x 47.6 cm
• Weight: 34.1 kg