McIntosh MA8950 - Audiophile Integrated Amplifier
The MA8950 Integrated Amplifier offers 200 Watts per channel and combines McIntosh's amplification expertise and preamplifier technologies into one comprehensive stereo sound system component. It replaces the award-winning MA8900 and adds additional performance enhancements to an already outstanding stereo integrated amplifier.
Dynamic headroom has increased from 2.0dB to 3.1dB in the MA8950 as a result of its filter capacity being doubled. This gives the MA8950 even greater ability to reproduce musical peaks with less distortion. The increased filter capacity will also help deliver more amazing bass playback, low end performance, and overall bass control.
The MA8950 comes standard with the DA2 Digital Audio Module instead of the DA1 Digital Audio Module that came in the MA8900. The DA2 offers 7 digital inputs: 2 coaxial, 2 optical, 1 USB, 1 MCT, and 1 audio-only HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC)1 connection. TVs with a compatible HDMI (ARC) output can be connected to the MA8950 to enjoy your TV’s sound like never before through your home music system. Popular multi-channel audio formats from Dolby® and DTS® are supported and will be expertly converted to 2-channel audio for proper playback. The MA8950 remote can control the TV’s power and volume when CEC communication is enabled in both the amplifier and the TV. The DA2 also features increased DSD playback support of up to DSD512 via the USB input.
The DA2 is powered by an audiophile-grade, Quad Balanced, 8-channel, 32-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) that has improvements in both dynamic range and total harmonic distortion compared to the DAC in the DA1. The coax and optical inputs in the DA2 can decode digital music up to 24-bit/192kHz for playback of high-resolution audio. The DA2 has a McIntosh exclusive MCT input that offers a secure DSD connection to any of our MCT series of SACD/CD Transports to deliver the best possible sound quality of the high-definition audio found on your SACDs. And with its modular design, it's possible to someday replace the DA2 with a newer Digital Audio Module.
With its vast selection of digital audio inputs, analog connectivity has not been overlooked on the MA8950. It comes with 1 balanced and 6 unbalanced stereo inputs plus 1 Moving Coil and 1 Moving Magnet phono inputs for your turntable(s). All inputs can be given custom names for user-friendly system control and configuration. The Moving Coil phono input comes with adjustable loading so you can fine tune the sound of your vinyl records. All unbalanced analog connectors are made from premium gold-plated solid brass for superior signal handling and grounding. All analog and digital inputs can be given custom names for user-friendly system control and configuration. For further flexibility in setting up your stereo system, the MA8950 includes an unbalanced fixed output and an unbalanced variable output that can be used to send the audio signal to a second power amplifier.
Other updates include upgraded power supply components for even lower noise emission and added reliability under the most demanding conditions. The MA8950 continues to use powerful control microprocessors for robust and smooth system operation, as well as some of the latest state-of-the-art audio-grade circuit components to produce the best sound possible.
The MA8950's 200 Watts per channel are delivered by a pair of the famous McIntosh Autoformer™ and is enough power to properly drive virtually all loudspeakers. The unique design of the Autoformer guarantees your speakers will always receive the full 200 Watts regardless if they have 2, 4 or 8 Ohm impedance.
The MA8950 is one of many McIntosh products to receive Roon Tested designation from Roon Labs. As a Roon Tested partner, McIntosh has provided equipment to Roon for testing with a variety of different operating systems and computers, and shared information about its design and capabilities.
The entire unit is wrapped in the timeless McIntosh aesthetic with a black glass front panel with LED lighting, blue watt meters, control knobs, illuminated logo, aluminum end caps and a beautiful polished stainless steel chassis.
Other McIntosh features included in the MA8950 are:
- Power Guard® that continuously monitors input and output signals and can dynamically adjust input levels to ensure maximum output while avoiding harsh sounding distortion and clipping that could damage your speakers
- Our fuse-less short-circuit protection technology Sentry Monitor™ that disengages the output stage before the current can exceed safe operating levels and then resets automatically when operating conditions return to normal
- McIntosh Monogrammed Heatsinks™ that are made from high quality materials with excellent thermal conductivity and heat dissipation properties
- Home Theater PassThru that allows for seamless integration into a home theater system
- High Drive headphone amplifier with Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®) which can bring an added dimension to headphone listening
- A discrete, five-band tone control that allows for advanced manual analog adjustment of ±12dB in 2dB increments of your favorite recordings at frequencies of 30Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, 2kHz, and 10kHz
- Power Control to send power on/off signals to connected McIntosh components for easy system power up and shutdown
- Gold-plated speaker binding posts that prevent corrosion to ensure a quality signal is sent over your speaker cables to your speakers
Features
- 200 Watts x 2 channel
- 5-band tone control
- Comes with DA2 Digital Audio Module installed
- 55% increase in Dynamic Headroom for better music peak reproduction
Specifications
ELECTRONIC SPECIFICATIONS
- Power Output per Channel 200 Watts
- Number of Channels 2
- Speaker Impedance 2, 4, or 8 Ohms
- Rated Power Band 20Hz to 20kHz
- Total Harmonic Distortion 0.005%
- Dynamic Headroom 3.1dB
- Frequency Response +0,-0.5dB 20Hz to 20kHz
- Frequency Response +0, -3dB 10Hz to 100kHz
- Sensitivity Phono (Moving Coil) 0.25mV
- Sensitivity Phono (Moving Magnet) 2.5mV
- Sensitivity High Level (Balanced / Unbalanced) 0.5V/0.25V
- Sensitivity (Power Amp input) 1.4V
- Signal To Noise Ratio (Moving Coil) 80dB
- Signal To Noise Ratio (Moving Magnet) 82dB
- Signal To Noise Ratio (High Level) 95dB
- Signal To Noise Ratio (Power Amp input) 113dB
- Input Impedance (Balanced / Unbalanced) 20K/20K
- Damping Factor >40
- Maximum Output (Balanced / Unbalanced) 8V Unbalanced
CONNECTIVITY
- Balanced Input 1
- Unbalanced Input 6
- Phono Input Moving Coil 1 (adjustable loading)
- Phono Input Moving Magnet 1 (fixed loading)
- Upgradeable Digital Audio Module Yes: DA2
- Digital Coaxial Input 2
- Digital Optical Input 2
- Digital MCT Input 1
- Digital USB Input 1
- HDMI (ARC) Input 1
- Unbalanced Fixed Output 1
- Unbalanced Variable Output 2
- Headphone Output 1/4" High Drive with Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®)
- Home Theater PassThru Yes
- Unbalanced Analog Connector Type Standard
- Speaker Binding Post Type Standard
- Service Port 1
DIGITAL AUDIO SPECIFICATIONS
- Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) Type 8-channel, 32-bit/384kHz PCM/DSD, Quad Balanced
- Digital Coaxial Input Sample Rate 24-bit/44.1kHz to192kHz
- Digital Optical Input Sample Rate 24-bit/44.1kHz to192kHz
- Digital MCT Input Sample Rate 16-bit/44.1kHz (CD) DSD64 (SACD)
- Digital USB Input Sample Rate 32-bit/44.1kHz to 384kHz (PCM) DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, DSD512, DXD352.8kHz, DXD384kHz
CONTROL
- Tone Controls 5-Band
- Tone Bypass and Input Assign Yes
- RS232 Control Input Yes
- Power Control Output 1 Main, 2 Trigger
- Rear Panel Data Port 4
- Rear Panel IR Sensor Input Yes
- Input Level Match Yes
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Vacuum Tube or Solid State Solid State
- Output Type Autoformer™
- Output Meters Yes
- Dual Layer Chassis Yes
- Chassis Finish Polished stainless steel & black painted steel
- McIntosh Monogrammed Heatsinks™ Yes
- Power Requirement 220V 50/60Hz, 4.4A
- Standby Power Requirement <0.25 Watts
WEIGHTS & DIMENSIONS
- Unit Dimensions (W x H x D) 17-1/2" (44.5cm) x 7-5/8" (19.4cm) x 18-3/4" (47.6cm)
- Unit Weight 75 lbs (34.1 kg)
- Shipping Weight 93 lbs (42.3 kg)
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