Integrated amplifiers — McIntosh MA8950

McIntosh built the MA8950 as a solid-state integrated uniting a preamplifier, a 200W per channel power amplifier and a modular digital section in one chassis. It replaced the MA8900, keeping the same basic architecture but doubling the power supply filter capacity and upgrading the digital module, so it can act as the complete centre of a two-channel or TV-based system.

Key specs that matter

Output is 200W per channel into 2, 4 or 8 ohms, with total harmonic distortion of 0.005%. Frequency response is +0/-0.5dB from 20Hz to 20kHz and +0/-3dB from 10Hz to 100kHz. Dynamic headroom is 3.1dB, up from 2.0dB on the MA8900. The factory-fitted DA2 Digital Audio Module provides seven digital inputs - two coaxial, two optical, one USB, one MCT and one audio-only HDMI ARC. Analogue inputs comprise one balanced, six unbalanced, one moving-coil and one moving-magnet phono input. The amplifier weighs more than 34kg.

Engineering and use context

McIntosh's output Autoformers are wide-band transformers between the output stage and the speaker terminals. They present the amplifier with its optimum load whatever the speaker impedance, which is why the MA8950 delivers the same 200W into 2, 4 or 8 ohms and runs with modest heat. Doubling the power supply filter capacity is responsible for the headroom increase, giving the amplifier more reserve for short musical peaks. The DA2 module is built around a quad-balanced, eight-channel, 32-bit DAC with better dynamic range and lower distortion than the DA1 it replaces. USB accepts PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz, DXD and DSD up to DSD512, while coaxial and optical inputs decode up to 24-bit/192kHz. The HDMI ARC input down-mixes Dolby and DTS multichannel soundtracks to two channels, and with CEC enabled the McIntosh remote controls the TV's power and volume. Because the DAC is a plug-in module, it can be replaced with a newer McIntosh module later rather than replacing the amplifier. The moving-coil phono input offers adjustable loading.

Pairing

The Autoformers let the MA8950 drive speakers from 2 to 8 ohms with full power, including low-impedance loads that challenge conventional amplifiers. The MCT input takes a secure DSD connection from McIntosh MCT-series SACD/CD transports. An RS232 port, power control and trigger outputs, four data ports and an IR input support system control and custom installation, and the built-in phono stages cover both MM and MC cartridges without an external preamplifier.

Alternatives

McIntosh's own MA352 is a hybrid integrated with a tube preamplifier stage and solid-state output, for buyers who want tubes in the signal path.