Integrated amplifiers — McIntosh MA8950

The McIntosh MA8950 is a transistor integrated amplifier combining a preamplifier, a 200W per channel power amplifier and a modular digital section in a single chassis. It replaced the MA8900 with the same basic architecture, but with twice the power supply filter capacity and an upgraded digital module, and it can serve as the complete centre of a two-channel or TV-based system.

Key specs that matter

The MA8950 delivers 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, compared with 2.0dB on the MA8900. The factory-fitted DA2 Digital Audio Module has seven digital inputs - two coaxial, two optical, one USB, one MCT and one audio-only HDMI ARC. The analogue side offers one balanced and six unbalanced line inputs plus a pair of phono inputs covering both MC and MM cartridges. The amplifier weighs more than 34kg.

Engineering and use context

McIntosh Autoformers are wide-band transformers placed between the output stage and the speaker terminals. Whatever the speaker impedance, they present the amplifier with its optimum load, so the MA8950 gives the same power into 2, 4 or 8 ohms and runs with modest heat. The doubled filter capacity in the power supply accounts for the higher headroom and gives more reserve for short peaks in the music. At the heart of the DA2 module sits a quad-balanced, eight-channel, 32-bit DAC with better dynamic range and lower distortion than the DA1 module it succeeds. The USB input takes PCM to 32-bit/384kHz, DXD and DSD to DSD512, and the coaxial and optical inputs work at 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 also controls the TV's power and volume. As the DAC is a plug-in module, it can later be swapped for a newer McIntosh module without changing the amplifier. Loading on the moving-coil phono input is adjustable.

Pairing

Low-impedance loudspeakers that are hard work for conventional amplifiers are an easy load here. The MCT input takes a secure DSD link from McIntosh MCT-series SACD/CD transports. An RS232 port, power control and trigger outputs, four data ports and an IR input cover system control and custom installation, and a turntable connects without an external phono preamplifier.

Alternatives

For those who want valves in the signal path, the McIntosh MA352 hybrid integrated combines a valve preamplifier with transistor output devices.