MA12000 2-Channel Hybrid Integrated Amplifier
MA12000-AN (75th Anniversary): £18995
MA12000: £18495
75th Anniversary Edition available in 2024
Includes our Hybrid Drive™ technology that uses the best of vacuum tubes and solid state to produce the best sound performance
Vacuum tube preamplifier and solid-state power amplifier
350 Watts x 2 channel
8-band tone control
17 inputs (10 analog + 7 digital)
Comes with DA2 Digital Audio Module installed
The fully loaded, hybrid MA12000 Integrated Amplifier is a product of uncompromising audio engineering and expert craftsmanship. Our most powerful integrated amplifier ever, the feature-rich MA12000 offers 350 Watts per channel of clean, high-performance power that produces a breathtaking home audio experience. You will think your favourite musicians are playing a live, in-person performance in your house.
The MA12000 includes our Hybrid Drive™ technology that uses the best of vacuum tubes and solid state to produce the best sound performance. It gives you the warm nuances of a vacuum tube preamplifier (or valve preamplifier, as some of our friends like to say) combined with the speed and raw power of a solid-state amplifier, state-of-the-art digital audio capabilities, and enough analogue audio connections for virtually any home music system.
"Even-tempered, effortlessly powerful and very sweet… a striking looking, bang-up-to-date muscle amp with great sound… a one-stop shop for all your audio needs." Winner of the prestigious Applause Award. - StereoNET UK
The MA12000 is a hybrid design with the preamplifier section powered by (4) 12AX7A vacuum tubes (2 tubes per audio channel), while the 350-watt power amplifier section employs a solid-state design. Our Autoformer™ technology guarantees your speakers will always be capable of receiving that full 350 Watts whether they have 2, 4 or 8 Ohm impedance.
The vacuum tubes for the preamplifier section are located between the Watt meters. Also shown are the knobs for the eight-band analogue tone control.
"An excellent integrated, one with which you can end the search for your dream sound. The McIntosh MA12000 sounds perfect." Winner of 2022 Integrated Amplifier Product of the Year - Hi-Fi i Muzyka
There are 10 analogue inputs on the MA12000 consisting of 2 balanced and 6 unbalanced inputs, plus 1 Moving Coil and 1 Moving Magnet input for connecting a turntable. Both phono inputs feature adjustable loading for fine-tuning the MA12000 to your specific turntable configuration so your vinyl collection sounds just right. All the unbalanced analogue connectors are constructed from premium gold-plated solid brass for superior signal handling and grounding. The MA12000 also has 1 balanced and 1 unbalanced output if you ever want to connect to an additional amplifier that's used in a different part of your residence.
"Across all styles of music, the MA12000 is capable of surprising, astonishing, impressing and moving, regardless of the medium used... The MA12000 reinvents the superlative, powerful, complete, beautiful and ultra-musical modern integrated." Winner of Reference Award. - Haute Fidélité
For digital music, the MA12000 comes with our DA2 Digital Audio Module factory installed. Located in the DA2 are 7 digital audio inputs: 2 coaxial, 2 optical, 1 USB and 1 MCT (for use with our MCT series of SACD/CD Transports), and 1 audio-only HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC)1 connection. The DA2 is powered by a next-generation, Quad Balanced, 8-channel, 32-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC). This audiophile-grade DAC features improved dynamic range and improved total harmonic distortion. The DA2 supports high-resolution digital audio playback, as the USB input supports native playback of up to DSD512 and DXD up to 384kHz, while the coax and optical inputs can decode digital music up to 24-bit/192kHz.
The DA2 Digital Audio module comes as standard with the MA12000.
"The highs are always balanced, sweet and don't draw attention to themselves while also presenting good levels of detail retrieval. Further, the midrange has a solidity and warmth which envelops and provides verisimilitude to male and female vocals without ever sounding sickly-syrupy. And then there's that bass… a bouncy, nuanced and voluminously powerful statement to match the visual declaration the MA12000 so boldly makes. Yes, the McIntosh MA12000 will make a lasting impression on any audio enthusiast who treasures the integrity of the music. As it did me." Winner of Product of the Year 2022 Award for Innovation in Design. - SoundStage! Australia
The HDMI (ARC) input allows TVs with a compatible HDMI (ARC) output to be connected to the MA12000 and your home stereo system to bring a new level of audio performance to your TV and movie watching that TV speakers or soundbars can't provide. Popular multi-channel audio formats from Dolby® and DTS® are supported and will be expertly converted to 2-channel audio for proper playback. When CEC communication is enabled in both the MA12000 and your TV, your TV remote can control the power and volume of the MA12000. Future modules can replace the DA2 to keep your MA12000 updated as new digital audio formats and technologies are developed.
"The McIntosh MA12000 has become, in its own right, the new king of integrated amplifiers, somehow, they come to coexist in the same body: the strength, the toughness and the power of Arnold Schwarzenegger, with the finesse and beauty of Grace Kelly." - Francisco del Pozo (see also his YouTube review)
The DA2 has received Roon Tested designation from Roon Labs, which can be especially useful if you have an extensive digital music library. As a Roon Tested partner, McIntosh provided Roon equipment for testing with various operating systems and computers and shared information about its design and capabilities.
The top of the MA12000 is highlighted by some updated industrial design elements. The Autoformers and power transformer are now contained in a new glass topped enclosure capped by a glass name plate encircled with a decorative trim ring. Key performance specifications and a detailed block diagram are printed on 5 glass panels.
"The McIntosh MA12000 integrated amplifier is a fabulous performer. As a preamplifier and amplifier, it offers superb power reserves with incredibly full and powerful bass combined with top-to-bottom natural warmth, tone and timbre... It brings together warmth, fullness, smoothness and forgiveness with a clarity, detail, and sufficient treble definition presence to satisfy both music lovers and audiophiles." - NOVO Magazine
McIntosh Monogrammed Heatsink.
Other MA12000 features include:
Power Guard® monitors the output signal for over driving and makes real-time micro-adjustments to the input signal to prevent harsh-sounding clipping that could potentially damage your speakers
Our fuse-less short-circuit protection circuit Sentry Monitor™ that disengages the output stage before the current exceeds safe operating levels and then resets automatically when operating conditions return to normal
A pair of peak responding, trademarked "McIntosh Blue" Watt meters that indicate the real-time power output of each audio channel
McIntosh Monogrammed Heatsinks™, which are connected to advanced high current output transistors that minimise thermal equilibrium lag (or warm-up) time and help keep the MA12000 running cool
Home Theater PassThru that allows for seamless integration into a home theatre system
Our patented Solid Cinch™ speaker binding posts easily but securely attach the speaker cables to prevent them from coming loose and possibly causing a short; the binding posts are also gold-plated to avoid corrosion and to ensure a quality signal is sent over your speaker cables to your speakers
A discrete, eight-band tone control that allows for advanced manual analogue adjustment of your favourite recordings
High Drive headphone amplifier with Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®), which can bring an added dimension to headphone listening
Power Control to send power on/off signals to connected McIntosh components for easy system power-up and shutdown
Doubling of filter capacity compared to our other integrated amplifiers for even better low-frequency performance
The latest audio-grade circuit components to deliver the best sound possible
Powerful control microprocessors to improve overall system operation
Easy operation via front panel controls or the included comprehensive remote control
The entire unit is wrapped in the classic McIntosh aesthetic with a pair of blue-watt meters, a black glass front panel, rotary control knobs, an illuminated logo, aluminium end caps with built-in handles and a beautiful stainless steel chassis polished to a mirror finish.
MA12000 2-Channel Hybrid Integrated Amplifier ELECTRONIC SPECIFICATIONS
FTC Power Output Rating:
350 W
Rated Power Band:
20Hz to 20kHz
Frequency Response +0,-0.5dB:
20Hz to 20kHz
Sensitivity Phono (Moving Magnet):
3.0mV
Signal To Noise Ratio (Moving Coil):
75dB
Signal To Noise Ratio (Power Amp input):
114dB
Maximum Output (Balanced / Unbalanced):
8V Unbalanced
16V Balanced
Power Output per Channel:
350 W into 2, 4, or 8 ohms
Total Harmonic Distortion:
Preamplifier: 0.03%
Amplifier: 0.005%
Frequency Response, +0, -3dB:
10Hz to 100kHz
Sensitivity High Level (Balanced / Unbalanced):
600 mV/300mV
Signal To Noise Ratio (Moving Magnet):
77dB
Input Impedance (Balanced / Unbalanced):
44K/22K
Number of Channels:
2
Dynamic Headroom:
1.5dB
Sensitivity Phono (Moving Coil):
0.30mV
Sensitivity (Power Amp input):
1.7V
Signal To Noise Ratio (High Level):
95dB
DAMPING FACTOR:
>40
WARRANTY PARTS AND LABOUR:
3 Years
CONNECTIVITY SPECIFICATIONS
Balanced Input:
2
Phono Input Moving Magnet:
1 (adjustable)
Digital Optical Input:
2
HDMI (ARC) Input:
1
UNBalanced Variable Output:
1
AM/FM Tuner option:
No
Speaker Binding Post Type:
Patented Solid Cinch™ Speaker Binding Posts
Headphone Output:
1/4" High Drive with Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®)
Subwoofer Output:
0
Unbalanced INPUT:
6
Upgradeable Digital Audio Module:
Yes: DA2
Digital MCT Input:
1
Unbalanced Analog Connector Type:
Premium gold-plated solid brass
Unbalanced Fixed Output:
1
Service Port:
1
Phono Input Moving Coil:
1 (adjustable)
Digital Coaxial Input:
2
Digital USB Input:
1
UNBALANCED VARIABLE OUTPUT:
2
Home Theater PassThru:
Yes
DIGITAL AUDIO SPECIFICATIONS
Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) Type:
8-channel, 32-bit/384kHz PCM/DSD, Quad Balanced
Digital MCT Input Sample Rate:
16-bit/44.1kHz (CD)
DSD64 (SACD)
Digital Coaxial Input Sample Rate:
24-bit/44.1kHz to 192kHz
Digital USB Input Sample Rate:
32-bit/44.1kHz to 384kHz (PCM)
DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, DSD512, DXD352.8kHz, DXD384kHz
Digital Optical Input Sample Rate:
24-bit/44.1kHz to 192kHz
CONTROL SPECIFICATIONS
Tone Controls:
8-Band
Power Control Output:
1 Main, 2 Trigger
Input Level Match:
Yes
Tone Bypass and Input Assign:
Yes
Rear Panel Data Port:
4
RS232 Control Input:
Yes
Rear Panel IR Sensor Input:
Yes
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Vacuum Tube or Solid State:
Preamplifier: Vacuum Tube
Amplifier: Solid State
Dual Layer Chassis:
Yes
Power Requirement:
230V, 50/60Hz, 6.6A
Output Type:
Autoformer™
Output Meters:
Yes
McIntosh Monogrammed Heatsinks™:
Yes
Chassis Finish:
Polished stainless steel & black painted steel
Standby Power Requirement:
<0.25 Watts
Weights & DIMENSIONS
Unit Dimensions (W x H x D):
17-1/2” (44.5cm) x 9-7/16” (24 cm) x 19-3/4” (50.2cm)
Unit Weight:
108 lbs (48.9kg)
SHIPPING Weight:
141 lbs (63.9kg)