MA8950 2-Channel Integrated Amplifier
MA8950: £12495
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
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 (Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity 2017 Best Stereo Integrated Amplifier) 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 due to its doubled filter capacity. This gives the MA8950 an 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 McIntosh MA8950 sounds flattering, smooth and detailed, and combines that with impressive muscles." Winner of Integrated Amplifier of the Year Award. - Stereo+ Magazine
The MA8950 comes standard with the DA2 Digital Audio Module instead of the DA1 Digital Audio Module that went 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.
"An amplifier that can handle almost any spread of sources, power almost any pair of speakers and work comfortably in almost any room." Received Editor's Choice Award for Best High-End Stereo Amplifier 2022. - AVForums
The MA8950 Integrated Amplifier offers a comprehensive set of analogue and digital audio inputs.
The DA2 is powered by an audiophile-grade, Quad Balanced, 8-channel, 32-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) that has improvements in 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 someday to replace the DA2 with a newer Digital Audio Module.
The DA2 Digital Audio Module features seven digital audio inputs.
With its vast selection of digital audio inputs, analogue 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 analogue connectors are made from premium gold-plated solid brass for superior signal handling and grounding. All analogue 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.
"An amplifier that can handle almost any partnering equipment and speaker and deliver outstanding performance and flexibility with all of it. This is how McIntosh makes hifi and the results are sensational... It delivers sparkling performance while offering enormous connectivity and user friendliness." - Sound Online
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 and some of the latest state-of-the-art audio-grade circuit components to produce the best sound possible.
The Autoformers are located on each side of the power transformer.
"The precision is high and it is very detailed and brilliantly resolved. With some complicated music such as choir and orchestra, it maintains excellent control over both the small sonorous differences in each individual instrument, and where they are placed in the soundscape. The focus is not excessive, but still super clear and very precise." Awarded 5 stars. Highly Recommended. - Stereo+ Magazine
Other McIntosh features included in the MA8950 are:
Power Guard® 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™ 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™ 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 theatre 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 analogue adjustment of ±12dB in 2dB increments of your favourite 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
McIntosh Monogrammed Heatsink.
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.
Five-band tone controls.
The entire unit is wrapped in the timeless McIntosh aesthetic with a black glass front panel with LED lighting, blue watt meters, control knobs, an illuminated logo, aluminium end caps and a beautiful polished stainless steel chassis.
MA8950 2-Channel Integrated Amplifier ELECTRONIC SPECIFICATIONS
FTC Power Output Rating:
200 W
Rated Power Band:
20Hz to 20kHz
Frequency Response +0,-0.5dB:
20Hz to 20kHz
Sensitivity Phono (Moving Magnet):
2.5mV
Signal To Noise Ratio (Moving Coil):
80dB
Signal To Noise Ratio (Power Amp input):
113dB
Maximum Output (Balanced / Unbalanced):
8V Unbalanced
Power Output per Channel:
200 W into 2, 4, or 8 ohms
Total Harmonic Distortion:
0.005%
Frequency Response, +0, -3dB:
10Hz to 100kHz
Sensitivity High Level (Balanced / Unbalanced):
0.5V/0.25V
Signal To Noise Ratio (Moving Magnet):
82dB
Input Impedance (Balanced / Unbalanced):
20K/20K
Number of Channels:
2
Dynamic Headroom:
3.1dB
Sensitivity Phono (Moving Coil):
0.25mV
Sensitivity (Power Amp input):
1.4V
Signal To Noise Ratio (High Level):
95dB
DAMPING FACTOR:
>40
WARRANTY PARTS AND LABOUR:
3 Years
CONNECTIVITY SPECIFICATIONS
Balanced Input:
1
Phono Input Moving Magnet:
1 (fixed)
Digital Optical Input:
2
HDMI (ARC) Input:
1
UNBalanced Variable Output:
2
AM/FM Tuner option:
No
Speaker Binding Post Type:
Standard
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:
Standard
Unbalanced Fixed Output:
1
Service Port:
1
Phono Input Moving Coil:
1 (adjustable)
Digital Coaxial Input:
2
Digital USB Input:
1
UNBALANCED VARIABLE OUTPUT:
0
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
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Vacuum Tube or Solid State:
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 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)