[gordec]

The AK380 uses a AK4490 chip, which is the same chip used by the $99 Modi 2. IMHO the MHA's Sabre chip gives better results.

I got the 100. I thought 150 uses the Sabre but 100 was never confirmed right?

 

[DACLadder]

Connected up USB to the MHA100 DAC and sounds OK. Nice bass, vocals OK, and highs not that extended yet smooth and nothing glaringly bad at all. Doesn't have quite the soundstage or detail as with my external DAC. Very warm-ish sounding after listening for a while. Certainly works and makes decent music if all you have available.

The USB driver is a bit strange. Driver date code (v2.0) is from 2013. Not very plug-n-play friendly. ASIO only. Had to reboot several times for Windows 10 to recognize and not complain.

Appears the MHA150 uses a different USB driver which probably more modern in design.

 

[DACLadder]

The MHA100 is responding very well to an audiophile fuse swap. I am not a conspiracy theorist and generally take snake oil comments and suggestions with a large grain of salt. But I can hear what seems more clarity in the highs and better balance overall after swapping.

The original fuse is a small 5x20mm and rated 2.5A time delay. I swapped in an AMR (Abbingdon Music Research) gold fuse (3.15A) which is suppose to warm things up but find adds a nice subtle crispness and dynamic quality to the sound. The opposite of what I was expecting. YMMV.

 

[gordec]

Just got my MHA100 in. Very happy. It sounds basically same as the 150 to my ears. I know everyone says the DAC actually limits its potential. I'm very happy for now as it's the best piece of gear I have ever owned. Cheers.

 

[DACLadder]

Just got my MHA100 in. Very happy. It sounds basically same as the 150 to my ears. I know everyone says the DAC actually limits its potential. I'm very happy for now as it's the best piece of gear I have ever owned. Cheers.

Looking good! I am really happy with my MHA100/ HE1000 v2 setup. Digital sources and headphones may come and go but this amp will likely stay for a long time.

 

[gordec]

Looking good! I am really happy with my MHA100/ HE1000 v2 setup. Digital sources and headphones may come and go but this amp will likely stay for a long time.

Agreed. BTW what impedance are you using for the Hek? 40-150 or 150-600?

 

[DACLadder]

Agreed. BTW what impedance are you using for the Hek? 40-150 or 150-600?

I’m using the speaker taps. But when I tried the headphone output I selected the two lowest impedance settings. The speaker taps sound more natural and open.

 

[dubharmonic]

Agreed. BTW what impedance are you using for the Hek? 40-150 or 150-600?

The HE-1000 impedance is 35 ohms, they should be run from the 8-40 ohm setting.

 

[gordec]

The HE-1000 impedance is 35 ohms, they should be run from the 8-40 ohm setting.

Thanks. I tried all three can't hear any difference.

 

[gordec]

Trevor at Norne Audio makes an adapter. XLR at one end and banana plugs on the other.

https://www.ebay.com/i/172733761468?chn=ps

This will work right? I'm completely foreign to speakers. Thanks.

 

[eddiek997]

https://www.ebay.com/i/172733761468?chn=ps

This will work right? I'm completely foreign to speakers. Thanks.

I dont see why it wouldn't work. Should plug directly into the back of the corresponding binding post on the amp. Make sure you don't get the positives and negatives mixed up (it wont damage anything but will be out of phase and bass will sound off).

On mine, the banana plugs were too small to fit directly into the holes at the back of the binding posts so I backed off the terminals and used the holes where you'd normally attach speaker wire.

Think Sex. There are two holes for your Banana. Insert it into the one that fits best - the results will be the same.

 

[Jtom94]

Is it worth upgrading to the MHA150 if you already have the MHA100?

 

[dubharmonic]

Is it worth upgrading to the MHA150 if you already have the MHA100?

The only difference is the DAC section, as far as I know. You can always use a different external DAC with the MHA100.

 

[gordec]

Is it worth upgrading to the MHA150 if you already have the MHA100?

I auditioned both. To be honest, they sound very similar. The only thing you are missing is native DSD. For the price difference, you can get a really nice external DAC.

 

[DACLadder]

I use an external DAC with the MHA100. Could not be happier with an amp. The MHA100 USB interface Windows driver is very dated and just barely loaded up but did eventually work with WIndows 10. Hopefully the MHA150 USB driver is updated. But my external DAC sounds so much better than the internal MHA100 DAC.

DACs get dated and obsolete very quickly. McIntosh should sell an MHA50 without any DAC for lower cost! I connect my phones to the speaker outputs and really don't need the auto-transformers either.