[bmichels]

  The Mojo can't function as a fixed dac as I read that its amp part is still engaged for line out. I am intrigued by your comment that it improves a few pieces as I am considering to get the MHA100 for desktop dac/amp. My Mojo is great with T5p but can't drive my new HD800s to my satisfaction.

 
Well it is not so surprising.  IMO the DAC inside the MHA100 is not at the same level than the Amp.  So an external DAC may improve on it.

 

[musicman59]

   
Well it is not so surprising.  IMO the DAC inside the MHA100 is not at the same level than the Amp.  So an external DAC may improve on it.

That's for sure. There is a clear difference between the internal DAC and my Bricasti M1 SE but also take in consideration that the Bricasti is over 2 times the price of the MHA100. Feeding the MHA100 from the Bricasti via XLR the sound is great. Very clean, very detailed and very musical.

 

[IceClass]

 
 IMO the DAC inside the MHA100 is not at the same level than the Amp.  So an external DAC may improve on it.

 
 
I cannot agree with the first sentence and the second is self-evident.

 

[barid]

   
 
I cannot agree with the first sentence and the second is self-evident.

 
I'll chime in again.  I know I've mentioned earlier in the thread I also felt the internal DAC was a weak point.
 
It wasn't quite my flavor but I've come to enjoy it occasionally.  My main gripe with the DAC is the low end/bass just sounds a bit too boomy/loose compared to others I've tried.  It definitely sacrifices some up front details that say the Benchmark 2 has.  Though the Benchmark to me has a flatter presentation without as much depth.
 
Pick your poison I suppose.

 

[IceClass]

 
Pick your poison I suppose.

 
That's pretty much how I feel in the end.
 
I've had the opportunity to pair the MHA100 with a small range of DACS, including a PWD MK2 and my much loved ECD-1. These two were the best of the pack but while both offered advantages, they also suffered compared to the onboard DAC IMHO.
 
It should go without saying that pairing it with a ten grand DAC should show some deficiencies in the MAC, if not, why bother with such expense?
 
I continue to be impressed with the MHA100 as a man-cave/office audio product. And FWIW, the amp's typically Mcintosh fat but controlled bottom end is one of my favourite features. I was blown away how flabby my WA2 sounded in comparison.

 

[SupaFuzz]

McIntosh should simply sell the Amp sans the DAC at a more competitive price point...

 

[IceClass]

  McIntosh should simply sell the Amp sans the DAC at a more competitive price point...

 
But then it would be a different product and, let's face it, Mcintosh have never bothered themselves too closely with trying to be "competitive".

 

[groovyd]

  McIntosh should simply sell the Amp sans the DAC at a more competitive price point...

 
+100

 

[IceClass]

I think my only regret as far as features go is the lack of a DAC out. In my case, I wouldn't mind being able to feed the DAC to my tube amp based speaker rig. I'd still like to give it  whirl paired with a D100.
 
I still find it amusing to read that the MHA100 should have a five to ten grand DAC built-in to a five grand product or simply have no DAC at all.

 

[musicman59]

It is probably because as a whole IMO the DAC is the weak link. The amplifier sounds to me much better when I feed the balanced analog output of my Bricasti M1 than feeding the USB input of the MHA100 from my Mac Mini music server (which is the source for the M1).

 

[IceClass]

It is probably because as a whole IMO the DAC is the weak link. The amplifier sounds to me much better when I feed the balanced analog output of my Bricasti M1 than feeding the USB input of the MHA100 from my Mac Mini music server (which is the source for the M1).

 
 
It is hardly a "weak" link if you have to pay eight grand to better a five grand product.
 
It seems most of the MHA's critics are slamming it for being something that it is not rather than the product that it is.
 
To recap:
 
- It should have been tube based.
- It should have been released sans DAC
- It should have a DAC built-in that costs thousands more than the final product price.
 
In essence: It should have been a completely different product.

 

[musicman59]

You are missing the point that some of us are trying to make.
The only thing I am saying is that the amplification section in this unit is better that it's DAC section.
Is it nice to have an internal DAC? Yes. Will I use it if I have a high performance outboard DAC? No.
This does not mean the MHA1000 is a great piece. In fact I am comparing it right now to the new Pass Labs amplifier and IMO amplifier against amplifier the MHA100 is hands down better.

 

[IceClass]

The only thing I am saying is that the amplification section in this unit is better that it's DAC section.
 

 
This not the same thing as saying the DAC section is a "weak link" in the product.
 
Glad you like your amp.

 

[barid]

 In fact I am comparing it right now to the new Pass Labs amplifier and IMO amplifier against amplifier the MHA100 is hands down better.

 
Oh Reallllllllllllly.  I was interested in that Pass amp but probably won't have the opportunity to listen to it for a very long time.  Would welcome any comparisons between that and the MHA100 (or any other amps you may have).

 

[Maelob]

You are missing the point that some of us are trying to make.
The only thing I am saying is that the amplification section in this unit is better that it's DAC section.
Is it nice to have an internal DAC? Yes. Will I use it if I have a high performance outboard DAC? No.
This does not mean the MHA1000 is a great piece. In fact I am comparing it right now to the new Pass Labs amplifier and IMO amplifier against amplifier the MHA100 is hands down better.

Which Pass Labs amplifier? just curious - I know they released a new Headphone amp but as far as I know it does not have speaker out.  I wished MHA-100 would be more like a Schitt Ragnarok where is a high performance balanced headphone and speaker amp. I am sure the speaker amp section on the MHA-100 is way better than the Schiit but don't think the headphone amps is as good.  I guess It all depends on priorities on what the user wants.