[musicman59]

  Ccongratulations - no problem with my unit in terms of impedance switch. Now i just need to find a good closed headphone. Love my HD600, but too much noise for everyone else at home. Have been looking at the Ultrasone Edition 5 (once the unlimited comes out) or the Fostex TH900. Tried the LCD-XC but terribly heavy.

 
 

 
why don't you go for the new McIntosh closed headphone MHP100 ? Have heard good things so far and it should be a perfect match for the amp.

 
Yes, go with the MHP1000 they are awesome sounding and a great match with the MHA100.
I had a little problem with my MHP1000 so took them back to the dealer but my short experience with the combo was very satisfying sound wise. 
You can read more at the MHP1000 thread.

 

[magneto1964]

I was thinking of the MHP1000 but a few things took that thought away. i just read you had some quality issues with it, and it reminded me that I had read some quality issues with Beyer too. I am not sure what the level of collaboration is between Beyer and McIntosh, but I may wait for some more reviews. 

 

[CongeeBear]

Hey, was there a manual and remote control included with your units? I didn't get anything with mine

 

[MickeyVee]

Yes, remote, batteries and manual included.  I see that you're in Toronto.. where did you get yours? 
Quote:

  Hey, was there a manual and remote control included with your units? I didn't get anything with mine

 

[magneto1964]

CongeeBear - yes definitely received manual, batteries and the remote. Sounds like there is some strangeness at your dealer as you should have received a sealed package. Plus this impedance delay story sounds very suspicious. i wonder if he gave you a demo unit.

 

[HiFiGuy528]

  Hey, was there a manual and remote control included with your units? I didn't get anything with mine

 
unboxing video:
 

 

[musicman59]

  I was thinking of the MHP1000 but a few things took that thought away. i just read you had some quality issues with it, and it reminded me that I had read some quality issues with Beyer too. I am not sure what the level of collaboration is between Beyer and McIntosh, but I may wait for some more reviews. 

Yes, I had the issue with the left driver it is disappointing but I don't think is a big deal. That kind of stuff happens what is important is what they will do to make it right. It is just like Audeze with all the driver failures. They have a lot of issues but they provided great customer service and people did not run away from them.
 
I use to own the T1 and never had a problem wit them.

 

[CongeeBear]

 
CongeeBear - yes definitely received manual, batteries and the remote. Sounds like there is some strangeness at your dealer as you should have received a sealed package. Plus this impedance delay story sounds very suspicious. i wonder if he gave you a demo unit.

 
I'm reluctant to identify the dealer, unless I was absolutely certain there were shenanigans involved...
 
The dealer did give me a UPS shipping link to follow before it arrived at his store (it shipped to Toronto from Buffalo). The box was also sealed with McIntosh tape, so I'm assuming it can't be a demo unit.  
 
I'm guessing McIntosh themselves forgot to include the remote and manual. Not sure now if I should contact the store about it, or go directly to McIntosh's customer support?

 

[magneto1964]

You should contact the store for the missing pieces. I find the remote comes in very handy as I am about 3m away from it. But in any case I hope you are enjoying the amplifier. I am very impressed with it as it added a great deal of depth to the HD600

 

[barid]

   
I'm reluctant to identify the dealer, unless I was absolutely certain there were shenanigans involved...
 
The dealer did give me a UPS shipping link to follow before it arrived at his store (it shipped to Toronto from Buffalo). The box was also sealed with McIntosh tape, so I'm assuming it can't be a demo unit.  
 
I'm guessing McIntosh themselves forgot to include the remote and manual. Not sure now if I should contact the store about it, or go directly to McIntosh's customer support?

 
That's pretty disappointing.  Personally this was the most expensive piece of audio equipment I have ever bought, and I'd be really angry if something that blatant happened with my unit.  Thousands of dollars and they forget to include manual/remote.  Ultimately though its easily fixable and not a huge problem, just sad for a quality standpoint.  I guess this stuff happens all the time across every industry, but I have noticed it a lot more since getting into headphones/audio gear.
 
//No issues with my MHA100 unit
//Have had quality issues with Audeze / Grado / Beyerdynamic products

 

[magneto1964]

There will always problems the minute there is a human involved This also reminds me (not the case here) that some 35 years ago my brother worked at a stereo dealer while a student. This was a fairly highend store. One of his jobs was to repackage equipment that was returned due to defects. It was reboxed and put out again for sale.

 

[Surge74]

Hello, no I have not tried other headphones, just PS1000. I am possibly going to a headphone show in a couple of weeks where they will have a MHA100 and Abyss, and possibly a pair of the new Mcintosh. Having had a pair of HD800 that I didn't get on with, finding the PS1000 was a revelation. I have tried Audeze but didn't rate them over the Grado, which is maybe a bit unfair as the Audeze demo was not in ideal conditions or for very long. They just didn't give me the wow factor. I would recommend to anyone about to demo the MHA100 that they try it via its optical, as in my view it is head and shoulders over USB. It is quite a stupendous piece of kit.

Very odd - optical should not sound better than usb.
Optical is restricted to a much lower sampling frequency. I believe no higher than a standard CD.

You're probably comparing different recordings?
Or the Mac USB input has some kind of inferior processing vs the optical.
Or the source is corrupting the usb out.
Or there's interference on the USB cable.

 

[JustinS]

Very odd - optical should not sound better than usb.
Optical is restricted to a much lower sampling frequency. I believe no higher than a standard CD.

You're probably comparing different recordings?
Or the Mac USB input has some kind of inferior processing vs the optical.
Or the source is corrupting the usb out.
Or there's interference on the USB cable.

"Very odd - optical should not sound better than USB" Define better? Don't listen to much HD stuff, so "Optical is restricted to a much lower sampling frequency" is not applicable. No i'm not "comparing different recordings". Perhaps I just prefer Optical?

 

[JustinS]

Whilst we have been carrying out home improvements the MHA has been boxed up and not in use for a number of weeks! Hopefully tomorrow is the day that it is put back into use, along with a new Mac mini. Have got the Grado PS1000 and PS500 ready for action. Am very close to buying a pair of HD800 to experiment with, I have heard good things of the HD800/MHA100 pairing, anyone got any thoughts or experiences on this?

Thanks.

 

[musicman59]

I have owned the HD800 for long time and in my opinion they sound the best out of the MHA100. The bass and level of detail are at the level I have never heard them before even out of my WA5-LE.