MCINTOSH LABS INTRODUCES NEW HEADPHONE AMP MODEL MHA 100

[MickeyVee]

Not sure the wa7d/tp price comparison is fair.  The Woo does not include a speaker amp. $1.6K with optical & USB.  If you take the DAC , HP AMP and Speaker amp at 1/3 each, I would say the price comparison is $3K for the MHA100 headphone section or add $1K plus to the Woo and draw your price comparisons. The Woo certainly comes out cheaper.
 
Like everything else, it depends on your up stream components, your headphones, your requirements and you sound signature preferences.  As always, an audition is always recommended and you make the final judgement for yourself.  I've found that HeadFi is a good place to get impressions, positive and negative, and to decide what line up stuff for audition. 
 
The value of the MHA100 for me is the complete package.  I've found that since I've added speakers and a subwoofer, I've split my time between headphones and speakers.  Is it the final word in DAC/AMP? Not really, it's up there, but as a complete package it may or may not be for you. If you're looking strictly for a headphone DAC/AMP combo, you can do better with $4.5K.  Remember that the MHA100 includes a kick butt 50wpc speaker amp also.
 
/end rant/ Happy Listening!
 
Quote:

  See, this is the kind of statement that scares me. I'm hoping the MHA100 is more than some super nicely built casing and meters for the price.

 

[ShySugarDaddy]

:eek:

See, this is the kind of statement that scares me. I'm hoping the MHA100 is more than some super nicely built casing and meters for the price.

Just slap in more mooolah and im sure the mha-100 will sound better ...

Mha-100w/ external Dac > wa7d/tp wtubes > mha-100

Well if you add up the speaker amp to the value it may be a winner for that price.

All my assessment for that price is solely based on the headphone dac and amp section without the speaker amp in mind. In regard that you were more interested with it purely as a headphone amp/dac.

 

[groovyd]

Still waiting for the MHA-100-TND (tube-based and no dac) with matching footprint to pair with my D100

 

[ShySugarDaddy]

  Still waiting for the MHA-100-TND (tube-based and no dac) with matching footprint to pair with my D100

Please don't, I don't want to sell my remaining kidney 

 hahaha.
Better yet. An MHA-100-TND (tube-based) with an internal DAC same with the d100 and a 150w speaker amp per channel. That would make it a perfect.
 
Wishful thinking

 

[groovyd]

  Please don't, I don't want to sell my remaining kidney 

 hahaha.
Better yet. An MHA-100-TND (tube-based) with an internal DAC same with the d100 and a 150w speaker amp per channel. That would make it a perfect.
 
Wishful thinking

don't forget airplay compatibility 

 

[21qz]

Reading through some of the threads i hear that the Bass on this DAC is stronger than others? would anyone agree? Also How would you guys rate the DAC's quality from a scale from 1 to 10, as far as quality?

 

[barid]

Reading through some of the threads i hear that the Bass on this DAC is stronger than others? would anyone agree? Also How would you guys rate the DAC's quality from a scale from 1 to 10, as far as quality?

Yes. The dac is bass heavy.

 

[ShySugarDaddy]

Reading through some of the threads i hear that the Bass on this DAC is stronger than others? would anyone agree? Also How would you guys rate the DAC's quality from a scale from 1 to 10, as far as quality?

 


7 for the Dac


Yup a bit bass heavy and a bit forward, well its a good thing if you're into modern booming tunes. crank that bass gain up and you'll have your own sub beside your ear.


 


I'll rate the Dac in my cantata as 8.8

 

[JustinS]

Reading through some of the threads i hear that the Bass on this DAC is stronger than others? would anyone agree? Also How would you guys rate the DAC's quality from a scale from 1 to 10, as far as quality?

I thought this at first, although I have come to the conclusion that depending which input you use, will have a big effect on the sound. USB = full sound, with a more concentrated soundstage, and deep bass. Optical = thinner sound, with a lighter, tauter, faster bass, and wide soundstage.

 

[Neo Zuko]

I've just read this thread and I'm sold on the McIntosh MHA100. I was going to save for a Burson Conductor Virtuoso plus a Timekeeper which sells together for about the same money as the MHA100 alone. I now hold the opinion that the MHA100 is a better buy than the Burson combo for Sennheiser's HD 800 headphones and Kef's LS50 speakers.

However I also want to try an Audeze headphone (with fazor). But which is the best match for the MHA100? The LCD-3 is the flagship, the warmth of the MHA100 might blend better with the LCD-X, the LCD-2 will save me Benjamins, and the LCD-XC will give me a closed back option for better isolation. However I also plan on buying the Sennheiser Momentum soon so I don't NEED another closed headphone per say.

I've read somewhere that McIntosh is working on an even more expensive headphone amp but I think this product is perfect for me. I need a DAC, headphone amp, some way to listen to Kef's LS50 speakers, and something that plays nice with Sennheiser's HD 800 primarily and possibly Audeze headphones as well - if that's all in one package all the better. And I dig the looks and resale value if I ever deside to upgrade. Though I doubt I will ever sell this beautiful piece of high end audio equipment.

 

[21qz]

^^ Almost same exact boat as you sir. I'm thinking I'll be able to settle with the internal DAC in the MHA100 if most would say it's rated 8/10'ish in quality. Then look for another DAC later. I'll be ordering my HD800 (unless I change my mind) and LS50's in early January and The MHA100 late January. I'm excited!!!

 

[Neo Zuko]

^^ Almost same exact boat as you sir. I'm thinking I'll be able to settle with the internal DAC in the MHA100 if most would say it's rated 8/10'ish in quality. Then look for another DAC later. I'll be ordering my HD800 (unless I change my mind) and LS50's in early January and The MHA100 late January. I'm excited!!!

Black and rose or white and blue on the Kef LS50s? You can always buy a better DAC but I have to believe that at one point you start hitting diminishing returns. I think I'll be plenty happy with the MHA100's DAC. It's by far better than anything I've ever had or considered before.

Also I need a subwoofer plan later on for the LS50s. It's cool that the MHA100 has a subwoofer out configuration.

 

[21qz]

Black and rose or white and blue on the Kef LS50s? You can always buy a better DAC but I have to believe that at one point you start hitting diminishing returns. I think I'll be happy with the built in DAC. It's by far better than anything I've ever had or considered before.

Also I need a subwoofer plan later on for the LS50s. It's cool that the MHA100 has a subwoofer out configuration.

Wow, that's so funny. I didn't know there was a sub out as I wanted to add one later as well. That's great to know and more a reason to join the club! Color choice on the ls50's is so hard because I want both. It's like choosing between black or white. I guess it depends on your theme/preference. Today I'm leaning on the white/blue, but that can change. When are you getting your mha100 and what color combo on the ls50's?

 

[Neo Zuko]

Wow, that's so funny. I didn't know there was a sub out as I wanted to add one later as well. That's great to know and more a reason to join the club! Color choice on the ls50's is so hard because I want both. It's like choosing between black or white. I guess it depends on your theme/preference. Today I'm leaning on the white/blue, but that can change. When are you getting your mha100 and what color combo on the ls50's?

I think I've read the sub out is a configurable feature on the preamp out. No question on LS50 color choice, batman black and rose gold. And sadly that purchase will be last so I have no idea when. The MHA100 will take some saving as well. I'm likely to buy JH Audio's Layla before those purchases. But everything is part of the current master plan. Good thing I don't have kids!!

 

[barid]

The preamp out can be set to a sub out so the l/r channels both output both channels.