[funkyfish]

I listened to the MHA200 at The Source AV for a while, mainly with my HD650, a little bit with the Audeze LCD-2, for a very brief moment with the Meze 109 Pro (couldn't stand their treble peak) and just shortly with the DCA ÆON 2 Noire (I think, forgot to ask haha). I don't have a lot of experience yet with auditioning headphones and amps, so bear with me!

Biggest takeaway for me was the extreme tight and punchy bass on the HD650. Never heard them like this before. Sounded really good, but it was also to an extent that it could be easily too much for some. This punchy bass made it fun listen to, but at the same time it was still very enjoyable, not fatiguing. On the HD650 as well as the LCD-2 it sounded like I could listen to it for hours. Especially the LCD-2 sounded just right (neither too much nor too little of anything). However, I missed the "magic" a little bit, just something that made me go from "oh, nice!" to "oh, wow!"

After listening to the MHA200 I shortly listened to the Woo Audio WA5 (no fair comparison of course, the WA5 is double the price) which gave me this wow effect… It felt more airy, more space between the instruments. At least that's how I experienced it — there were a few minutes between listening to both amps, so might not be totally accurate. But that's basically what was missing for me on the MHA200. Still, very nice sound though!

 

[TSAVJason]

I listened to the MHA200 at The Source AV for a while, mainly with my HD650, a little bit with the Audeze LCD-2, for a very brief moment with the Meze 109 Pro (couldn't stand their treble peak) and just shortly with the DCA ÆON 2 Noire (I think, forgot to ask haha). I don't have a lot of experience yet with auditioning headphones and amps, so bear with me!

Biggest takeaway for me was the extreme tight and punchy bass on the HD650. Never heard them like this before. Sounded really good, but it was also to an extent that it could be easily too much for some. This punchy bass made it fun listen to, but at the same time it was still very enjoyable, not fatiguing. On the HD650 as well as the LCD-2 it sounded like I could listen to it for hours. Especially the LCD-2 sounded just right (neither too much nor too little of anything). However, I missed the "magic" a little bit, just something that made me go from "oh, nice!" to "oh, wow!"

After listening to the MHA200 I shortly listened to the Woo Audio WA5 (no fair comparison of course, the WA5 is double the price) which gave me this wow effect… It felt more airy, more space between the instruments. At least that's how I experienced it — there were a few minutes between listening to both amps, so might not be totally accurate. But that's basically what was missing for me on the MHA200. Still, very nice sound though!

Actually that’s a pretty fair analysis of all those products.

 

[gonzalo05]

I listened to the MHA200 at The Source AV for a while, mainly with my HD650, a little bit with the Audeze LCD-2, for a very brief moment with the Meze 109 Pro (couldn't stand their treble peak) and just shortly with the DCA ÆON 2 Noire (I think, forgot to ask haha). I don't have a lot of experience yet with auditioning headphones and amps, so bear with me!

Biggest takeaway for me was the extreme tight and punchy bass on the HD650. Never heard them like this before. Sounded really good, but it was also to an extent that it could be easily too much for some. This punchy bass made it fun listen to, but at the same time it was still very enjoyable, not fatiguing. On the HD650 as well as the LCD-2 it sounded like I could listen to it for hours. Especially the LCD-2 sounded just right (neither too much nor too little of anything). However, I missed the "magic" a little bit, just something that made me go from "oh, nice!" to "oh, wow!"

After listening to the MHA200 I shortly listened to the Woo Audio WA5 (no fair comparison of course, the WA5 is double the price) which gave me this wow effect… It felt more airy, more space between the instruments. At least that's how I experienced it — there were a few minutes between listening to both amps, so might not be totally accurate. But that's basically what was missing for me on the MHA200. Still, very nice sound though!

What dac? And was there a preamp involved

 

[funkyfish]

What dac? And was there a preamp involved

Nope, was going very audiophile high-end like straight from my iPhone via the dongle into the amp

 

[TSAVJason]

What dac? And was there a preamp involved

I’m liking the Ferrum Wandla

 

[stuck limo]

Tidal 360 Reality Audio > Sennheiser Momentum 4

Paul Epworth - 'Voyager'

Voyager is the debut studio album by British record producer and musician Paul Epworth. It was released on 11 September 2020 through Columbia Records. A concept album about space inspired by science fiction films, Voyager includes collaborations with Ishmael, Elle Yaya, Lil Silva, Vince Staples, Ty Dolla Sign, Kool Keith, Jay Electronica, Bibi Bourelly and Lianne La Havas. The tracks "Voyager", "Space Inc.", "Mars & Venus" and "Love Galaxy" were released in advance of the album.

 

[Puroplatino]

When there is no audio passing into the unit it will shut off in 30 minutes. You can bypass this Horrible but required by law feature by applying 12 volts to the control input on the back

Hey Jason,
I hope you are well. I got the MHA200 upon your suggestion and I have the MHA150 and connected them as you suggested… now I hear about an MHA250 in the works… can you confirm this rumor and if so when is it coming out. Thank you again.

Best Regards,
Enrico

 

[Puroplatino]

Have had the MHA150 on my wish list for a long time. My MHA200/C8 slowed the purchase. Hope the solution here is a simple oversight like I sometimes (often?) make when switching between easy and hard to drive gear... Turning up the output volume on the pre-amp and maybe the MHA200... At 28% output (like in the photo) with hard to drive phones, and the MHA200 at unity, I can't hear a thing. Crank the pre-amp output up and the MHA200 is glorious! Depending on source, 1300 on the MHA200 volume (rarely needed). That impedance switch catches me on occasion as well Hoping Puroplatino finds happiness without grief.

Yeah man it’s working out just fine. I love it.

 

[TSAVJason]

Hey Jason,
I hope you are well. I got the MHA200 upon your suggestion and I have the MHA150 and connected them as you suggested… now I hear about an MHA250 in the works… can you confirm this rumor and if so when is it coming out. Thank you again.

Best Regards,
Enrico

Yes there is a newer more powerful version coming but I’m not sure when. Instead of 500mv it will 1500mv making harder to drive headphone easier to get up and go

 

[gonzalo05]

Yes there is a newer more powerful version coming but I’m not sure when. Instead of 500mv it will 1500mv making harder to drive headphone easier to get up and go

Will it have a non unity gain volume pod?

 

[TSAVJason]

Will it have a non unity gain volume pod?

The prototype still has it however it’s not as tricky. I don’t know if it will reach the market with that feature but I recommended against It for this format of amplifier. I actually think that the amp should have a main in to use it more like a main amp. Leaving the impedance matching active and amp active but negating the VC on the mha whatever. It’s not a complex circuit to do that kind of pass-thru

 

[warrenpchi]

The prototype still has it however it’s not as tricky. I don’t know if it will reach the market with that feature but I recommended against It for this format of amplifier. I actually think that the amp should have a main in to use it more like a main amp. Leaving the impedance matching active and amp active but negating the VC on the mha whatever. It’s not a complex circuit to do that kind of pass-thru

Or maybe some kind of "defeat" toggle on the back?

 

[TSAVJason]

Or maybe some kind of "defeat" toggle on the back?

McIntosh would likely have both a trigger AND a button/selector switch for manual or automatic use

 

[drc73rp]

Would the MHA 250 be a successor to the 150 (SS) or the 200 (tube)? Or even better a hybrid?

 

[pongiverse]

Hi @TSAVJason I have a quick question.
While I was connecting mha to my turntable sources thru balance input and leaving unbalanced input unoccupied, I get a certain volume level. However, when I plugged in IC cables to unbalanced for my dac, I noticed my volume gets a bit lower right away (the volume knob not moving and the dac is not even turned on!). Is mha suppose to behave like this? As in I could only ‘plug’ one input source at a time? Thanks