[Adamtl]

It’s a holo spring lvl3 kte that I’ll be sending in to upgrade for a holo may kte as soon as I can. Sounds sublime

 

[axsnyder]

It’s a holo spring lvl3 kte that I’ll be sending in to upgrade for a holo may kte as soon as I can. Sounds sublime

That’s what I have on order, so glad to hear the last part.

 

[qboogie]

Just got mine, using Utopia to start, sounds much fuller with the 100-200ohm selected. Wow, utopias have never ever sounded better.. If it’s this good out of the box I think it’s a keeper.
Also using it with a Roon nucleus and using the Roon app to adjust volume, I keep it a hair past 12 on mcintosh

What is the effect (or consequence) of setting the MHA200 impedance to something that is higher than the headphone's impedance?

 

[Adamtl]

I’m not able to break it down scientifically but the Utopia is rated at 80 ohms so using the 100-250 ohm as opposed to the 35-100 ohm isn’t going to do any damage, it truly sounds much better using the 100-250 selection for me.

 

[vo_obgyn]

I just purchased the MHA200 which replaced my Ray Samuels Emmeline II “The Raptor” Headphone Amp. While the MHA200 is an improvement over The Raptor, I was surprised at how well The Raptor kept up with the MHA200 in all areas. The Raptor is a really nice headphone amp too. My source is the Chord 2Go/Hugo 2 combo. I keep the Hugo 2 at a fixed line level for the MHA200. So far, I’ve listened to my Audeze LCD-X (2021 Driver Update) with the Roon Audeze LCD-X DSP preset and it sounds good. My main IEM’s - Senn ie800 and JH Audio Roxanne’s - sound quite good with no background noise. The MHA200 takes my custom fit Roxanne’s to a whole other level. I will listen to my Senn HD 800 S and my Focal Clears soon. I also have a Mr. Speakers Ether that I’ll listen to soon. So far, I’m glad that I bought it. BTW, my dealer said that McIntosh fixed the wiggly volume control issue and mine feels fine.

 

[ThanatosVI]

What is the effect (or consequence) of setting the MHA200 impedance to something that is higher than the headphone's impedance?

The damping factor will be lower, which means less control over the driver.
Often coupled with a slight mid bass bump and roll off in subbass and treble.

 

[qboogie]

The damping factor will be lower, which means less control over the driver.
Often coupled with a slight mid bass bump and roll off in subbass and treble.

Thanks for the explanation.

 

[vo_obgyn]

The damping factor will be lower, which means less control over the driver.
Often coupled with a slight mid bass bump and roll off in subbass and treble.

What happens to the bass and treble when the damping factor is higher (setting the MHA200 impedance to something that is lower than the headphones impedance,) I’m wondering? Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Newsee]

The damping factor will be lower, which means less control over the driver.
Often coupled with a slight mid bass bump and roll off in subbass and treble.

Sounds like my favoirite signature. Perhaps without the subbass roll off.

 

[Adamtl]

On the 100ohm setting the Utopia has more sub bass then I’ve ever heard it make. It’s like a new headphone, make sure you use a pre amp or volume control somewhere other then the unit itself

 

[ABQ2]

What is the effect (or consequence) of setting the MHA200 impedance to something that is higher than the headphone's impedance?

Firstly, I am a retired electrical engineer who has spent most of his life dealing with resistors, capacitors and inductors. At issue are the effects of changing the 32, 100, 250 or 600 Load Ohm resistance and the position of the volume adjustable resistance. So the tube is driving this combination of output resistance and headphone fixed impedance. The headphone fixed impedance is going to respond to the voltages it sees as the result of these choices. With my 80 Ohm headphones the 100 Ohm choice allows the volume control to be the least glitchy, if that term is allowed. Most comfortable.

You may have noticed in the specifications that the power output is consistent at 500mW for each of the Load Ohms selections. So what that means is that if you match the Load Ohms to the headphone Ohms you will have 500 mW in the headphone at some presumed position of the Volume. So if that’s the case the best you can do is to closely match the headphone Ohms and the Load Ohms.

While listening I have switched all of the 32-600 Load positions and that will have a moderate result in the volume I hear. No big deal as far as volume is concerned and while others may notice more effect you have to take the varying headphone into account as well. So, yeah, McIntosh could have used a different design that would have resulted in a less sensitive (glitchy) volume control. But at the end of the day we just end up with a volume control with far less angle play than to what we are accustomed.

And in a less technical respect, the Utopia/MHA200 combo is to die for.

 

[vo_obgyn]

And in a less technical respect, the Utopia/MHA200 combo is to die for.

I’m finding that the MHA200 is a nice match for my Focal cans - the Clear and the Elear. Nice dynamic sound. In addition and as an aside, the Senn HD 800 S cans sound great with the MHA200 as well. So do the Mr. Speakers Ether cans.

 

[TSAVJason]

What is the effect (or consequence) of setting the MHA200 impedance to something that is higher than the headphone's impedance?

In the case of McIntosh MHA200 because it’s using autoformers nothing happens of any consequence. However on amplifiers without autoformers it could cause sloppy bass or music that seems lose

 

[qboogie]

In the case of McIntosh MHA200 because it’s using autoformers nothing happens of any consequence. However on amplifiers without autoformers it could cause sloppy bass or music that seems lose

Thanks for the response.

Anyone using their MHA200 with either verite open or closed?

 

[qboogie]

I’m finding that the MHA200 is a nice match for my Focal cans - the Clear and the Elear. Nice dynamic sound. In addition and as an aside, the Senn HD 800 S cans sound great with the MHA200 as well. So do the Mr. Speakers Ether cans.

Ether 2's impedance is 24, and Ether C Flow is approx 19. Both values are lower than the impedance ranges on the MHA200. You're saying they still sound great? That is reassuring.

I have DCA stealth (impedance is 23 ohms) coming in and am hoping this pairing is heaven and brings something that the TT2/M-scaler or Formula S/Powerman can't provide.