[tomina666]

hello, wanted to be my first tube amp… I have Hugo2, Hifiman Ananda. I fell in love with mcintosh. But I don't have that much money yet, I'm considering a cheaper option - xDuoo TA-26 And eventually Macintosh in future. do you think this will be a good option for dac hugo2?

 

[ThanatosVI]

I wonder how well the new preamp performs as headamp

https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/preamplifiers/C12000

 

[TSAVJason]

I wonder how well the new preamp performs as headamp

https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/preamplifiers/C12000

Well I’m sure very well but you could purchase 6 MHA200’s for the price of the C12000

 

[ThanatosVI]

Well I’m sure very well but you could purchase 6 MHA200’s for the price of the C12000

Makes sense, the MHA200 is an exceptionally affordable McIntosh

 

[doggiemom]

I wonder how well the new preamp performs as headamp

https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/preamplifiers/C12000

Wow..... this seems like..... a lot.

 

[xtiva]

Hi all,

Just got MHA200 to demo but when i put preamp in front of the amp, volume level is so low? I have put volume on MHA200 to unity position but even at full volume on my preamp, volume level on the MHA200 is very low? Is there other setting that I need to do here?

Or should I put MHA200 onto higher volume but looks like the manual says to put it into Unity, ie 12 o'clock position if Preamp is used?

Thanks.

 

[doggiemom]

Hi all,

Just got MHA200 to demo but when i put preamp in front of the amp, volume level is so low? I have put volume on MHA200 to unity position but even at full volume on my preamp, volume level on the MHA200 is very low? Is there other setting that I need to do here?

Or should I put MHA200 onto higher volume but looks like the manual says to put it into Unity, ie 12 o'clock position if Preamp is used?

Thanks.

What preamp are you using? I'm using the balanced out of a McIntosh D11 and it plenty loud with the preamp set to ~85%. I do run with the impedence knob at 250 Ohms instead of 100 for Utopia.

 

[Adamtl]

If using rca the signal is lower so raise the volume to 2pm on mcintosh, there’s no rule, unity is ok for most but going past it is absolutely ok

 

[xtiva]

Oh thanks I am using SPL Phonitor X as my preamp using XLR and impedance for headphone is set at 600 for HD800S.. if I put MHA200 volume to about 2 o'clock I only need to go about 50% on my preamp... is this setting ok?

 

[Adamtl]

Yes

 

[xtiva]

Yes

Thanks so much for the info.

This amp is made for vocal music from my initial impressions..

 

[Adamtl]

Mcintosh is very mid centric I’m not surprised to hear that!

 

[TSAVJason]

Thanks so much for the info.

This amp is made for vocal music from my initial impressions..

12 is your starting point. You should be able to get a gain match between 12-3 on the MHA200…… move gently on the gain control.

 

[xtiva]

12 is your starting point. You should be able to get a gain match between 12-3 on the MHA200…… move gently on the gain control.

Thanks yeah that was what I was doing and 2 o'clock looked to be the best position

 

[TSAVJason]

Thanks yeah that was what I was doing and 2 o'clock looked to be the best position

SPL and McIntosh seem to work very well together in this product scenario. I’ve tried it many times using the SPL DAC, Hugo2, Weiss 501 DAC and of course a McDAC . The Phonitor should be pretty nice on your ears with the MHA200