[The Socialist Nerd]

I am curious how well this amp will mate with my Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

 

[TSAVJason]

I am curious how well this amp will mate with my Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

It’s primary design is to pair well with products like the Samsung and the iPhone type products. It pairs very well with them

 

[rkrish]

Got this couple days back. Love the SQ, listen mainly to baroque style small ensembles.
Source:
- Qobuz streaming thru macbook pro (OSX) wired
- Qobuz streaming thru iphone via bluetooth

IEM:
- Final Audio Piano Forte VIII... ah!, just musical, notes just float around
- Sony Sony XBA-Z5, brings out the layers in more complex concerto grosso/symphonic

As said, love the SQ... have some useablity issues with the device, mainly around the touch sensitive volume/mute... works fine in a desktop setup, not viable as portable... toooo sensitive.

 

[ScuderiaHeadFi]

Ah, so we have real users in the field, finally! Do tell us more.

 

[NZtechfreak]

What is the actual power output for this? From what I can see in specs it says "200mw", but that's uninformative - into what load? Is Vrms out known? Shopping for a portable/transportable solution primarily for work, but want sufficient headroom given I don't do IEMs and will likely want the option to drive more demanding cans if I choose to.

 

[stereonerd]

Can’t believe the lack of enthusiasm for the MHA50 - Does anyone own one? I plan on demo’ing one tomorrow if it’s still available at my local McIntosh dealer. Did the delays kill the hype? I haven’t even seen a new press run for it after it’s officially been released

 

[Dobrescu George]

Can’t believe the lack of enthusiasm for the MHA50 - Does anyone own one? I plan on demo’ing one tomorrow if it’s still available at my local McIntosh dealer. Did the delays kill the hype? I haven’t even seen a new press run for it after it’s officially been released

Price is what makes it not a very common piece

Those who have it are enjoying it greatly as far as I understand.

 

[stereonerd]

Well, I had a brief demo with the MHA50 at my local Mac dealer - Using my iPhone in “iOS” mode and with the RHA CL2 Planar IEMs I got in a few tracks. The unit sounds wonderful, however hard to tell using my iPhone and source tracks how well the dac performed. The body was slightly larger than I imagined it would be and I was a little disappointed in the cheap feeling plastic buttons on either side. The demo unit was soft to switch modes and the slider didn’t snap in to place when making a high/low selection. It’s also a finger print magnet, and a little hard to engage the volume especially in minor increments.

All in all I think it’s a really unique little amp, I wish I had more time to spend with it. Doesn’t hurt to have that famous McIntosh brand front and center. May purchase to review further.

 

[squishware]

Think this would power my 600 OHM Beyerdynamic 880s?

 

[NZtechfreak]

Think this would power my 600 OHM Beyerdynamic 880s?

Who knows!

I asked earlier about output power as their specs list this, but don't specify what load that is into...

 

[cpu235]

I recently acquired an MHA50 for a very low price due to the dead battery. Out of curiosity I asked McIntosh how much it would cost to replace it and they said $300 which is way more than what I paid for the amp. The original battery is a 3000mah 3.7v lipo battery, I have a brand new 1500mah one that fits so I replace the old one with it and now it works well. The design is pretty anti-repair since they glued the volume panel directly on the aluminum case and it took me a while to take it apart even with a heat gun. The volume panel also connects directly to the board and there is no cable in between them so you have to remove them very carefully. But once I fixed it I do like the sound and I am using it with my iphone 11. One thing is that I wish they had used aluminum side panels instead of plastic ones, it made the amp feel cheap and I don't know why they did it on a $700 device.

 

[TSAVJason]

I recently acquired an MHA50 for a very low price due to the dead battery. Out of curiosity I asked McIntosh how much it would cost to replace it and they said $300 which is way more than what I paid for the amp. The original battery is a 3000mah 3.7v lipo battery, I have a brand new 1500mah one that fits so I replace the old one with it and now it works well. The design is pretty anti-repair since they glued the volume panel directly on the aluminum case and it took me a while to take it apart even with a heat gun. The volume panel also connects directly to the board and there is no cable in between them so you have to remove them very carefully. But once I fixed it I do like the sound and I am using it with my iphone 11. One thing is that I wish they had used aluminum side panels instead of plastic ones, it made the amp feel cheap and I don't know why they did it on a $700 device.

Call my store. Ask Wayne to see what we can do to help you on that battery cost, if you’re in the US. 310-534-9900

 

[cpu235]

Call my store. Ask Wayne to see what we can do to help you on that battery cost, if you’re in the US. 310-534-9900

No worries, it works fine now with the new battery installed. Maybe I will come by next time, I am like an hour away from your store.

 

[TSAVJason]

No worries, it works fine now with the new battery installed. Maybe I will come by next time, I am like an hour away from your store.

Come by anytime. It’s our version of an AV Disneyland