[syke]

I only see 120v.... no 220v-240v???

 

[TSAVJason]

Hi all, was wondering what's the best way to connect a Astell&Kern SP2000 player to the MHA-200? I would also be interested in recommendations for streaming Tidal to a MHA-200. Thanks in advance!

Hi all, was wondering what's the best way to connect a Astell&Kern SP2000 player to the MHA-200? I would also be interested in recommendations for streaming Tidal to a MHA-200. Thanks in advance!

Anything analog, RCA, XLR balanced

 

[Crowbar44]

Hi all, was wondering what's the best way to connect a Astell&Kern SP2000 player to the MHA-200? I would also be interested in recommendations for streaming Tidal to a MHA-200. Thanks in advance!

Not familiar with the SP2000, but if it has an analog out (which I suspect it does) you can use either the balanced or unbalanced inputs on the MHA-200. My understanding is that the Astell&Kern DAPs do allow you to run Android Apps, including Tidal/Qobuz/Amazon music...I *think* they may support Tidal natively in the UI as well.

 

[tunes]

If anyone can compare this amp to the Quicksilver headphone amp it would be helpful.

 

[Crowbar44]

Heads back down again then.

So any updates on when it will be released?

Ok, just got the word. McIntosh has been in backorder status on nearly everything since December. Products have been coming in but slowly. They decided to move the MHA200 to next months production run so they can get out of their backorder condition.

So I somehow can't get this product out of my mind...must be that McIntosh mystique...any updates on when it will be available?

I decided that the lack of pre-outs probably isn't a deal breaker for me as I can probably rig something up that works with my powered monitors - which I frankly rarely listen to.

I'm also as curious as others as to how this will compare to its price range tube competitors...Feliks, Auris, Woo, etc. To me, without hearing it, the pluses on the Mac are the switchable impedance transformers and the high level of balanced input and output support. Hoping this is a real McIntosh product and not another "also ran" product like the terrible blue tooth speakers and their previous headphone amps...

I'm resigning myself that there won't be a lot of "official" reviews of the MHA-200 immediately as that isn't McIntosh's style....hoping this forum fills that gap.

 

[musikaladin]

Very nice!

 

[tunes]

Without the classic Analog VU meters
with blue back lighting I am not impressed with the aesthetics. It better sound as good as the MHA 150.

 

[Crowbar44]

Without the classic Analog VU meters
with blue back lighting I am not impressed with the aesthetics. It better sound as good as the MHA 150.

Did the MHA 150 sound good? Have you heard it?

Does anyone have an update on when the MHA-200 will be released?

 

[TSAVJason]

So any updates on when it will be released?

So I somehow can't get this product out of my mind...must be that McIntosh mystique...any updates on when it will be available?

I decided that the lack of pre-outs probably isn't a deal breaker for me as I can probably rig something up that works with my powered monitors - which I frankly rarely listen to.

I'm also as curious as others as to how this will compare to its price range tube competitors...Feliks, Auris, Woo, etc. To me, without hearing it, the pluses on the Mac are the switchable impedance transformers and the high level of balanced input and output support. Hoping this is a real McIntosh product and not another "also ran" product like the terrible blue tooth speakers and their previous headphone amps...

I'm resigning myself that there won't be a lot of "official" reviews of the MHA-200 immediately as that isn't McIntosh's style....hoping this forum fills that gap.

You are correct! McIntosh is notorious for providing review samples to people that don’t really know (in this case) headphone gear. At the end of this month is the new production run date.

 

[TSAVJason]

Without the classic Analog VU meters
with blue back lighting I am not impressed with the aesthetics. It better sound as good as the MHA 150.

The MHA100, 150 are totally different animals compared to the MHA200. They are primarily speaker amps and 100% solid state. The MHA 200 is 100% a tube amp dedicated to headphone use not speakers. In fact the MHA 200 doesn’t have traditional pre-outs like the 100 & 150. Not all people like the more contemporary look of McIntosh and not everyone likes the more vintage look either. Certainly it’s a personal choice. Even the least expensive blue meters that McIntosh uses would cause the MHA200 to be $1000 more and they chose the vintage look to keep the cost down. The MHA200 is half the price of a MHA150 also

 

[meomap]

The MHA100, 150 are totally different animals compared to the MHA200. They are primarily speaker amps and 100% solid state. The MHA 200 is 100% a tube amp dedicated to headphone use not speakers. In fact the MHA 200 doesn’t have traditional pre-outs like the 100 & 150. Not all people like the more contemporary look of McIntosh and not everyone likes the more vintage look either. Certainly it’s a personal choice. Even the least expensive blue meters that McIntosh uses would cause the MHA200 to be $1000 more and they chose the vintage look to keep the cost down. The MHA200 is half the price of a MHA150 also

Why McIntosh make the electrical connectors that way? Why 2 prongs?

 

[TSAVJason]

Why McIntosh make the electrical connectors that way? Why 2 prongs?

I assume you mean the AC power cable/connection. I don’t know why however it would be safe to assume 2 reasons. 1 to save cost and 2 because the unit is not particularly high current. McIntosh does not really know the headphone world yet but clearly they intend to be a significant player in the genre.

 

[Crowbar44]

The MHA100, 150 are totally different animals compared to the MHA200. They are primarily speaker amps and 100% solid state. The MHA 200 is 100% a tube amp dedicated to headphone use not speakers. In fact the MHA 200 doesn’t have traditional pre-outs like the 100 & 150. Not all people like the more contemporary look of McIntosh and not everyone likes the more vintage look either. Certainly it’s a personal choice. Even the least expensive blue meters that McIntosh uses would cause the MHA200 to be $1000 more and they chose the vintage look to keep the cost down. The MHA200 is half the price of a MHA150 also

For me...the looks are a big selling point - along with the custom wound transformers that can be matched to the impedance of different headphones...it will be nice to have an amp that can theoretically drive a wide variety of can's from 300 Ohm Senns to 40 Ohm planars...

Hopefully it sounds as good as it looks...

 

[TSAVJason]

For me...the looks are a big selling point - along with the custom wound transformers that can be matched to the impedance of different headphones...it will be nice to have an amp that can theoretically drive a wide variety of can's from 300 Ohm Senns to 40 Ohm planars...

Hopefully it sounds as good as it looks...

Yes! That’s the hope!

 

[Crowbar44]

You are correct! McIntosh is notorious for providing review samples to people that don’t really know (in this case) headphone gear. At the end of this month is the new production run

You are correct! McIntosh is notorious for providing review samples to people that don’t really know (in this case) headphone gear. At the end of this month is the new production run date.

Jason...I really appreciate all your updates! So if the production run is at the end of the month - when can we expect to see the MHA-200 at dealers? Early May?

As long as this doesn't sound badly (which I'm sure it won't), I'm getting one. I agree that it's the first Mac headphone amp that fits what the typical Head-Fier is looking for. It's versatile, SET topology, with both balanced and single ended support. For a while I was looking at some of the OTLs from Feliks etc. But I adamantly do not want to have multiple amps for different headphones, and I need something that can drive my Clears, LCD-2fs, and HD660S's with equal aplomb...hoping this amp is it.

I'm planning to bring my Asgard 3 MB to the dealer when I demo the MHA-200. I'll use the Asgard's DAC card to listen to the MHA-200 and will try and post some impressions.

Truth is, the Asgard 3 MB is a fantastic sounding amp/dac...and it's probably all I'd ever need...but I'm going to splurge on this amp - a purely emotional decision as long as it sounds at least as good as the Asgard 3. I'll then relegate the Asgard 3 to work to replace the Hel...

Now I'm gonna need a standalone DAC...Gumby anyone?