McIntosh’s new MHA200 Vacuum Tube Headphone Amplifier takes full advantage of the company’s technologies to deliver the best possible performance from today’s premium-quality headphones.
The MHA200 benefits from luxurious valves and a raft of proprietary features.
Highly versatile with wide-ranging connectivity options, the MHA200 Vacuum Tube Headphone Amplifier is compact enough (15.6 cm wide x 23.2 cm deep) to be placed close to the listening position with its long balanced cables connecting it to audio systems without fear of signal loss.
Proprietary features, such as the advanced Unity Coupled Circuit transformers, have been adapted so that virtually any headphones can receive the legendary McIntosh sound quality and performance. The Unity Coupled Circuit is the same technology McIntosh was founded on in 1949 and is still used in the company’s coveted full-size home audio amplifiers.
Connections
A wide range of connectivity options makes connecting all headphones easy. There are three options: a pair of 3-pin balanced XLR connectors (for dedicated left and right balanced output); a 4-pin balanced XLR connector (for balanced stereo output), plus a ¼-inch (6.35 mm) stereo headphone jack. For connection to home audio devices, the MHA200 benefits from both balanced and unbalanced inputs.
The MXA200 is driven by luxurious valves: a pair of 12AT7 and 12BH7A. The 12AT7 valves amplify the incoming audio signal, while the 12BH7A tubes provide the power to drive the output to the headphones with low distortion.
McIntosh custom designed and manufactured the output transformers to match the valve amplifier section to the headphone output section, in order to ensure maximum power transfer for various loads.
Instead of having to adapt to the impedance of the headphones with voltage gain in the input stage, the Unity Coupled Circuit output transformers’ secondary windings ensure the full power of the MHA200 is available regardless of the impedance of the headphones. A custom, high-performance and highly efficient toroidal power transformer (with low mechanical hum and a low magnetic field to help reduce electrical noise), provides clean power to the amplifier.
The MHA200 features a custom-formed stainless steel chassis with a polished-mirror finish. A vintage die-cast aluminum McIntosh name badge adorns the side. A Power Control input and output allows the MHA200 to turn on and off with other connected McIntosh components.
MHA200: Pricing and availability
Orders for the £2,795 MHA200 can now be placed with authorised McIntosh dealers. Shipping is expected in April 2021 (UK) and March (United States and Canada).
More info at mcintoshlabs.com
