Amplifier of the Year $10,000-$20,000
Amplifier of the Year $10,000-$20,000
It looks pretty darned serious. And it is serious; this is the largest integrated amplifier McIntosh has ever built. But it’s also some of the the best fun you can have sitting on a couch — it’s no wonder that McIntosh has such a highly developed brand loyalty, because what the brand offers is unique. There’s the look, there’s that wonderful teal glow from the meters and emerald back-illumination to the logo. But there’s also a remarkable level of versatility and connectivity that is often missing from such high levels of amplification.
For example, we seriously doubt you’re ever going to use all the inputs thatMcIntosh has fitted to the MA9000. There 10 ten analogue inputs and six digital inputs, so 16 in all! Six of the analogue inputs are unbalanced line-level types, and two are balanced line-level inputs. The remaining two are phono inputs, one for moving coil cartridges, the other for moving magnet cartridges. On the digital side, the DA1 digital audio module inside the MA9000 (upgradeable should new formats come along) has two coaxial digital inputs, two optical digital inputs, a USB-B input for computers, and one MCT input (a DIN connector used to provide a digital connection between the MA9000 and McIntosh’s SACD/CD players).
The DA1 Digital Audio Module contains an 8-channel, 32-bit DAC that McIntosh uses in its quad balanced mode. The USB input can process PCM signals up to 384kHz and DSD signals up to DSD256 and DXD384kHz, while the other digital inputs can all process PCM up to 24-bit/192kHz.
More versatility — those 12 small rotary controls are equaliser controls for 12 bands, providing a super-evolved tone control. The input selector ‘remembers’ whether you want to use equalisation on one or more of the inputs.
There are separate binding posts for different impedance speakers, ensuring correct service of the available 300W per channel. And that’s where the MA9000 proves itself to be ear-candy as well as eye candy — insightful with the details, nimble with dynamics, and with a neutrality that extends way up into the treble register, or perhaps a little warm at the extreme top end, but this we much prefer to the steeliness of some high-end solid-state amplifiers. And there is surely more power here than you’ll ever need.
When reviewed this amp was $19,995; as we went to press it rose to $21,995, above the category limit... but the Award stands, as an investment in sheer pleasure. More info: www.synergyaudio.com
JUDGES’ COMMENT “The biggest McIntosh integrated amplifier ever, the MA9000 is an investment in sheer pleasure.”