Macintosh MA8950

The integrated amplifier MA8950 offers 200 Watt per channel and combines McIntosh's expertise in amplification and preamp technologies into a comprehensive stereo sound system component. It replaces the award-winning MA8900 (Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity 2017 Best Stereo Integrated Amplifier) ​​and adds further performance enhancements to an already excellent stereo integrated amplifier.

With the MA8950 you can expect an unrivaled sound experience as McIntosh has combined their most advanced technology in this one unit. This integrated amplifier delivers clean, detailed and powerful sound for any music lover. The MA8950 also has an easy-to-use interface that gives you full control over your music settings.

The MA8950 is recognized by AVForums as the best high-end stereo amplifier of 2022 and received the Editor's Choice Award. It's an amplifier that can handle almost any source of music, drive almost any speaker and work comfortably in almost any room.

The MA8950 comes standard with the DA2 Digital Audio Module instead of the DA1 Digital Audio Module that was included with the MA8900. The DA2 has 7 digital inputs: 2 coaxial, 2 optical, 1 USB, 1 MCT and 1 audio-only HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC)1 connection. TVs with a compatible HDMI (ARC) output can be connected to the MA8950 to enjoy TV sound like never before through your home music system. Popular multi-channel audio formats from Dolby® and DTS® are supported and will be converted to 2-channel audio for proper playback. The MA8950 remote control can also control the TV's power and volume when CEC communication is enabled in both the amplifier and the TV.

The DA2 also has increased DSD playback support of up to DSD512 via the USB input. With all these advanced features, the MA8950 can offer stunning sound quality and be a great addition to any sound system.

The DA2 is powered by an audiophile-grade, Quad Balanced, 8-channel, 32-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC), which has improvements in both dynamic range and total harmonic distortion compared to the DAC in the DA1. Coax and optical inputs in the DA2 can decode digital music up to 24-bit/192kHz for high-resolution audio playback. The DA2 features a McIntosh exclusive MCT input that offers a secure DSD connection to any of our MCT range of SACD/CD transports to deliver the best possible sound quality for the high quality audio found on your SACDs.

With its modular design, it is possible to replace the DA2 with a newer Digital Audio Module in the future. This means you can upgrade your system with the latest technologies without having to buy a whole new amplifier.

All in all, the MA8950 delivers an impressive sound experience and has advanced features that make it a perfect partner for any music system. Whether you are an audio enthusiast or a professional musician, the MA8950 will provide you with sound quality that will impress you.

With its wide range of digital audio inputs, analogue connectivity has not been overlooked on the MA8950. It comes with 1 balanced and 6 unbalanced stereo inputs as well as 1 Moving Coil and 1 Moving Magnet phono inputs for your turntables. All inputs can be given customized names for user-friendly system management and configuration. The Moving Coil phono input comes with adjustable load so you can fine-tune the sound of your vinyl records. All unbalanced analog connections are manufactured from premium gold-plated solid brass for superior signal handling and grounding.

The MA8950 has been praised by Sound Online for its ability to handle almost any speaker and deliver exceptional performance and flexibility with everything. It is an amplifier that delivers brilliant performance and offers immense connectivity and ease of use. Overall, the MA8950 provides an unmatched audio experience and flexibility that makes it one of the best amplifiers on the market.

Other updates include upgraded power supply components for even lower noise emissions and increased reliability under the most demanding conditions. The MA8950 continues to use powerful control microprocessors for robust and smooth system operation, as well as some of the latest state-of-the-art audio-grade circuit components to produce the best possible sound.

With these advanced features, you can be sure that the MA8950 is a top class amplifier that delivers an extraordinary audio experience. Whether you're listening to music, watching movies or playing games, the MA8950 will ensure you get sound that will impress you. With its extensive connectivity options, ease of use and advanced features, the MA8950 is an amplifier that will impress even the most demanding audio enthusiast.

The MA8950 also has other McIntosh features including:

Power Guard® that continuously monitors input and output signals and can dynamically adjust input levels to ensure maximum output without causing distortion and clipping that can damage your speakers.

Sentry Monitor™ fuse-free short-circuit protection technology that disconnects the output stage before the current can exceed safe operating levels, then automatically resets when operating conditions return to normal.

McIntosh Monogrammed Heatsinks™, which are made from materials with excellent thermal conductivity and heat dissipation properties.

Home Theater PassThru that allows seamless integration into a home theater system.

A High Drive headphone amplifier with Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®), which can give an extra dimension to headphone listening.

A discrete, five-band tone control that provides advanced manual analog adjustment of ±12dB in 2dB increments of your favorite recordings at frequencies of 30Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, 2kHz and 10kHz.

Power Control that sends power on/off signals to connected McIntosh components for easy system power on/off.

Gold-plated speaker terminals that prevent corrosion and ensure that a quality signal is sent over your speaker cables to your speakers.

The Roon Tested designation confirms that the MA8950 is fully compatible with Roon software and can work seamlessly with it. This gives users of the MA8950 a seamless streaming experience and guarantees excellent sound quality. With the Roon Tested designation, you can be sure that the MA8950 will give you a sound experience in a class of its own, no matter what you listen to.

The entire unit is wrapped in the timeless McIntosh aesthetic with a black glass front with LED lighting, blue watt meters, control buttons, illuminated logo, aluminum end caps and a beautifully polished stainless steel chassis.