McIntosh MA12000: Power and Refinement

The MA12000 embodies McIntosh’s unwavering commitment to sonic engineering and meticulous craftsmanship. As their current flagship integrated amplifier, it stands as the most powerful integrated amplifier McIntosh has produced to date, capable of unlocking the full potential of any audio system and recreating the vibrancy of a live musical performance. Delivering a pristine 350 watts per channel, the feature-rich MA12000 offers a breathtaking home audio experience. It will transport you to the concert hall, as if your favorite musicians were performing live in your very own home.

The MA12000’s front panel features the iconic McIntosh blue watt meters, displaying the power output of both the left and right channels, while the central window offers a view of the preamplifier's vacuum tubes. The top of the MA12000 showcases some updated industrial design elements. The Autoformers and power transformer are now housed within a striking new glass-topped enclosure, complete with a glass nameplate encircled by a decorative ring. Key performance specifications and a detailed block diagram are elegantly printed on five additional glass panels.

The MA12000 employs a hybrid design, combining a vacuum tube preamplifier stage with a solid-state power amplifier, delivering a robust 350 watts per channel. Leveraging McIntosh's renowned Autoformer technology, this power output remains consistent at 350 watts regardless of the connected speaker's impedance—whether it be 2, 4, or 8 ohms—ensuring both finesse and formidable power are delivered without compromise in any situation. An eight-band tone control provides precise tonal shaping, while a generous array of 17 inputs—10 analog and 7 digital—offer extensive connectivity. The MA12000 comes standard with the high-quality DA2 digital-to-analog converter module and both Moving Magnet (MM) and Moving Coil (MC) phono stages, making it the ideal all-in-one solution for discerning audiophiles who prefer an integrated amplifier.

The MA12000's preamplifier stage utilizes four 12AX7A vacuum tubes to impart a captivating warmth and richness to the music, while the solid-state power amplifier section provides rapid transient response and effortless power delivery. McIntosh's renowned Autoformer™ technology ensures that connected loudspeakers, regardless of whether their impedance is 2, 4, or 8 ohms, receive the MA12000's full 350-watt output.

The MA12000 incorporates several of McIntosh's patented technologies, including Power Guard® speaker protection circuitry, Sentry Monitor™ current overload protection, and the signature McIntosh Monogrammed Heatsinks™ for efficient thermal management.

The MA12000 offers a comprehensive array of analog and digital connectivity options, ensuring seamless integration with any home entertainment system. Its 10 analog inputs include two balanced XLR and six unbalanced RCA connections, along with dedicated Moving Magnet (MM) and Moving Coil (MC) phono inputs with adjustable loading for connecting turntables. A balanced XLR and an unbalanced RCA analog output allow for connection to an external power amplifier. On the digital front, the MA12000 comes equipped with the DA2 digital module (Roon Ready), featuring seven digital inputs. The DA2 employs a state-of-the-art quad-balanced, eight-channel, 32-bit DAC chipset, delivering exceptional dynamic range and remarkably low Total Harmonic Distortion (THD). The USB input supports PCM and DXD up to 384kHz and native DSD512 decoding, while the coaxial and optical inputs handle formats up to 24-bit/192kHz.

The DA2 has achieved Roon Tested status from Roon Labs, a particularly valuable feature for those with extensive digital music libraries. As a Roon Tested partner, McIntosh has provided Roon with equipment for testing across various operating systems and computers, and has shared information about its design and capabilities.

The HDMI (ARC) input allows connection of a television with a compatible HDMI (ARC) output to the MA12000 and your home stereo system, bringing a new level of audio performance to your TV and movie viewing that is simply unattainable with television speakers or soundbars. Popular multi-channel audio formats, including Dolby® and DTS®, are supported and will be expertly converted to two-channel audio for proper playback. When CEC communication is enabled on both the MA12000 and ¹ the television, the TV remote can control the MA12000's power and volume. The DA2 module is designed to be replaceable with future modules, ensuring your MA12000 remains current with evolving digital audio formats and technologies.

Playing Isabelle Faust's JS Bach - Sonatas & Partitas reveals the beautiful synergy between the tube preamplifier stage and Sonus Faber's signature sound. The violin's tone is presented with both linear precision and warmth, radiating a vibrant halo of harmonics while maintaining a well-defined image. This rich harmonic bloom expands outwards, coupling with the room acoustics to create a vast, three-dimensional soundstage within our approximately 37-square-meter listening room. The sonic picture possesses a palpable texture and vividness, almost like the brushstrokes of an oil painting. Neither a pure tube nor a pure solid-state amplifier could elicit this unique blend of tonal colors from the Serafino Tradition that the MA12000 achieves.

With Riccardo Chailly conducting the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig in Brahms' First Symphony, the timpani strokes at the beginning of the first movement's introduction immediately reveal the muscular, impactful—yet not brute-force—mid-bass to low-frequency performance that is a hallmark of a powerful solid-state amplifier. Each drum strike not only establishes atmosphere, weight, and grandeur, but also carves out a highly defined, three-dimensional soundstage. Within the clearly delineated details and contours of the orchestral instruments, a vibrant, slightly warm harmonic texture emerges. The transitions between dynamic peaks and troughs, from quiet passages to moments of intense emotional expression, are remarkably smooth. During the full-orchestral fortissimos, the performance exhibits a compelling blend of authority and a touch of commanding presence—powerful yet refined, delivering a grand and majestic sonic panorama.

Specifications