McIntosh MHA150 Headphone Amplifier

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by dubharmonic, May 3, 2020.

  1. dubharmonic

    dubharmonic Friend

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    I've had the MHA150 for 3 years, and haven't written up a full review. Thanks to @EagleWings for encouraging me to finally put this together. My impressions on the MHA150 have changed a bit as I've tried loaner amps and new headphones, and will no doubt continue to evolve, though it's probably safe to say that new gear syndrome has worn off.

    [​IMG]

    The internal DAC is where most of the McIntosh flavor comes from in this unit. I'm told that it's based on an ESS chip. It has a "WOW" factor that's fun, sharp, intense, and a bit U shaped. With a soft headphone it's great for a while, but it regularly gets fatiguing, especially with more prolonged sessions. I'm usually listening for at least several hours a day, and fatigue becomes a problem. I added a Modi Multibit and then a Yggdrasil via AudioQuest Red River XLR cables, which is initially less exciting, but more natural and easier to spend long sessions with. I only use an Eitr or Pi2AES with the internal DAC because the built-in USB implementation will deliberately fade-in from silence, even in the middle of a song. I can't understate how irritating this is, especially from a device in this price range.

    The amp section is mostly neutral, and oozes power and control. It's also quite versatile, with 7 impedance/gain combinations and up to 50 watts per channel into 8 ohms. There's also bass control, which I love and use often with some headphones. Only recently I've been using the crossfeed feature, which can help reduce brightness. I haven't yet used it with speakers. As much as I want to get more into speakers, my home office would be a disastrous listening room.

    While the blue meters are cool, I'm not a huge fan of the look of the amp. It's solid, heavy, and well built, but ECP's modern design language is much more my style.

    [​IMG]

    Pi2AES → MHA150 → HE1000

    [​IMG]

    Hearing this paring is what prompted me to get the MHA150. It pushes all of the right buttons, and to my tastes doesn't do anything wrong, even 3 years after first hearing it. The intensity of the DAC offsets much of the softness of the HE1000. Extension on both ends is extreme. It's particularly extraordinary with atmospheric electronic music.

    Pi2AES → Yggdrasil → MHA150 → HE6se +5db bass boost

    This is the most fun I've had with a headphone. Many say that they prefer using the speaker taps, but I prefer using the TRS jack. The volume levels during listening are nearly identical, I don't think the HE6 has access to any extra power from the speaker taps.

    Pi2AES → Yggdrasil A2 → MHA150 → Utopia

    The Utopia doesn't usually do well with solid-state amps. It's too lean, has a metallic timbre, and feels abrasive. Thanks to @E_Schaaf and the loaner program, I was able to spend a few weeks with the Feliks Euphoria, which showed me how much potential the Utopia has. Dekoni Elite Hybrid pads, when used with the MHA150, give a similar-ish presentation to the Euphoria, save the tubiness. However even after pad-rolling, I prefer a tube amp with the Utopia.

    Pi2AES → Yggdrasil → MHA150 → HD800S +5db bass boost HXD

    I've been trying for a while to understand how to appreciate the HD800S. The Crossfeed reduces brightness and the artificially wide soundstage. Even so, this not a satisfying pairing.

    It's tough to recommend the MHA150 because of the price. I'd like to compare it to the ECP DSHA3F Ravenswood 3F. If I get the chance, I'll be sure to update this post.
     
  2. will_f

    will_f Friend

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    I’ve always wondered how this amp sounds. I guess if I manage to get rich I’ll pick up a TOTL tube amp instead. I like Focals but they benefit from a warmer than neutral amp
     
    Last edited: May 5, 2020
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    It's expensive, but so is a lot of boutique headphone stuff with lesser known names. I love this amp, it's in my top three as for as solid-state amps, and thought it was the best of the bunch at TSAV. I used an external source when I tried out it. As you said, it's neutral, and won't do the Utopia any favors.

    As far as 3F, the 3F is really better suited for higher efficiency headphones like Utopia, HD800, ZMF, etc. The HE1000 seems to really like something that can power more than a few watts into a speaker load. otherwise it sounds soft.
     
  4. EagleWings

    EagleWings Friend

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    Great write-up @dubharmonic . MHA150 is one of the better sounding SS units I have tried. But I couldn't isolate the tonal characteristics of the Amp section, as I only got to try it as a DAC-Amp. I could tell the amp section was very good in terms of performance though, as the aspects that you usually notice a considerable change when switching out amps such as; stage, speed, dynamics, transients, etc. were fantastic.

    In the meet where I tried, it stood out from all the other amps at the meet (iFi iCan Pro, Bryston BHA1, Pathos Aurium, Lyr3, Senn HDV820). I wish there was an Amp only version that retailed for $3000, so that it could be had for ~$2500 with dealer discount.

    This thing costs a pretty penny outside US though. In India, even after dealer discount, the price is around $7000.
     
    Last edited: May 5, 2020
  5. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    I would have rated McIntosh as one of the best-known hifi names, but perhaps that's because I belong to another century! The style, the name, the meters: recognisable across the street. The sound? Well, now I come to think of it, I don't remember ever hearing any.
    Sheesh! Apparently it's US$5K in USA. Add to that the Indian routine pricing of make it about the same as flying there and buying one and I suppose...

    Anyway, beyond my horizons. I'd like to listen to some vintage McIntosh stuff.

    Thanks, @dubharmonic for the review. I confess that I might not have read it if I'd seen the price first, though.

    That USB thing: do you mean that whenever you "press play" it fades in? weird.
     
  6. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    The MHA100 and MHA150 are the same amp, just updated DAC. So if you don't care about the DAC you can save some $$$.
     
  7. dubharmonic

    dubharmonic Friend

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    Any suggestions for additional headphones to try with the MHA150?

    Me too, man, me too. It makes me wonder how many of these they sell.

    Yes! It's not a quick fade-in, either, and this happens on both Win10 and macOS.
     
  8. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Well, that settles it. I'm not paying $7,000 for that!

    My amplifier fades out the speakers and fades in the 'phones when one presses the 'phones button. It does prevent high-volume accidents, and it is gentle on the ears... but I don't always want to wait.
     
  9. dubharmonic

    dubharmonic Friend

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    The solution is to not use USB, coax doesn't fade, and sounds better!
     
  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Verum is decently efficient, but 8-12 ohms. Basically speaker impedance. Really comes to life.
     
  11. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    I purchased a used MHA100 recently and thought I would share some impressions here. The MHA100 and MHA150 share a common analog section, it's just the digital bits that differ. I'm not interested in the digital capabilities (in fact I haven't even tried out the DAC on this unit) as I'm using DAC2541 as a source, so this is all about the analog section. I'll update this post as I have more to share.

    Preamp
    I've been on the lookout for a good headamp, even though my primary listening is 2 channel. Given that these units have a preamp capability, my first serious listening effort has been to evaluate the MHA100 vs going straight from DAC2541 to my powered monitors.

    The cabling is a 10 meter run of low capacitance XLR cable to the Genelec 2.1 setup. In the case of DAC2541 it is direct from the XLR outs and in the case of MHA100 a short (1m) RCA to XLR adapter cable is used. The Genelecs are perfectly happy taking an unbalanced signal in this way. MHA100 does not have a blanced output, but is capable of a max 7V over the RCA outs.

    I tested using a GoldPoint switch (2 XLR in, 1 XLR out) and a short (0.5m) XLR cable. So we have DAC2541-->0.5m XLR-->Switch and MHA100-->1m RCA to XLR Cable-->Switch and then 10m XLR cable from the switch to the Gennies. The source for the MHA100 is RCA from DAC2541, though it does have XLR inputs (more on this later). This allowed me to run them simultaneously and also innately compensate a bit for the MHA100 preamp gain. I volume matched them using the MHA100 volume control and pink noise averaged over one minute using a phone app. Matching was within 0.1 dB. with the MHA100 at 71% and -6dB input trim. Volume control was then via DAC2541, in it's lossless range for redbook material.

    The results were pleasing. At first listen they sound basically identical, which is impressive to my mind, given the reputation the MHA100/150 seems to have for being warm. At least using the preamp outs (not going through the headphone autoformer) the MHA100 is transparent.

    With extended listening across a set of test tracks which I know very well, some (very slight) differences emerge. MHA brings just a little more body or structure to the mids and vocals seem to benefit from this. Bass is just ever so slightly less prominent (not deficient in any way), and this is likely just because of the slightly greater presence in the mids. All the detail in the DAC251 direct connection is there , so MHA100 seems not to be committing any sins of ommission. Stage is just ever so slightly wider through MHA100 and there is a subtle sense of better separation from the speakers.

    I've run DAC1541 through Black Widow 2 to the Genelecs in the past just for fun, and that results in a warm lacquer kind of effect. MHA100 has none of that, it is clear and clean and any differences seem mildly beneficial if anything at all.

    I am impressed, and so much so that I am now running XLR from DAC2541 into MHA100 and from MHA100 out to the Genelecs on a permanent basis, making MHA100 the centerpiece of my little audio setup. Using DAC2541 balanced to MHA100 may be resulting in a very slightly improved bass structure, but that may also be my imagination.

    In short, the MHA100 is very impressive as a preamp, clean and clear and approaching very closely a direct balanced connection from DAC to speakers.

    Headphones

    To come...
     
  12. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    MHA100 Continued...
    HD600, DAC2541 vs MHA100

    This test was done using a TC7240 switchbox allowing me to switch sources (you need to switch DAC2541 to Headphones from Line and the switcher to switch the input between DAC2541 and MHA100). Headphones are HD600, unbalanced in both cases. MHA100 using High 150-300 Ohm mode. Level matched with Pink noise to within 0.1dB on my phone's dB meter averaged over a minute. Volume on DAC2541 within lossles range for red book.

    Tonally there is not much between them. I'm not perceiving MHA100 as warmer, certainly not like BW2. Much like the preamp, I'm perceiving MHA100 as clear and tonally even-keeled vs DAC2541. This is about the strongest showing for DAC2541.

    In terms of presentation, the best way I can think to describe it is DAC2541 feels like it's playing sound at you where MHA100 is playing music for you. For example on Sade's "Smooth Operator" the sax sounds kind of insipid and bored and just "meh" through DAC2541 where MHA100 breathes life back into it. I don't want to over-emhasize the difference, but it is quite clear that MHA100 is engaged and DAC2541 is just sort of going through the motions. I think the slighty distant sound of the sax on this track is a good test of whether the reproduction can bring across the emotion in the instrument.

    Staging is a little wider on MHA100, but more importantly is has structure. I think I'm a bit like Marv where I don't get the headstage thing much on headphones (or it's not a thing that is so important to me), but in this case elements are placed with a sense of depth and distincness of position through MHA100 where DAC2541 has them like ducks all in a row in front of you emitting a wall of sound. It's easier to isolate an instrument and they all have dimension instead of being pasted on a flat plane.

    Timbre is much better on MHA100. The resonance, breathiness and raspiness of brass rings through properly. The wistful aspect of the sax is transported to the listener instead of getting lost in the journey. On Michel Petrucciani's Home (Live) on his Colors album you almost don't notice the mic'ing of the piano picking up the position of the hammers from left to right on DAC2541. On MHA100 it's immediate and delightful, and moreover you hear not only the resonance of the strings, but the interplay of the resonances on each other. In a weird way DAC2541 sounds like a separate piano with a single string for each note where MHA100 presents you with the single complex, resonant instrument.

    Regarding my memory of Black Widow 2, MHA100 doesn't editorialize as much. BW2 is like one of those steampunk light bulbs with the warm orange glowing filament, bathing the sound in a warm inviting way. MHA100 is a good incandescent bulb, more neutral but with a gentleness and ease about it, illuminating in a natural way. DAC2541 is a warm fluorescent. It's not terrible, but it is definitely limited by it's base nature and has a flat, more clinical light. I can only imagine some of these 0.000005% distortion cheap amps are merciless cold fluorescent where you see every detail and dislike every moment of it.

    I am curious to try HD650 on this amp. HD600 easily beat out my HD6XX on BW2 (which is why the HD6XX is now with a friend) but in this case the HD650 "bordello glow" may be a synergistic element. That said, I find nothing lacking in HD600 at all, it sound wonderful on MHA100. I see this could be quite a flexible and versatile amp across a wide range of phones.

    I was impressed to hear only the faintest hiss on my CFA Andromeda on Normal 8-40 Ohm setting which is quite impressive. I haven't listened much, but I think the OI may not be ideal. Bass boost does help out a bit there though.
     
  13. dubharmonic

    dubharmonic Friend

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    It's been 17 years since I've heard an HD600, but I really like the HD650 paired with the MHA150! Auteur as well.
     

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