MCINTOSH MA9500

Music comes to life with the MA9500 Integrated Amplifier and its 300 Watts per channel of clean, effortless power. This power is delivered via a pair of the renowned McIntosh Autoformer™ whose unique design ensures that the speakers always receive the full 300 Watts, regardless of whether they have 2, 4, or 8 Ohms impedance. The MA9500 replaces the award-winning MA9000 and adds further performance enhancements to an already outstanding stereo integrated amplifier.
The filter capacity in the MA9500 has been doubled compared to the MA9000, resulting in a significant increase in dynamic headroom from 1.8dB to 2.8dB, giving the MA9500 a greater ability to reproduce musical peaks with less distortion. While the MA9000 offered excellent low-end performance, the increased filter capacity of the MA9500 will also help deliver even more remarkable bass playback and control.
While the MA9000 included the DA1 Digital Audio Module, the MA9500 comes standard with the DA2 Digital Audio Module. The DA2 offers 7 digital inputs: 2 coaxial, 2 optical, 1 USB, 1 MCT, and 1 HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) connection. The DA2 is powered by an audiophile-grade, Quad Balanced, 8-channel, 32-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) with improvements in both dynamic range and total harmonic distortion compared to the DAC in the DA1. The coaxial and optical inputs of the DA2 can decode digital music up to 24-bit/192kHz for high-resolution audio playback. The DA2 also has an exclusive McIntosh MCT input, which offers a secure DSD connection to any of our MCT series SACD/CD Transports to deliver the best possible sound quality for high-definition audio found on your SACDs.
TVs with a compatible HDMI (ARC) output can be connected to the MA9500 to enjoy the TV’s sound like never before through your home music system. Popular multi-channel audio formats from Dolby® and DTS® are supported and will be expertly converted to 2-channel audio for proper playback. The MA9500 remote can control the TV’s power and volume when CEC communication is enabled in both the amplifier and the TV. The DA2 also supports DSD playback up to DSD512 via the USB input. Being a modular design, the DA2 can be replaced in the future with a newer Digital Audio Module.
The range of analog audio connections is as impressive as the digital audio connectivity. The MA9500 has 10 analog inputs consisting of 2 balanced inputs, 6 unbalanced inputs, 1 Moving Coil phono input, and 1 Moving Magnet phono input with separate grounding terminals for connecting turntables. Both phono inputs feature adjustable loading, allowing you to fine-tune the sound of your vinyl records. All unbalanced analog connectors are made from premium gold-plated solid brass for superior signal handling and grounding. All analog and digital inputs can be assigned custom names for easier system control and setup. For greater flexibility in setting up your home audio system, the MA9500 includes both balanced and unbalanced outputs to send the audio signal to another power amplifier.
Upgraded power supply components further reduce noise emissions while adding more robustness under demanding conditions. The MA9500 continues to use powerful control microprocessors for smooth and reliable system operation, as well as some of the latest audio-grade circuit components to produce the best sound possible.

Other McIntosh features included in the MA9500 are:
• Power Guard® continuously monitors input and output signals and can dynamically adjust input levels to ensure maximum output while avoiding distortion and clipping that could damage the speakers.
• Our fuse-less short-circuit protection technology Sentry Monitor™ disengages the output stage before the current exceeds safe operating levels and resets automatically when conditions return to normal.
• McIntosh Monogrammed Heatsinks™ made from high-quality materials with excellent thermal conductivity and heat dissipation properties.
• Home Theater PassThru for seamless integration into a home theater system.
• High Drive headphone amplifier with Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®), adding a new dimension to headphone listening.
• A discrete, eight-band tone control for advanced manual analog adjustment of ±12dB in 2dB increments for your favorite recordings at 25Hz, 50Hz, 100Hz, 200Hz, 400Hz, 1kHz, 2.5kHz, and 10kHz frequencies.
• Power Control to send on/off signals to connected McIntosh components for easy system power-up and shutdown.

Technical specifications:

• FTC Power Output Rating: 300 W
• Power Output per Channel: 300 W into 2, 4, or 8 ohms
• Number of Channels: 2
• Rated Power Band: 20Hz to 20kHz
• Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.005%
• Dynamic Headroom: 2.8dB
• Frequency Response +0,-0.5dB: 20Hz to 20kHz
• Frequency Response, +0, -3dB: 10Hz to 100kHz
• Phono Sensitivity (Moving Coil): 0.30mV
• Phono Sensitivity (Moving Magnet): 3.0mV
• High Level Sensitivity (Balanced / Unbalanced): 0.6V/0.3V
• Power Amp input Sensitivity: 1.7V
• Signal To Noise Ratio (Moving Coil): 82dB
• Signal To Noise Ratio (Moving Magnet): 84dB
• Signal To Noise Ratio (High Level): 98dB
• Signal To Noise Ratio (Power Amp input): 114dB
• Input Impedance (Balanced / Unbalanced): 10K/22K
• Damping Factor: >40
• Maximum Output (Balanced / Unbalanced): 8V Unbalanced, 16V Balanced
• Unit Dimensions (W x H x D): 17-1/2” (44.5cm) x 9-7/16” (24cm) x 19-3/4” (50.2cm)
• Unit Weight: 101 lbs (45.8kg)