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Big, bold and beautifu| sounding...Jon Myles finds
thete's nothing not to like ahout Mclntosh,s latest
iuggemaut of an integtated amplifier
Blue heauen
hen Mclntosh
announced a new
luxury integrated
amplifier in the
shape of the
f l 0,000
MA8000 we were
l<een
to be the first to get our
sweaty hands on it.And sweaty was
indeed the operative word once we'd
hauled it into our listening room.
For this is a juggernaut of an amplifier
weighing in at over 45kg
-in its pacl<aging)
(60.3l<g
to be the very
definition of a two-man lift,
Not only is it heavy it's also
imposing in size, measuring some
44.5cm x 24cm x 55.8cm (W/H/
D). mal<ing it amongst the biggest
amplifiers out there, be they power
10
JULY
20,14
or integrated.This Mclntosh
is
purposed as a complete digital and
analogue audiophile system hub.
As such, in addition to its conservatively-rated 300 Watts per channel
of output power (our Measured
Peńormance gave a 450 Watt figure
into 8 Ohms), the MA8000 features
a total of l 5 inputs, a proprietary
digital-to-analogue convertor
(dubbed the Mclntosh Digital Engine),
high-quality headphone output and
a fully-adjustable dedicated MM and
MC phono stage.And, if so required,
a HomeTheatre pass-through allows
for incorporation into a multichannel domestic cinema system.
Digital connectiviry comprises
many pairs of assignable coaxial and
optical inputs, p|us asynchronous USB
2.0, capable of decoding files up to
3ż-bitll9żl<Hz.
Additionally, there are six line
level and two balanced analogue
connections, while the MM and MC
phono sections feature adjustable
cartridge loading and impedance
matching so they can be optimised
to suit a wide range of turntable and
cartridge configurations.
For headphone lovers there's a
dedicated high-drive circuit able to
handle almost any set of cans you
choose from 20 to 600 Ohms and
the MA8000A also sports a discrete
analogue eight-band tone control to
allow for manual adjustment of the
sound
although this can be by-
-
REVIEW
,_- 4].'",:_
,)assed for the Purists out there.
ln true Mclntosh styIe the output
ł,lr':,..
":_"*
'1
:ransistors are autotransformercoup|ed (see Measured Performance
and Noel Keywood's box out)
meaning
ż,4 and 6 Ohm taps
ry
are
available on the rear for accurate
Ioudspeaker matching - unheard of in
transistor ampIifiers.
And, finally, two big, blue-lit
power meters let you l<now just how
many of those 300Watts per channe|
you're using.
lts probably true to say the
Mclntosh design is a look that divides
opinion - but, personal|y. l love it.
There's something about those big,
blue meters and the illuminated
green brand |ogo that just screams
'serious hi-fi'- perhaps the nearest
any sold-state amplifier comes in
looks to replicating the romance of
valve equipment.
SOUND QUAIITY
with those blue-tinted meters
illuminating our listening room and
connected to a pair of Spendor's new
D7 floorstanders (see review in this
issue) it didn't take the Mclntosh Iong
to reveal its prowess.
ln short, it loo|<s big - and it
sounds big too.With a|l that power
on taP the MA8000A has the muscle
to drive almost any speal<er you care
to name and it gripped the Spendors
like nothing else l've heard.What that
translated to was an eminently Iife|ike
digging
deep with
,.'..
a beautiful
bloom and
solidity.
.,."l
lt's not
power but a sonic
signature that is relaxed
yet completely controlled.
Yes, the reserves of power
are there - but the Mclntosh
doesn't force the sound at you
in the way of some multi-Watt
behemoths.
lnstead it Iets the music f|ow
in a totally organic and refreshing
manner. ln this the MA8000 is
more reminiscent of a good tube
amP than a heavyweight so|id-stater.
The mid-band is lush, generous
simply
'\§&uć''
and totally satisfying. But it doesn't
do this at the expense of dynamic
or detaiI retrieval.
The Minnesota Orchestra!
rendition of Ravel's'Rapsodie
Espagnole' conducted by Stanislaw
SkrowaczewsI<i was crisp and
atmospheric, individual musicians
p|aced securely in their place within
shading
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you can see fhe
of power
Mclntosh also
thrives with hardcharging rock tracl<s.
The Jesus &
Mary Chainl'Psychocandy'
sounded ferocious and suitably
menacing, the bass deep and firm
with the feedbacl<-drenched rhythm
section sPitting and howling above it.
MA8OOO's output
transformers in
their black shielding cases at left and
right of the mains
transformer.
Big heatsinks
provide cooling,
allowing high power
to be delivered con-
tinuousĘ
lmportant|y, the Mclntosh has
the resoIution and timing to let you
know this CD is not merely a sonic
squall but a carefu||y-crafted piece
of me|odic invention a|lied to some
fearsome, visceraI guitar Iines.
lmpressive|y, the Mclntosh
to retain that sense of
c|arity and authority even when
p|ayed at lower volumes.This is
d.$
^MPllalEF
{ ..^
mean the
manages
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a 9 _". :. ]. ': ';, |:
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one amplifier that doesn't have to
flex its musc|es to give of its best
ł§
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-
somethin8 that those of you who
indulge in Iate-night listening sessions
will doubtless appreciate.
On top of that it is also adept at
throwing out a wide soundstage as
well as imparting realistic height and
depth.
AlI this was with the eight-band
tone control section in by-pass
mode. Dialling it in and trying various
settings showed that the facility is
effective at subtly altering the sound
of some tracks - and was useful
Balanced analogue inputs and outputs through XLR sockets on the rear panel, massiye loudspeaker terminals, and
digital connectiviĘ including asynchronous USB.
in taming the tizzy, digital-edged
and captivating sound.
lndividual instruments are rich in
timbre and bass especially rolls into
the room with captivating force.
Eleanor McEvoy's'|'ve GotYou To
See MeThrough'is an exquisitely
recorded track where the five-string
bass underpins an upbeat piano/guitar
refrain.Through the Mclntosh the
Iow notes were fabulously convincing,
the overal| soundstage with the
harshness of some modern pop and
attacl< and decay of instruments
rock recordings.
beautifully nuanced.
Played through a pair of the new
Magneplanar 1.7 loudspeakers (see
review this issue) and the orchestra
was portrayed in its fulI majesty - the
sound swelling gloriously to fill the
room.
Having said that, the MA8000
sounds just so naturally'right' most
of the time l can see many users
simply leaving it alone.
Moving to high-res playback
through the in-bui|t DAC - sorry,
Mclntosh Digital Engine - and the
MA8000 remained as sure-footed as
Not surprisingly, those reserves
WWW.hi-fiWorld,cO,Uk
JULY 2014
11
REVlEW
With cD.
The crunching opening guitar
chords of The Clash's London Calling
(24196) crashed true and c|ear from
the loudspeal<ers.And when PauI
Simonon's descending bass line cuts
in, it is as full, c|ear and rounded
as l have heard from any amplifier
regard|ess of price.
Similarly ażĄ196 download of
GetThe Blessing's'OC DC' revealed
the MA8000's ability to latch onto
a
rhythm and push tracks along with
a purpose.Treble was detailed yet
easy on the ear while leading edge
transients - such as the initia| stril<e
of a cymbal - were clean and clear.
lf there's a criticism to be
made it's perhaps the fact that the
Mclntosh's DAC section isn't quite as
open or fine|y-etched as some other
stand-a|one units l've heard.
lti not bad or disappointing in
any way but doesn't quite hit the
exemplary heights of the rest of the
Packa8e.
your musical collection
for hours on end whether
it be on vinyl, CD or in
digital download form.And
N(IEI sAYs Output transformers in a transistor amplifier? Barking mad! They add to size,
weight and cost
-
and transistol amps don't need 'em. 0r do they?
An auto-transformer allows the transistors to drive a high load
-
the
that, after all, is what we
transformer. This minimises distońion, whilst also acting as protection for the
buy hi-fi for.
output devices by shielding them from the loudspeaker, a low load.
cOilctus!01{
sounded fabulously strong-armed and poweńul as a result, whilst having clear
No doubt about iq the
MA8000A is a tour-deforce design. lt has massive
reserves of power making
Counter-intuitive it definitely is, but also very cunning. The MAB000
yet sweet treble. lt drove every loudspeaker we had superb|y, gaining full
marks at Hi-Fi World towers. Brilliant,
it capable of driving almost any
loudspeaker on the planet yet a
detail and subtlety to its presentation that is truly beguiling.
At first sight that f l0,000 price
tag might make you catch your
breath - but putting to8ether
a comparable system of preamp, beef power amp, DAC
and ad|ustable phono stage at
this level could well cost a lot
more - especially when you
factor in the cost of cables and
nterconnects.
Factor in its classic looks, bombproof build and sheer versatility
and the MA8000 has everything
it takes to form the heart of a
seriously impressive high-end
i
That really is nit-picl<ing though.
Taken as a whole the MA8000 is
a genuinely desirable and sweet-
sounding piece of hi-fi exotica.
ln short it's just the right piece of
equipment to have you dipping into
set-uP.
MIA§uBED PERFllBMANGE
The MA8OB3 produced a massive 450
ampliliel is not a con§tant voltage source,
fiequency response extended to 43kHz,
Watts into an 8 Ohm load, fal!ing slightly
but a generator lequiring a matched
Distońion levels were high from the
to 440 Watts into a 4 Ohm load. The
load, like a valve amplifiel |ts 2 Ohm tap
DAC however, measuring 0.33% with
presence oi output auto-tfansfolmerc
can survive just about any load and is
-60dB 24bit resolution signal; most DACs
(a single winding with taps) accounts
ior power not doubling as usual; this
ideal {or electrostatic loudspeakers, that
manage
commonly sink to 2 Ohms at 20kHz.
input isn't distinguished, As a result EiAJ
Distońion was unusually low at
FREQUENCY RESPONSE
speakel output and 'l 08dB thtolgh the
XŁR l;ne output§. These are unexceptional
Thele was no sign of clossovel distońion,
{igures ('l20dB is possible}.
The MA8000 ls enormously
powerful, measurement shows, and has
biassed quite strongly into Class A.
super low distortion, due to the use of
stages were very good. Only the DAC's
MM phono stage had a 4mV sensitivity
linearity could have and should have been
and the MC phono stage ten times less
better, in order to lift available dynamic
at 0.4mV both normal enough values
range above mediocle, as hi-res goes. NK
have a fixed high pass warp filter that
rolIs off output below 20Hz. Ęqualisation
was accurate across the audio band,
Equivalent input noise levels were very
low, MC managing 0.032!V so the
MC stage is very quiet and will suit
low output cartridges. Although input
sensitivity seems low voltage gain
available in the MA8000 is huge.
The DAC worked to l 92kHz and
VERDlcT
- McIntosh's
MA8000 is a superb piece
ol engineering, lt combines
superb musicality with
masses of detai| and vast
roIled into one
400mV but no,se low too at -tO7dB. The
Both MM and MC phono stages
rq!
ooooo
Power, poise and passion
outpUt auto-transformers. lt's phono
and satisfactory for a wide lange of
:. l
MclNTOSFl
|\fiA8000 f9,995.00
0UTSTANDING - amongst
the best
quite hot during test; the output stage is
cartridge§.
s,E
Dynamic Hange was 1 07dB through the
measuring around 0.005%, even a1 1OkHz.
lnput sensitivity via CD was low at
§;gry:.§,*F$tiiiij,:]:lii:;*rr]:r.}.,,,
bere or betteł so the digital
aIl output levels and all frequencies,
even at low levels, and the hsat sinks got
DlsToRTIoN
0.1 %
f|exibility. Demands to be
heard.
Power
450watts
CDńuneńux.
Frequency response
Separation
Noise
Distortion
Hz-kHz
dB
dB
Sensitivity
Disc
mV
Flequency re§ponse
Separation
Noise
Distońion
Hz-kHz
dB
dB
o/o
SensitivĘ
mV
mV
0verload
JUIY
201 4
ł:-§l Wt}B1
tOR
- pOWer
- smooth and musical
- extended, contro||ed bass
- MIV]/MC phono stage
- eight-band tone control
AGAlNsT
- price
- DAC couId be better
Jordan Acoustics
+44 (0)]202 911886
wwwjordanacoustics.co,uk
13
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