MA9500 2-Channel Integrated Amplifier

300 Watts x 2 channel
8-band tone control
Comes with DA2 Digital Audio Module installed
55% increase in Dynamic Headroom for better music peak reproduction

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3 Year Limited Warranty

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MA9500 2-Channel Integrated Amplifier

3 Year Limited Warranty

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Music simply comes to life with the MA9500 Integrated Amplifier and its 300 Watts per channel of clean, effortless power. That power is delivered via a pair of the famed McIntosh Autoformer™ whose unique design guarantees your speakers will always receive the full 300 Watts regardless if they have 2, 4 or 8 Ohm impedance. The MA9500 replaces the award-winning MA9000 (SoundStage Network 2018 Integrated Amplifier of the Year; Sound + Image 2019 Stereo Amplifier Award Winner; Stereo Sound 2017 Grand Prix Award Winner) and adds additional performance enhancements to an already outstanding stereo integrated amplifier.

Filter capacity in the MA9500 has been doubled compared to the MA9000 which has produced a significant increase in dynamic headroom from 1.8dB to 2.8dB, giving the MA9500 greater ability to reproduce musical peaks with less distortion. And while the MA9000 featured great low end bass performance, the MA9500's increased filter capacity will also help deliver even more amazing bass playback and control.

"Everything sounds vivid and high intensity, so much so that it can almost surprise you... it showed no signs of fatigue when pushing out serious amounts of power... engaging across a wide range of musical genres... should make many prospective purchasers very happy indeed." Named an Outstanding Product. - Hi-Fi News

While the MA9000 included our 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 audio-only HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC)¹ connection. The DA2 is powered by an audiophile-grade, Quad Balanced, 8-channel, 32-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) that has improvements in both dynamic range and total harmonic distortion compared to the DAC in the DA1. The coax and optical inputs in the DA2 can decode digital music up to 24-bit/192kHz for playback of high-resolution audio. The DA2 has a McIntosh exclusive MCT input that offers a secure DSD connection to any of our MCT series of SACD/CD Transports to deliver the best possible sound quality of the high-definition audio found on your SACDs.

TVs with a compatible HDMI (ARC) output can be connected to the MA9500 to enjoy your 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 features increased DSD playback support of up to DSD512 via the USB input. And being a modular design, it's possible to someday replace the DA2 with a newer Digital Audio Module.

The breadth of the analog audio connections is just as impressive as the digital audio connectivity. The MA9500 has 10 analog inputs consisting of 2 balanced inputs, 6 unbalanced inputs, plus 1 Moving Coil and 1 Moving Magnet phono input with separate grounding terminals to connect your turntable(s). Both of the phono inputs feature adjustable loading so you can 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 given custom names for user-friendly system control and configuration. For further flexibility in setting up your home audio system, the MA9500 includes a balanced and unbalanced output that can send the audio signal to another power amplifier.

Upgraded power supply components further reduce noise emissions while also adding more robustness under the most demanding conditions. The MA9500 continues to use powerful control microprocessors for smooth and reliable system operation, as well as some of the latest state-of-the-art audio-grade circuit components to produce the best sound possible.

"With McIntosh, the charm is certainly effective, but this superior eloquence, slightly magnetic it's true, always seems to lean towards music, towards the specific beauty inherent in each orchestra, in pianos according to their craftsmanship or, of course, in voices." Winner of Reference Award. - translated from Haute Fidélité issue 260

Our innovative Solid Cinch^™ speaker binding posts will let you easily but securely attach your speaker cables to prevent them from coming loose and possibly causing a short; the binding posts are gold-plated to prevent corrosion and ensure a quality signal is sent over your speaker cables to your home audio speakers.

Other McIntosh features included in the MA9500 are:

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

McIntosh Monogrammed Heatsink.

The MA9500 is one of many McIntosh products to receive Roon Tested designation from Roon Labs. As a Roon Tested partner, McIntosh has provided equipment to Roon for testing with a variety of different operating systems and computers, and shared information about its design and capabilities.

The MA9500 is wrapped in the classic McIntosh aesthetic featuring a black glass front panel with LED lighting, a pair of peak-responding blue watt meters, control knobs, illuminated logo, aluminum end caps with built-in handles, and a beautiful polished stainless steel chassis. Contact your local dealer to learn more.

The HDMI (ARC) input will only play audio from a compatible TV. It will not pass video to or from a TV, or play audio from any non-TV source.

The terms HDMI, HDMI High-Definition Multimedia Interface, and the HDMI Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing Administrator, Inc.
Dolby is a registered trademark of Dolby Laboratories.
DTS, DTS-HD, the Symbol, & DTS or DTS-HD and the Symbol together are registered trademarks of DTS, Inc. © DTS, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Specifications
Electronic 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
- Sensitivity Phono (Moving Coil)
  
  0.30mV
- Sensitivity Phono (Moving Magnet)
  
  3.0mV
- Sensitivity High Level (Balanced / Unbalanced)
  
  0.6V/0.3V
- Sensitivity (Power Amp input)
  
  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
Connectivity
- Balanced Input
  
  2
- Unbalanced Input
  
  6
- Phono Input Moving Coil
  
  1 (adjustable loading)
- Phono Input Moving Magnet
  
  1 (adjustable loading)
- Upgradeable Digital Audio Module
  
  Yes: DA2
- Digital Coaxial Input
  
  2
- Digital Optical Input
  
  2
- Digital MCT Input
  
  1
- Digital USB Input
  
  1
- HDMI (ARC) Input
  
  1
- Balanced Variable Output
  
  1
- Unbalanced Fixed Output
  
  1
- Unbalanced Variable Output
  
  1
- Headphone Output
  
  1/4" High Drive with Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD^®)
- Subwoofer Output
  
  0
- AM/FM Tuner option
  
  No
- Home Theater PassThru
  
  Yes
- Unbalanced Analog Connector Type
  
  Premium gold-plated solid brass
- Speaker Binding Post Type
  
  Patented Solid Cinch™ Speaker Binding Posts
- Service Port
  
  1
Digital Audio Specifications
- Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) Type
  
  8-channel, 32-bit/384kHz PCM/DSD, Quad Balanced
- Digital Coaxial Input Sample Rate
  
  24-bit/44.1kHz to 192kHz
- Digital Optical Input Sample Rate
  
  24-bit/44.1kHz to 192kHz
- Digital MCT Input Sample Rate
  
  16-bit/44.1kHz (CD)
  DSD64 (SACD)
- Digital USB Input Sample Rate
  
  32-bit/44.1kHz to 384kHz (PCM)
  DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, DSD512, DXD352.8kHz, DXD384kHz
Control
- Tone Controls
  
  8-Band
- Tone Bypass and Input Assign
  
  Yes
- RS232 Control Input
  
  Yes
- Power Control Output
  
  1 Main, 2 Trigger
- Rear Panel Data Port
  
  4
- Rear Panel IR Sensor Input
  
  Yes
- Input Level Match
  
  Yes
General Specifications
- Vacuum Tube or Solid State
  
  Solid State
- Output Type
  
  Autoformer™
- Output Meters
  
  Yes
- Dual Layer Chassis
  
  Yes
- Chassis Finish
  
  Polished stainless steel & black painted steel
- McIntosh Monogrammed Heatsinks™
  
  Yes
- Power Requirement
  
  120V, 50/60Hz, 6.6A
- Standby Power Requirement
  
  <0.25 Watts
Weights & Dimensions
- Unit Dimensions (W x H x D)
  
  17-1/2” (44.5cm) x 9-7/16” (24 cm) x 19-3/4” (50.2cm)
- Unit Weight
  
  101 lbs (45.8kg)
- Shipping Weight
  
  134 lbs (60.8kg)

Downloads

Product Literature	User Documents	Software Updates
MA9500 Integrated Amplifier Brochure (1.43 MB)	MA9500 Integrated Amplifier Owner's Manual (5.45 MB)	For units with DA2 Digital Audio Module: McIntosh USB Audio Windows Driver I v1.13 (compatible with Windows 10 and 11) (3.86 MB) For units with DA2 Digital Audio Module: McIntosh USB Audio Windows Driver I v1.5 (compatible with Windows 7) (2.1 MB)

Reviews & Awards

Reviews & Awards
MA9500 Hi-Fi News (United Kingdom) July 2022 (9.91 MB)

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