McIntosh MHA200 review

McIntosh sound quality in a small, neat package Tested at £2795 / $2500 / AU$4995

McIntosh MHA200 review
(Image: © McIntosh)

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

The McIntosh MHA200 is charming to use and a hugely capable performer across a wide range of headphones

Pros

  • +

    Refined, rich and insightful presentation

  • +

    Expressive dynamics

  • +

    Excellent build and finish

Cons

  • -

    Volume control operation lacks linearity

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

McIntosh’s MHA200 headphone amplifier is a cute little thing. Its footprint is broadly that of a decently sized paperback, yet it still manages to pack in all the charm and presence we’ve come to expect from a McIntosh product.

Note that this is a mains-powered analogue headphone amplifier. You won’t find any fancy DAC technology or, heaven forbid, anything that resembles wireless streaming. And that’s fine with us, because the MHA200 remains a carefully considered product for those who want to make the most of their domestic wired headphones.

Build

Valve powered headphone amp: McIntosh MHA200

(Image credit: McIntosh)

There are valves at the heart of this unit – four in total – made up of a pair of 12AT7s in the driver stage and 12BH7As in the power stage. These run warm and are usually protected from prying fingers by a removable cage. Next to the valves is a trio of transformers: one for the mains and two that couple the amplifier’s output valves to the connected headphones. As with most valve products, a certain amount of care has to be taken over matching. Here, that takes the form of a front panel control that switches between four load options: 32, 100, 250 and 600 ohms. Simply switch to the one that’s closest to the nominal impedance of your chosen headphones for the best results. There’s no harm in trying an alternative setting, and it can be fun to try, but we would be surprised if doing so leads to a better sound.

Compatibility

Valve powered headphone amp: McIntosh MHA200

(Image credit: McIntosh)

The MHA200 has two inputs – balanced XLR and single-ended RCA – but the amplifier isn’t designed for both to be used at the same time, as there’s no provision for input switching. The source doesn’t have to come with a built-in volume control either, as this McIntosh already has one. There’s a crisp indent to the volume control’s movement at the 12 o’clock position – the recommended place to leave it if you’re running a source that does have volume control.

There are three ways to connect your headphones: a standard 6.3mm option, a single four-pin balanced XLR, and two three-pin XLRs for a balanced connection with separate left and right signal paths. It’s not optimal to connect two headphones at once. That noted, we use a range of headphones from the Focal Stellias and Beyerdynamic T1 Generation 2 to a pair of classic Grado RS1 without issue.

McIntosh MHA200 tech specs

Valve powered headphone amp: McIntosh MHA200

(Image credit: McIntosh)

Type Valve-powered headphone amplifier

Valves 2x 12AT7 (driver stage), 2x 12BH7A (power stage)

Power output 500mW (into 32, 100, 250 and 600ohm loads)

Inputs Single-ended RCA, balanced XLR 

Outputs 6.3mm, 4-pin balanced XLR, individual 3-pin XLR for left and right channel

Size (hwd) 146 x 156 x 232mm

Of course, any amplifier at this level needs a high quality source to shine. Don’t be tempted to take shortcuts, otherwise we’re not sure you’ll find out just how talented the McIntosh MHA200 is. We use a combination of our MacBook feeding the Chord Hugo TT2 for some of our testing and then swap to Naim’s range-topping ND555/555 PS DR music streamer for the rest. The MHA200 feels solid and built to last. There’s a degree of valve management here to ensure that they aren’t unnecessarily stressed during use, so the sound is muted on initial start-up for a few seconds (while the valves glow green) until things have stabilised.

Connectivity is straightforward, leaving only the lack of linearity in the volume control’s behaviour to criticise. Nothing much happens until we get close to the 12 o’clock position of the indent and then levels increase disproportionately, making it hard to make subtle changes in level after that. Surely it can’t be beyond McIntosh to make a volume control that works more intuitively?

Sound

Valve powered headphone amp: McIntosh MHA200

(Image credit: McIntosh)

Get past that minor annoyance and there’s so much to like here. The broad strokes are that this headphone amplifier shares obvious sonic DNA with McIntosh’s best full-size efforts. Regardless of the headphones we use, this little box turns in a lovely, lush sounding performance that’s hard to dislike. It sounds smooth but far from lifeless, delivering high levels of detail in a cohesive and musical manner. 

We listen to Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata and the MHA200 renders the piano with an impressive degree of solidity and authority. The instrument’s harmonically rich sound comes through with textures and dynamic expression intact. We love the way this amplifier communicates the quiet space between notes and the way it ties those notes together with such musical conviction.

Tonally, it’s on the full-bodied and slightly rich side of neutral, but this isn’t taken so far as to distract. On the contrary, the MHA200 comes across as sounding determinedly three-dimensional and solid compared to most alternatives we’ve heard. We switch to music that requires more kick in the form of Drake’s Underground Kings, and this McIntosh takes it in its stride, producing a punchy and powerful sound that gets straight to the heart of the music. There’s an impressive degree of resolution here that allows us to track low-level instrumental strands with ease and the composure to keep things under control even when the music gets demanding. Drake’s distinctive drawl comes through with clarity and natural warmth.

It has to be said that this amplifier underplays rhythmic drive a little, but the performance still hangs together well enough to remain enjoyable. There’s a good dose of drama and punch on offer to keep things interesting. 

Verdict

Valve powered headphone amp: McIntosh MHA200

(Image credit: McIntosh)

This is a product that invites long listening sessions. Its insight coupled to class-leading refinement, not to mention a total lack of unwanted hardness, make for something that can be enjoyed for years to come. If you’re looking for a top-class headphone amplifier, there are few we’ve heard at this price that are as capable or as charming as this one.

SCORES

  • Sound 5
  • Build 5
  • Features 5

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  • Friesiansam
    This looks interesting, based on the review could be good for the music I listen to most often. Pity I'm not great with money and highly unlikely to save enough, without thinking of something else to spend on first.

    On the other hand, it would need a standalone DAC, good enough to do it justice and, if I ever have enough money, there is a Pathos InPol Ear out there somewhere with my name on it, waiting to replace my Converto...
    Reply
  • asus3008
    It's a very nice review Unfortunately this is one of the few tubes amplifier that's not worthing $500 but the $2700 asked price. Many people feel sorry for purchasing this one. Forums are full of comments about how lush and how much it lakes details. Possibly to worm for today standards 🤔? How What HI-Fi? Managed to evaluate it and what setups been used for the evaluation we don't know, but i had once the chance to tray it with the Final Audio D8000 Pro. It sounded so - so to me. As good as any tube at around $400 ‐ $600 with excelent tubes. Of course preference are a different thing but still 5 stars for this one is like saying is the best tube amp for headphones in the world world. I simply can't understand what McIntosh was trying to do when they've tested it. Is one of in existence. But even companies like McIntosh have products that are nowhere near the competition. In AB comparation loses by a huge margin due to much warmth and little details. I've been reading so many comments on forums about it till the point where i won't recommend it to anyone else, exemption may be made 😅 What Hi Fi? how did you get the final conclusion that this is a 5 star amp? Is literally a very 2 3 stars tube amp and over priced.
    Reply
  • Friesiansam
    asus3008 said:
    It's a very nice review Unfortunately this is one of the few tubes amplifier that's not worthing $500 but the $2700 asked price. Many people feel sorry for purchasing this one. Forums are full of comments about how lush and how much it lakes details. Possibly to worm for today standards 🤔? How What HI-Fi? Managed to evaluate it and what setups been used for the evaluation we don't know, but i had once the chance to tray it with the Final Audio D8000 Pro. It sounded so - so to me. As good as any tube at around $400 ‐ $600 with excelent tubes. Of course preference are a different thing but still 5 stars for this one is like saying is the best tube amp for headphones in the world world. I simply can't understand what McIntosh was trying to do when they've tested it. Is one of in existence. But even companies like McIntosh have products that are nowhere near the competition. In AB comparation loses by a huge margin due to much warmth and little details. I've been reading so many comments on forums about it till the point where i won't recommend it to anyone else, exemption may be made 😅 What Hi Fi? how did you get the final conclusion that this is a 5 star amp? Is literally a very 2 3 stars tube amp and over priced.
    There are other good reviews, not everyone shares your point of view. Your post reads like something from a person who has an axe to grind.
    Reply
  • asus3008
    Friesiansam said:
    There are other good reviews, not everyone shares your point of view. Your post reads like something from a person who has an axe to grind.
    Yes, it's probably true. Still for the price and all most likely not even one person really recommended this amp anywhere on all the forums or personal reviews. Interesting is the fact that many "Pro" reviews are recommending it. I'm gonna have to give it a try again. Maybe is something alse that doesn't make sense here.
    Reply