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. 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. The 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.
Features
The McIntosh MA9500 is equipped with a suite of advanced features designed for exceptional performance and protection. It includes Power Guard®, which continuously monitors input and output signals to dynamically adjust input levels, preventing distortion and clipping that could harm your speakers. Sentry Monitor™, a fuse-less short-circuit protection technology, disengages the output stage when current exceeds safe levels and resets automatically once conditions normalize. The amplifier also features McIntosh Monogrammed Heatsinks™, crafted from high-quality materials to ensure excellent thermal conductivity and efficient heat dissipation. For seamless integration into a home theater setup, the Home Theater PassThru function is included. Headphone listeners benefit from a high-drive amplifier with Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®), which adds spatial depth to headphone audio. Additionally, the MA9500 offers a discrete, eight-band tone control with ±12dB adjustment in 2dB steps at frequencies from 25Hz to 10kHz, allowing fine-tuned analog sound shaping. Finally, Power Control capabilities enable synchronized power on/off functions with other connected McIntosh components, streamlining system operation.
Technical Specifications
Spec |
Value |
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 (THD) |
0.005% |
Dynamic Headroom |
2.8 dB |
Frequency Response (+0, -0.5dB) |
20Hz to 20kHz |
Frequency Response (+0, -3dB) |
10Hz to 100kHz |
Damping Factor |
> 40 |
Maximum Output - Unbalanced |
8 V |
Maximum Output - Balanced |
16 V |
Sensitivity & Signal-to-Noise Ratios
Input Type |
Sensitivity |
SNR |
Phono (Moving Coil) |
0.30 mV |
82 dB |
Phono (Moving Magnet) |
3.0 mV |
84 dB |
High Level (Balanced) |
0.6 V |
98 dB |
High Level (Unbalanced) |
0.3 V |
98 dB |
Power Amp Input |
1.7 V |
114 dB |
Input Impedance
Input Type |
Impedance |
Balanced |
10K ohms |
Unbalanced |
22K ohms |
Connectivity
Input/Output |
Details |
Balanced Inputs |
2 |
Unbalanced Inputs |
6 |
Phono Input (Moving Coil) |
1 (adjustable loading) |
Phono Input (Moving Magnet) |
1 (adjustable loading) |
Upgradeable Digital Audio Module |
Yes – DA2 |
Digital Coaxial Inputs |
2 |
Digital Optical Inputs |
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" with HXD® |
Subwoofer Output |
0 |
Home Theater PassThru |
Yes |
Speaker Binding Post Type |
Patented Solid Cinch™ |
Unbalanced Analog Connector Type |
Premium gold-plated solid brass |
Service Port |
1 |
Digital Audio Specifications (DA2)
Input Type |
Supported Sample Rates |
DAC Type |
8-channel, 32-bit/384kHz PCM/DSD, Quad Balanced |
Coaxial / Optical |
24-bit / 44.1kHz to 192kHz |
MCT (CD/SACD) |
16-bit / 44.1kHz (CD), DSD64 (SACD) |
USB |
PCM up to 384kHz, DSD64/128/256/512, DXD 352.8kHz/384kHz |
Control & Tone Features
Feature |
Details |
Tone Controls |
8-Band |
Tone Bypass / Input Assign |
Yes |
RS232 Control Input |
Yes |
Power Control Outputs |
1 Main, 2 Trigger |
Rear Panel Data Ports |
4 |
Rear Panel IR Sensor Input |
Yes |
Input Level Match |
Yes |
General Specifications
Design Feature |
Value
|
Technology |
Solid State |
Output Type |
Autoformer™ |
Output Meters |
Yes |
Dual Layer Chassis |
Yes |
Chassis Finish |
Polished stainless steel & black painted |
McIntosh Monogrammed Heatsinks™ |
Yes |
Power Requirement |
120V, 50/60Hz, 6.6A |
Standby Power Requirement |
<0.25 Watts |
Physical Dimensions & Weight
Dimension/Weight |
Value |
Unit Dimensions (W x H x D) |
17.5” x 9.44” x 19.75” (44.5 x 24 x 50.2 cm) |
Unit Weight |
101 lbs (45.8 kg) |
Shipping Weight |
134 lbs (60.8 kg) |