Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
All
MI1250
reviews
Manufacturer details
- FTC Power Output Rating: 50 W
- Power Output per Channel: 50 W into 8 ohms, 90 W into 4 ohms
- Number of Channels: 12
- Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.05%
- S/N below rated output: 95dB
- Dynamic Headroom: 8 ohms: 2.1dB, 4 ohms: 3.3dB
- Damping Factor: 8 ohms: >65, 4 ohms: >32
- Rated Power Band: 20Hz to 20kHz
- Frequency Response: +0, -0.5dB from 20Hz to 20kHz
- Speaker Binding Post Type: 2-pole Phoenix style push-in speaker terminals
- BTU Rating: 900 BTU/h
- Unit Dimensions (W x H x D): 17-1/2" (44.45cm) (19" (48.3cm with mounting ears)) x 4-5/16" (11cm) (including feet) x 21" (53.3cm)
- Unit Weight: 22 lbs (10 kg)
- Shipping Weight: 38.4 lbs (17.4 kg)
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- McIntosh products blend classic, retro aesthetics, reminiscent of their 1970s designs, with modern materials and cutting-edge internal components, offering a unique visual appeal.
- The brand's amplifiers are known for their substantial power output, often exceeding specifications, and their ability to drive a wide range of speakers across varying impedance levels due to their unique Autoformer technology.
- McIntosh offers a high degree of customization and control through features like multi-band equalizers, adjustable input sensitivity, and advanced settings accessible via dedicated apps or web interfaces.
- They distinguish themselves with a focus on long-term reliability and customer satisfaction, with products built to last for decades and supported by a dedicated dealer network.
Select products
MHT300
- Positioning: Positioned as a versatile home theater receiver in McIntosh's lineup, suitable for custom installations or standalone display.
- Description: Supports 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video, making it ideal for modern home theaters. Unlike other McIntosh products, it offers 7.2 channel audio with expandability to 7.2.4, providing flexibility for future upgrades. This makes it perfect for users looking to integrate advanced video capabilities and immersive audio in a custom home theater setup.
MHA200
- Positioning: A compact, high-quality headphone amplifier designed for personal audio enthusiasts.
- Description: Uses vacuum tube amplification, delivering a warm and detailed sound that is distinct from solid-state amplifiers like the MC462. Its compact size and multiple impedance settings make it versatile for various headphone types.
MC462
- Positioning: A powerful stereo amplifier, offering robust performance for high-end home audio systems.
- Description: Features a Quad Balanced design with McIntosh Autoformers, providing 450 Watts per channel with low distortion. Compared to the MC1502, it offers a solid-state solution with increased dynamic headroom.
MC1502
- Positioning: A high-power vacuum tube amplifier, ideal for audiophiles seeking classic tube sound.
- Description: Delivers 150 Watts per channel using vacuum tubes, offering a rich, warm sound that contrasts with the solid-state clarity of the MC462. Its Unity Coupled Circuit ensures consistent performance across various speaker impedances.
MC901
- Positioning: A unique dual mono amplifier, combining both vacuum tube and solid-state technologies.
- Description: Integrates a 300 Watt vacuum tube amplifier with a 600 Watt solid-state amplifier, providing the best of both worlds for bi-amping loudspeakers. This hybrid approach is unlike any other McIntosh product.
MC21KW
- Positioning: A flagship monoblock amplifier, representing the pinnacle of McIntosh's power amplification.
- Description: Delivers 2,000 Watts of power, making it suitable for the most demanding audio setups. Its tri-chassis design and advanced technologies like Autoformer and Power Guard set it apart from other amplifiers.
Our take on the brand
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Used
McIntosh
What if you spend more?
Linear Tube Audio is proud to present the ZOTL40 Reference+ amplifier. A worthy flagship and the most refined manifestation of David Berning’s ZOTL design. The latest iteration of LTA's EL34-based amplifier, the ZOTL40 Reference includes a new chassis, component improvements, and is supplied with NOS EL34s that take this 50 watt-per-channel amp to a new level. The ZOTL40 uses EL34 tubes, one of the best midrange tubes ever invented, so it has very solid midrange and authoritative punch.
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- Finely nuanced, single-ended power amp that manages to toe the line between a classic tube sound, and a modern, solid-state A/B amplifier
- Amazingly lightweight due to the elimination of the normal tube output transformers
- The quietest tube amp the reviewer has ever had the pleasure to use, with no tube rush, hum, or crackling, even at idle
- Exhibits midrange mastery, while having exceptionally wide frequency response, and a neutral-naturalness
- An extremely quiet noise floor was even more obvious with a passive linestage, with space between the notes, and a greater level of transparency
Product Considerations
- The sound is changeable, and decidedly affected by what is driving it
- Dynamics were more constricted and the stage somewhat smaller when driven by a passive linestage
Takeaway: The ZOTL40 Reference is a great amp that makes music sound beautiful and is quiet while doing it. It will allow for hours of enjoyable listening without fatigue.
Video review
Our take on the brand
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A Push-pull power amplifier with 50 watts per channel stereo utilising eight EL34 (four per channel) into 4, 8 and 16 ohms. Self-biasing operations with balanced or unbalanced inputs. Chrome facia.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- More musically convincing, more detailed, more harmonious, more linear, and more transparent than any other similar EL34 design at any price.
- Piano music is most perfect and quick, with purity of tone and tambour with proper richness and speed.
- Silent with totally black backgrounds, micro and macro dynamics are unrestricted and natural.
- Reveals its glory quickly due to its transparency.
- Excellent fit and finish and it worked right out of the box.
Product Considerations
- Thick or lean sounding cables will make the 534 sound thick or lean, and it needs top-quality isolation and support.
- The reviewer recommends buying the 534 new as they haven't auditioned the original from the beginning of the century.
- The only major flaw is that it doesn't have 500 watts per channel, but a custom one can be ordered for a very high price.
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs E.A.R. 890: The 890 is more robust and powerful, but not more convincing if your speakers don't need the power.
- Vs Cary Audio Custom 300B: The 534 is vastly superior.
Takeaway: The E.A.R. 534 is a musically convincing and transparent amplifier that reveals nuances in music. It is easy to place, beautiful to look at, and can make vocals and piano sound exquisite.
Video review
Our take on the brand
At 200 Watts per channel, the 7-channel MC8207 home theater amplifier is perfectly capable of powering all the speakers in a 7.1 channel home theater to McIntosh's legendary standards. It features LED power output indicators instead of our traditional blue meters. These indicators will display the amplifier's power output just as the blue meters do but in a more understated way – making the MC8207 a perfect choice for darkened home theaters where the screen is the focal point.
In addition to 7.1 theater systems, it can also be used in 5.1 home theaters with 2 channels used to power a second zone in stereo mode. The McIntosh exclusive Dynamic Power Manager® (DPM) technology enables the MC8207 to deliver its full power into both 4 and 8 Ohm speakers, meaning it's compatible with a wide variety of home theater speakers – unlike many other high current amplifiers.
Just like our other home theater amplifiers, the MC8207 does not need cooling fans, eliminating fan noise that can interfere with the delicate nuances of a movie's soundtrack. Power Guard® will prevent potential speaker damage caused by clipping and over-driving of the amplifier. Short-circuit protection is provided by Sentry Monitor™ that disengages the output stage before current exceeds safe operating levels and then resets automatically when operating conditions return to normal.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Fantastic overall sound quality with rich, powerful bass, a very musical midrange, and a clean, smooth treble response
- Beautiful cosmetic design and built like a tank
- Very black musical background
- Good sense of dynamics, pinpoint imaging, and sound staging
- Equal power into either 8 or 4-ohm loads
Product Considerations
- Cannot dim or completely turn off the front panel lights or power meters
- The chassis is very deep
- Power supply generates an audible hum, though McIntosh says that this is normal
- The XLR connectors are of the non-locking type
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- MC8207 is a lower-cost alternative to the then $9,500 MC207 flagship multi-channel amp
- MC8207 used regular coated and rolled steel, while MC207 has a solid stainless-steel chassis, covers, and heatsinks
- MC8207 has less expensive 'Ilumeter' displays instead of the expensive glowing blue analog VU meters of the MC207
- The "Meter Off" and "Watts Hold" knobs of the MC207's front panel were replaced with a single power switch on the MC8207
Takeaway: The McIntosh MC8207 offers a combination of beautiful design, impressive build quality, and excellent overall performance. It has a signature house sound consisting of a rich midrange, clean, sweet treble, and potent bass output—which is a treat for audiophiles.
Video review
Our take on the brand
For those who demand the best, but want to keep things simple. The Z40+ Integrated amplifier delivers the magic, realism, and 3D soundstage of our patented ZOTL technology, all in one (gorgeous) package. A single-component solution, the Z40+ Integrated amplifier incorporates the acclaimed ZOTL40+ Reference power amplifier, a Berning-designed preamplifier, and LTA’s digital control system–beautifully packaged in a Fern & Roby-designed case. The Z40i+ generates up to 51 watts per channel. This means the Z40i+ can easily drive speakers with sensitivity ratings at or above 85db for critical listening. For smaller rooms or non-critical listening, it can drive speakers rated down to 80db. In any configuration, listeners enjoy startling realism, plentiful bass, low noise, plus gorgeous mids and highs.
Product Strengths
- Balanced and musically persuasive presentation, making it convincing across various music genres
- Superb control coupled with a timbrally rich sound and expansive sound image—wonderfully nuanced and inviting
- Transparent, detail-oriented sound that doesn't sacrifice the body and soul of the music
- The design uses David Berning's ZOTL technology, aiming to deliver tube richness with solid-state resolve and speed
Product Considerations
- May require higher sensitivity speakers to perform optimally, especially in larger rooms
- The lack of dedicated subwoofer outputs might be a drawback for some users
- Its transparent nature means that poorly mastered recordings will be revealed as such
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The Z40+ leans to a richer and more fluid sound, whereas the SoulNote A-2 is more concerned with resolution and clarity
- Compared to Pass Labs XP30 preamp and a First Watt F7 power amp, the Pass Labs sounded warmer, fleshier, and bigger, however, the Linear Tube Audio amp had more life to it
- Compared to Pass Labs XP30 preamp and an XA25 Pass Labs amplifier, the Linear Tube Audio has more density to the sound and is more solid sounding than the XA25 with the XP30
Takeaway: The Z40+ offers a unique combination of tube and solid-state qualities, providing a detailed yet musical listening experience. Its design and high-quality components aim to deliver a transparent and honest sound, suitable for a wide range of music and audiophiles who appreciate sonic purity
Video review
Our take on the brand
What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Top-quality finish and material selection
- Beautifully smooth and particularly natural sound reproduction
- Little sound of its own, so no typical tube coloring
- Tight bass
- Excellent price-performance ratio
Product Considerations
- Tubes require occasional extra attention
- Tubes need to be replaced every few years
- The power amplifier requires more space due to heat dissipation
Takeaway: The Trafomatic Evolution Line One and Elegance offer top-class pre- and power amplifiers with star quality for the price of an excellent integrated amplifier. Any music lover should quickly be able to embrace these two products.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- The EVO 300 runs EL34 tubes at a conservative 440 volts, increasing tube life and reliability
- Adaptive auto bias ensures tubes work together in their perfect linear operating position, reducing distortion and extending tube life
- Point-to-point wiring gives the product an intrinsic value and increases longevity
- High-quality components like TACMAN resistors, Nichicon capacitors, and Swiss-made silver-plated oxygen-free copper wiring are used
- It includes an AC Offset Killer to reduce mechanical hum from the power transformer
Product Considerations
- EL34 tubes are not as durable as KT120s
- If KT-150 tubes are used, the tube cage cannot be installed, because the tubes are too tall
- Switching from ultralinear to triode operation cuts the power in half, requiring volume adjustment for fair comparison
- The reviewer recommends using the speaker tap that 'sounds best' rather than relying on the speaker's impedance rating
Takeaway: The EVO 300 Power Amp is a high-quality amplifier designed for everyday use and long-term reliability. Its flexible design lets you experiment with different tubes and sound signatures.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- A lovely, lush sounding performance that's hard to dislike and sounds smooth but far from lifeless, delivering high levels of detail in a cohesive and musical manner
- A sympathetic performer, it prefers to play to its inferior partnering equipment's strengths than overly expose their weaknesses, as many hifi audio examples tend to do
- It can cater for a wide range of headphones and connections and it is a benchmark product that's highly recommended
- Zero musical flaws to report and is nearly perfect in execution
- A stunning design to the eye and ear, it is overall a wonderful addition for the perfectionist who wants the very best performance at home or even in the studio
Product Considerations
- The volume control operation lacks linearity, making it hard to make subtle changes in level
- No input selector, so one should only connect one type at once
- On some samples, the volume control is loose and wiggles in its chassis housing
- The octal AC socket is a bit of an odd choice, considering most users might prefer IEC
- The depth, snap and weight of the low end was dynamic and exciting on some recordings and less than stellar on others
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Musical Fidelity M1 HPA—the MHA200 has a lush warmness to the music that brings strings to life in a way that makes the M1 HPA sound somewhat sterile in comparison
- Vs EAR Yoshino HP-4 reference—the MHA200 was a touch brighter than the reference, though only slightly
Takeaway: The MHA200 is an enjoyable product with a rich, balanced, and powerful sound, that's more forgiving than most rivals and can be enjoyed for years to come. This headphone amp is perfect for personal listening, design, and operation that will work its magic.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Delivers a lovely, lush-sounding performance that is hard to dislike, described as smooth but far from lifeless, delivering high levels of detail in a cohesive and musical manner
- Creates an astonishing space and three dimensionality to the sound, reminiscent of high-end systems
- Features a rich, balanced, and powerful sound that is more forgiving than most rivals
- Superbly made and engineered with solid casework
- Largely unphased by most headphones and can drive a wide range of headphones
Product Considerations
- Volume control operation lacks linearity, making subtle changes in level difficult
- Really needs a balanced source and headphones to deliver its best performance
- Has no input switching, so balanced XLR and single-ended RCA inputs cannot be used simultaneously
- Lacks a remote control for volume adjustment
Takeaway: The MHA200 is a well-built headphone amplifier that delivers a refined and musical listening experience with a spacious soundstage. It is ideal for users who want a dedicated headphone amplifier and appreciate the rich sound of tubes.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Tangible feeling of pure power and speed of delivery
- Clean, neutral performance
- Fulsome, fast, and fun sound
- Thrillingly responsive to the dynamics of a sound mix
- Drive needed to partner floorstanders hungry for power
Product Considerations
- Chassis depth is a considerable 533mm
- Low-end delivery may not be the best compared to some rivals
- Green/blue aesthetic might not be for everyone
Takeaway: The MI502 is a powerful and responsive amplifier suitable for various applications and it looks good. It offers clean and neutral performance, making it a great choice for someone wanting to get a new amplifier.
Video review
Our take on the brand
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