Features

Headphone Amplifier: The McIntosh MHA150 headphone amplifier is designed to give you the best possible personal listening experience available. The MHA150 offers a wide variety of balanced and unbalanced analog and digital inputs, as well as headphone and speaker outputs. You can select a High or Low headphone output level, as well as a headphone impedance range to give you the best performance. The MHA150 has a more compact chassis than other McIntosh amplifiers, giving you more installation options.

Front-Panel: The headphone amplifier's front-panel features a multi-function OLED display to indicate source selection, volume levels, trim settings, and setup functions. Dual illuminated Power Output Meters indicate the output of the amplifier, and respond to peaks in the output.

Power Supply: The MHA150 utilizes a large power transformer, multiple large filter capacitors, and a regulated power supply. The power supply responds to variations in the power line voltages to provide rock solid power to the amplifier.

Protection Circuits: The unit is protected by four forms of protection. McIntosh Sentry Monitor power output stage protection circuits protect the headphone amp and the headphones in case there is an impedance mismatch. The unit also has Thermal Protection circuits to protect the unit from overheating, while Direct Current Detection and Protection is also provided for the amp and headphones. To prevent overheating, at least 6" of air space should be provided above, and 2" on each side of the unit.

Analog Inputs: The MHA150 headphone amplifier will accept both balanced and unbalanced analog inputs. A pair of female XLR inputs on the rear panel accept a high level signal from a source with a balanced output. A pair of stereo RCA jacks is provided to connect a source with an unbalanced output.

Digital Inputs: The MHA150 has four Digital Audio Inputs to decode PCM Signals. When the Coaxial, Optical and MCT Inputs receive a PCM Signal, the MHA150 upsamples the Digital Signal to 192kHz with 24Bit resolution before the Digital to Analog process begins. The Digital MCT Input Circuitry directly decodes SACD/CD signals from an external Transport component (958MCT450, sold separately). The USB-B Input for streaming audio, processes Digital Signals up to 384kHz with 32Bit resolution, decodes up to DSD256 Digital Signals and DXD 24Bit with a sampling rate up to 384kHz.

• Optical: 16-bit/24-bit, 32kHz to 192 kHz
• Coaxial: 16-bit/24-bit, 32kHz to 192 kHz
• MCT: 16-bit/24-bit, 32kHz to 192 kHz
• USB-B: 16-bit/24-bit/32-bit, 32kHz to 384 kHz

USB Compatibility: The MHA150's USB input allows you to play music from a computer when connected via a USB cable. The USB input is compatible with PCs using Windows Vista (SP2), Windows 7 (SP1), and Windows 8/8.1 (SP1), and Windows 10. It is also compatible with Apple Macintosh computers using OS X 10.9 Mavericks or later. You may be required to download a USB Windows driver to your PC before you connect it to the headphone amp.

Headphone Output: The McIntosh MHA150 headphone amplifier is equipped with a high quality 1/4" (6.3mm) headphone output.

• Headphone Power Output: 1 watt (High); 250 mW (Normal)
• Headphone Load Impedance: 8-40 ohms; 40-150 ohms, 150-600 ohms

HXD: The built-in Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD) circuitry provides the same spatial soundstage in your headphones that you would normally hear when listening to conventional loudspeakers. The HXD circuitry achieves this by improving the sound localization and directionality of the sound coming through your headphones. You can turn HXD on or off as you desire by momentarily pressing the volume control on the front panel. The HXD icon above the headphone jack will illuminate when activated.

Speaker Outputs: In addition to the headphone output, the MHA150 has a 50 watts per channel stereo power amplifier. McIntosh's patented gold-plated binding post speaker terminals will accept large diameter speaker wire, spade lugs, and banana plugs. The speaker outputs are rated for 8 ohm loudspeakers.

• Loudspeaker Power Output: 50 watts per channel (minimum sine wave continuous average power output, both channels operating)
• Loudspeaker Load Impedance: 8 ohms

Output Control: The MHA150 uses a specially-designed Autoformer for Headphones technology that gives you three selectable impedance ranges, as well as a low and high output level for best headphone performance. Using the Output Control dial, you can select from the following outputs:

Preamp Outputs: The MHA150 provides a pair of RCA preamp output jacks that allow you to connect a separate power amplifier or a powered subwoofer. There are two Subwoofer Mode settings: the Disabled setting provides a stereo signal at the preamp output jacks, while the Enabled setting combines the left and right channel signals into a monaural signal at both preamp output jacks.

Power Control Jacks: The 3.5mm Power Control Input jack receives +12V DC power on/off signals when the headphone amp is connected to another McIntosh component. The 3.5mm Power Control Output jack sends +12V DC power on/off signal to other McIntosh components. Stereo 3.5mm miniplug cables are used for connection to the Power Control jacks.

Trim: The MHA150's Trim Functions allows you to make several adjustments to the audio and display. Trim functions include Bass Boost (0 to +12.5dB @ 40Hz), Balance, Level (input trim), Mono/Stereo, Meter Backlight, Display (information), and Digital Audio (display information). The Bass Boost, Balance, Level (input trim), and Mono/Stereo Trim Settings are stored independently for each input selected. The other Trim Settings are the same for all inputs. Trim adjustments can be made on the front panel or the included remote control.

Profiles: You can set and store up to five different Profile settings for headphone listening, each with an assigned custom name. Each profile setting includes the stored selections for Headphone Impedance Range, Power Level, HXD (On or Off), and Bass Boost (0 to +12.5 dB). Profiles can be recalled by turning the ring around the volume control knob.

Remote Control: A wireless remote control (HR079) is supplied with the MHA150, allowing you to power on/off the headphone amplifier, as well as perform other functions. You can control volume, mute, select inputs, and select and adjust Trim functions. The remote can also select preset stations on many McIntosh tuners.