McIntosh MA352 Hybrid Drive Integrated Amplifier - In Store Purchase Only
*This MA352 is available for purchase in store only. We will not discuss pricing or shipping so please don't ask. Click here to make an appointment.
Like new and complete integrated amplifier from McIntosh.
This is a current model in production, and one of the most unique products they make.
McIntosh Performance Features Include:
• Power Output
The MA352 consists of 200 watts (8 ohm) or 320 watts (4 ohm) per channel Stereo Power Amplifier with less than 0.03% distortion. The McIntosh MA352 is designed for connection of a single 8 ohm or 4 ohm Loudspeaker per channel. The Power Amplifier uses ThermalTrak Output Transistors for lower distortion and cool operation.
• Power Guard
The patented McIntosh Power Guard circuit prevents amplifier clipping and protects your valuable Loudspeakers.
• Sentry Monitor and Thermal Protection
McIntosh Sentry Monitor power output stage protection circuits ensure the MA352 will have a long and trouble free operating life. Built-in Thermal Protection Circuits guard against overheating.
• Moving Magnet Phono Inputs
The MA352 Moving Magnet Input Circuitry uses the latest design to provide the lowest possible noise, distortion and flat frequency response.
• Equalizer Controls
The five Front Panel Equalizer Controls provide 12dB of boost or cut at their center frequencies. The MA352 remembers the Equalizer Circuitry Setting (On or Off) for each input.
• Special Power Supply
The large Power Transformer, multiple filter capacitors with 60 Joules of Energy Storage and regulated Power Supply ensure stable noise free operation even though the power line varies.
More from McIntosh:
The MA352 Integrated Amplifier is a hybrid design that combines the finest of vacuum tube and solid state audio design principles. The result is an eye-catching amplifier that enjoys the best of these two opposing audio philosophies all while reproducing music at the highest quality level.
"Want valve [vacuum tube] sound with solid state power and reliability? McIntosh have a long history in both fields and bring their expertise to glorious fruition in the audacious MA352 hybrid amplifier, packed with power, glowing valves and the expansive sound they enjoy... The MA352 is an amplifier that we thought was glorious in both appearance and sound." Named Best Hybrid Amplifier 2020. – Hi-Fi World
The MA352 includes our Hybrid Drive™ technology that uses the best of vacuum tubes and solid state to produce the best sound performance. An all analog design, the MA352 has a vacuum tube preamplifier section that is powered by a pair of 12AX7A and a pair of 12AT7 vacuum tubes; its output stage is a direct coupled solid state amplifier that outputs 200 Watts per channel into 8 Ohm speakers or 320 Watts per channel into 4 Ohm speakers – enough power to properly drive virtually any set of loudspeakers. Dual scale blue Watt meters give an accurate readout of power output for both speaker impedances.
"The hybrid McIntosh amplifier is powerful enough to power your favorite speakers, and refined enough to make the experience memorable, no matter what kind of music you play. Highly Recommended." - Lyd & Bilde
The MA352 has 2 balanced and 3 unbalanced inputs plus 1 Moving Magnet phono input with adjustable loading for connecting a turntable. It has gold-plated speaker binding posts to help prevent corrosion and ensure a quality signal is sent over your speaker cables to your speakers. A stereo preamplifier output is available for connecting a higher-powered amplifier; it can also be used to connect 1 or 2 powered subwoofers for added low frequency performance.
"The quality of the sound never falters. The MA352 remains stunningly clear and detailed with loads of power to spare. With the MA352's impressive 0.03% THD and IMD, you’ll be hard pressed to find any distortion even at window shaking volume." - Tone Audio
The unit sits on a stainless steel chassis polished to a mirror finish; vintage McIntosh-styled die cast aluminum name badges are affixed to each side. Blue output meters, control knobs, an illuminated logo, and a black glass front panel with direct LED backlighting complete the unit. It can be paired with an assortment of CD players, turntables, tuners, media streamers and speakers to complete your home audio system.
Recommended Cables:
Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Better
Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Best
Kimber Kable - Tonearm Interconnects - Better
Kimber Kable - Flagship Tonearm Interconnects - Best
Kimber Kable - BALANCED XLR Connectors - Better
Kimber Kable - BALANCED XLR Connectors - Best
Kimber Kable - Speaker Cables - Better
Kimber Summit Series Monocle XL Speaker Cables (PAIR) - Best
Kimber Summit Series BiFocal XL Bi-Wire Speaker Cables (PAIR) - Best If Applicable
Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Better
The SkyFi Testing Process for Tube Amplifiers:
We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure that there are no signs of heat stress or damage. Capacitors are checked for telltale signs of predictive failure including bulging, shrunken wrappers, or physical leakage. We also inspect resistors and other passive components for signs of overheating. If tube arcing has occurred in the past we can usually spot discoloration on the output tube sockets. On vintage units we often spot check select capacitors for value and ESR.
If the amplifier passes visual inspection, we move on to a full test of all of the tubes. We use an Amplitrex AT-1000 Tube Tester which is capable of testing both emission and Gm with a high degree of accuracy. We document the results of each tube and replace any weak or suspect tubes before proceeding. When we power on tube amplifiers for the first time we usually use a variac and current limited AC supply and slowly raise the voltage up to nominal mains level while monitoring plate, screen, filament, and negative bias supply voltages where applicable. If everything is in order we feed a low level test signal into the amplifier’s input and monitor its output on an oscilloscope across an 8 ohm dummy load. At this point we are just looking to verify basic function and confirm that the output transformers are not damaged. Once we have verified that the amplifier is safe to operate, we connected it to full mains power. For fixed bias amps we set the bias to manufacturer spec. For cathode biased amps we monitor the plate to cathode voltage to determine if the output tubes are operating in a safe range. Once the output section is verified we move onto bench evaluation.
We start by feeding the input of the amplifier with a low level 1KHz test signal, slowly increase its amplitude while monitoring the amplifier’s output on an oscilloscope for signs of noise, clipping, distortion, or improper channel balance. We continue increasing the signal level until the amplifier reaches clipping. At this point we take an output power measurement and compare it to the spec sheet of the amplifier to verify proper performance. We finish off the bench evaluation with a 1KHz square wave check and a 20Hz to 20KHz sine sweep to assess the amplifier’s frequency response characteristics. This battery of tests will usually reveal if the amplifier has any issues that need further attention.
Before the device leaves the bench, we perform a listening test with actual music using a variety of preferred test tracks. Our benches are outfitted with familiar monitor speakers which help us identify inconsistencies that will not always show up on our test gear. The main things that we are listening for are hum or noise with no signal present, proper center image, clicks, pops, or any other obvious undesirable audio characteristics.
If the unit passes all of these tests it is moved to our long term testing rig where we simulate real word operating conditions for 6-8 hours. For tube amps we like to run this test at least twice. This allows us to monitor the unit for signs of thermal runaway or intermittent issues that only crop up when it has fully come up to temperature. We find this step to be essential, especially for vintage units.
Amplifier Specifications
Power Output Stereo
Minimum sine wave continuous average power output per channel, with both channels operating is:
200 watts into 8 ohm load
320 watts into 4 ohm load
Output Load Impedance
8 or 4 ohms
Rated Power Band
20Hz to 20,000Hz
Total Harmonic Distortion
0.03% maximum with both channels operating from 250 milliwatts to rated power, 20Hz to 20,000Hz
Intermodulation Distortion
0.03% maximum, if the instantaneous peak power output does not exceed twice the rated power output for any com- bination of frequencies from 20Hz to 20,000Hz
Dynamic Headroom
1.5dB
Wide Band Damping Factor
Greater than 200 - 8 ohm, Greater than 100 - 4 ohm
Power Guard
Less than 2% THD with up to 16dB overdrive at 1,000Hz
Frequency Response
+0, -0.5dB from 20Hz to 20,000Hz
+0, -3dB from 10Hz to 100,000Hz
Preamplifier Output Impedance
500 ohms
Sensitivity (for rated output)
High Level - 250mV unbalanced, 500mV balanced
Phono - 2.5mV
Signal To Noise Ratio (A-Weighted)
High Level - 93dB below rated output
Phono - 82dB below 5mV input
Input Impedance
High Level - 20K ohms
Phono - 47K ohms; 50pF-800pF
Preamplifier Output 2 (for rated input)
1.4V unbalanced (8V Maximun)
Maximum Input Signal
High Level - 8V unbalanced, 16V balanced Phono - 80mV
Voltage Gain
High Level to Output 1: 44dB
High Level to Output 2: 15dB
Phono to Output 1: 84dB
Phono to Output 2: 55dB
Headphone Impedance
100 to 600 ohms
Trigger Output
12VDC, 25mA
General Specifications
Power Requirements
Field AC Voltage conversion of the MA352 is not possible.
This MA352 is factory configured for the following AC Voltage:
120 Volts, 50/60Hz at 6.0 amps
Standby: Less than 0.5 watt
Overall Dimensions
Width is 17-1/2 inches (44.5cm)
Height is 9-7/8 inches (25.1cm) including feet
Depth is 20-1/2 inches (52.1cm) including the Cables
Weight
66 pounds (29.9 kg) net
75 pounds (34.0 kg) in shipping carton
Shipping Carton Dimensions
Width is 22-5/8 inches (57.5cm)
Depth is 21-7/8 inches (55.6cm)
Height is 12-7/8 inches (32.7cm)
McIntosh MA352 Hybrid Drive Integrated Amplifier - Manual
*This MA352 is available for purchase in store only. We will not discuss pricing or shipping so please don't ask. Click here to make an appointment.
