McIntosh to get into own range of headphones and amp

[complin]

Edited January 19, 2014 by complin

[complin]

CES

McIntosh revealed that it is developing its own headphone range to go with the MHA100 headphone amplifier ($5000). Shown in prototype form at the CES show were the flagship MHP1000 over-ear headphones that will go on sale in the first half of 2014 for around $2000. More affordable models will be added to the range in due course.

Edited January 19, 2014 by complin

[Torpedo]

I've read about the MHA100 amplifier, there's a report about it at Innerfidelity and a video by Tyll. It looks very impressive, an all in one which may fit a lot of requirements. With a speaker output it may even be usable to drive Stax amp with an energizer like the SRD-7 pro.

I wish they post some listening impressions. I like how it looks. There's that thing about McIntosh stuff 

[n3rdling]

A rebadged Beyer for $2000, no thanks.

[spritzer]

At least it's a nice looking Beyer... 

[Torpedo]

Indeed. Problem is that the DAC-amp is $5000

[complin]

The headphones look a bit like circumaural Grado's on a german frame (beyer/senn)

Apparently the amplifier has 50 watt output for speakers which begs the question is it just an integrated amp with a headphone socket (i.e. Leben) ?

[Torpedo]

This looks like SS. The selectable power output plus selectable impedance looks a very interesting couple of features to get any headphone sounding good. I don't care for the crossfeed, and not that much for the DAC, but this can be good to have on a single all-in-one "small" system.

[Dusty Chalk]

Hopefully Tyll'l be sent a sample.

[DefQon]

Last company I'd expect to get into the headphone-dom, McIntosh if you're reading this please stick to your amp's and preamp's please.

[tin ear]

Good thing you're not advising them on their business strategy.

[GeorgeP]

A rebadged Beyer for $2000, no thanks.

Yeah, I too thought it was pretty clear that Beyer had a hand in its design and manuafacture.

[Torpedo]

I really don't see how this

 

Is anywhere near this

 

 

Inquiring minds would be grateful to be instructed

[jpelg]

A rebadged Beyer for $2000, no thanks.

 

 

Yeah, I too thought it was pretty clear that Beyer had a hand in its design and manuafacture.

 

I think it's pretty clear that the unit shown in the pic from CES is a prototype. I'd bet that the final version won't look like that, other than the nameplate.

 

McIntosh has historically not been a me-too company. They also are pretty adamant about in-house development & manufacture. I hope the headphones models will adhere to a similar ideal. Otherwise they will be just overpriced copies.

[Hopstretch]

Inquiring minds would be grateful to be instructed

 

He's talking about the headphone not the amp. 

[Torpedo]

Oh silly me. Since the beginning I was just focused on the amp, the phones stood absolutely unnoticed   Definitely they look like Beyers.

[Audiojunkie]

I hear the new headphones cranked up the Teslas!

Edited January 20, 2014 by Audiojunkie

[Dusty Chalk]

I don't have a problem with them getting into the statement headamp market, but if the phones are just going to be rebadged something elses, they should pull out, before we get another Lexicon/Oppo style fiasco.  If they actually put some thought into it and make audible improvements, however, and I wouldn't put it past them...

[complin]

This has been going on for decades so nothing new about this in audio

 

I don't have a problem with them getting into the statement headamp market, but if the phones are just going to be rebadged something elses, they should pull out, before we get another Lexicon/Oppo style fiasco.  If they actually put some thought into it and make audible improvements, however, and I wouldn't put it past them...

[Dusty Chalk]

Yeah, but just because it isn't something new, doesn't mean I can't still disapprove of it.  Pre-emptively, even.