McIntosh MHT300 - Black glass

Description

Full Power on All 7 Channels — Not Just Two

The McIntosh MHT300 delivers 120 W per channel into 8 ohms and 150 W per channel into 4 ohms, with all SEVEN channels driven simultaneously — a meaningful characteristic that sets the MHT300 apart from most competing AV receivers. Most AVRs advertise high watts-per-channel figures, but read the fine print and you discover the power spec only applies with two channels driven simultaneously (a stereo configuration, not a home theater one). On the MHT300, every 8 ohm speaker receives 120 W and every 4 ohm speaker receives 150 W of McIntosh power across every channel at once — every explosion, every car chase, every high-speed flyby of a fighter jet or spaceship, every roar of the crowd after a game-winning score is reproduced at full power on all seven channels at the same time. 0.05% THD, 4 dB dynamic headroom, damping factor >100 into 8 ohms and >50 into 4 ohms, frequency response +0/-0.5 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

Expandable: Native 7.2 Channels, 7.2.4 With an External Amplifier

The MHT300 is natively configured as 7.2 channels (also reconfigurable as 5.2.2) but its internal processor handles up to 11.2 channels, so the system can grow as your installation evolves. Two Height 1 and Height 2 audio outputs let you connect an external amplifier — McIntosh explicitly recommends the MI254 (4-channel amplifier) to drive the Dolby Atmos or DTS:X height channels, effectively turning the MHT300 into a 7.2.4-channel AVR. The MHT300 also lets you add power to an existing ground-level channel: to add more power to the front L/R for example, remove the jumpers and connect an external stereo amplifier (such as the McIntosh MI502) to the matching outputs. The same approach works on the center channel with a higher-power monoblock.

Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Seven 32-Bit Audiophile DACs

The MHT300 natively decodes the object-based audio formats Dolby® Atmos and DTS:X™, along with the Dolby Surround and Neural:X upmixers. Audio processing is driven by seven premium 32-bit audiophile-grade Digital-to-Analog Converters (one per channel, which delivers complete channel separation and a very low noise floor). Dirac Live® Room Correction — the industry-reference room correction system, based on Dirac Research's patented mixed-phase filter technology that corrects both amplitude AND the time domain. A calibration microphone and a full-size metal microphone stand are included for the calibration procedure. Built-in bass and treble tone controls let you fine-tune the response to personal preference. Unique crossover frequency per speaker for precise tuning of every speaker in the chain.

Video: 4 HDMI 8K/60 and 4K/120 Inputs, Full HDR, eARC

The video section provides 4 HDMI inputs and 1 HDMI output. Each HDMI port is HDCP 2.3 compliant and supports 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video. All ports deliver 40 Gbps of bandwidth and are compatible with High Dynamic Range formats Dolby Vision™, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG, as well as 4:4:4 color subsampling, Rec. 2020 (BT.2020) color space, and 3D video pass-through. The HDMI output features Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC), which lets a compatible TV send back to the MHT300 the high-resolution audio streams DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS:X, Dolby TrueHD, and Dolby Atmos over the single HDMI cable. Note: Ultra High Speed HDMI cables are required to take full advantage of the MHT300's HDMI capabilities.

Extended Audio Connectivity and Built-In FM Tuner

The MHT300's rear panel offers 2 coax and 2 optical digital audio inputs for legacy hi-fi and video sources, a USB Type-A input, an Ethernet connection, 2 subwoofer outputs for dual active subwoofers, and heavy-duty 5-way speaker binding posts for solid speaker-cable connections. A rare touch on a modern AVR: the MHT300 includes a built-in FM tuner for free over-the-air radio broadcasts. Control is via the included IR remote (HR085/HR086), the web interface, or a home automation platform through the RS232 port, two 3.5 mm Power Control outputs, a Data Port, and a rear-panel IR sensor. Eco-friendly signal-sensing auto on/off — the MHT300 shuts down when no signal has been detected for a set time and turns back on when it senses a signal from the source.

3U Rackable, Professional Installation

The MHT300 is designed around the professional integrator's needs. 3U rack form factor (44.45 × 15.7 × 47.31 cm, 12.2 kg, 1,000 BTU/h), rack-mount brackets included. Setup and configuration are done through a computer interface — the integrator can pre-configure the unit before installation and then simply load the configuration file at the customer's site, and the file can be backed up to a computer or USB stick to safely try different configurations. Two 3.5 mm Power Control outputs synchronize power-on and power-off with the rest of the McIntosh stack. McIntosh proprietary Power Guard® (continuously monitors the output signal and prevents clipping) and Sentry Monitor™ (fuseless short-circuit protection that automatically resets) protection.

Common Questions

How do I expand the MHT300 to a 7.2.4 Dolby Atmos system?

The MHT300 has two Height 1 and Height 2 audio outputs on the rear panel. Connect an external multi-channel amplifier to those outputs: McIntosh explicitly recommends the MI254 (4-channel amplifier), which then drives the four Dolby Atmos or DTS:X height channels. The MHT300 effectively becomes a 7.2.4-channel AVR without swapping receivers — you keep your existing installation and only add the height speakers and their amplifier. The same approach can also reinforce ground-level channels: remove the jumpers on the front L/R outputs and connect an external stereo amplifier (McIntosh MI502 for example) to get more power on the main channels.

How does the MHT300's Dirac Live® calibration work?

A calibrated measurement microphone, a full-size metal microphone stand, and a microphone cable are all included in the box. The user (or installer) places the microphone at the primary listening position, connects a computer to the MHT300 over the network, and launches the guided Dirac Live® procedure through the graphical interface. The MHT300 emits test tones, measures the room response, then computes the correction filters using Dirac Research's patented mixed-phase filter technology that corrects both amplitude and the time domain (unlike other correction solutions that only correct amplitude). A professional integrator can also pre-configure the unit before installation, back the configuration up to a computer or USB stick, and reload it later at will.

Which McIntosh devices are recommended with the MHT300?

McIntosh explicitly recommends several devices: the MS500 network music streamer for streaming, the MI254 4-channel amplifier for expansion to 7.2.4, the MIP200 power controller, and a range of loudspeakers for a full home theater installation. McIntosh Speaker Cables for the speaker runs, Power Control Cables for synchronization with the rest of the McIntosh stack. For pure stereo (2 channels), the brand also offers the MAC7200 receiver — the stereo counterpart to the MHT300 in the McIntosh receiver lineup.

What's in the Box

McIntosh MHT300 Home Theater Receiver

IR remote control

Dirac Live calibration microphone

Full-size metal microphone stand

Microphone cable

Bluetooth antenna

Rack mount brackets

AC power cord

Owner's manual