McIntosh MSA5500 - Black glass

Description

The McIntosh All-in-One Integrated Amplifier for Modern Living

The MSA5500 is McIntosh's answer to the central question of modern home audio: how do you get McIntosh musicality without stacking five separate components in a contemporary living room? This single chassis brings together everything needed for a complete hi-fi system: preamplifier, Solid State 100-W-per-channel power amplifier, 32-bit/384 kHz PCM/DSD audiophile DAC, full network streaming engine, MM phono input, and an HDMI ARC input for the TV. All you add is a pair of speakers. 

Solid State McIntosh Amplification: 100 W / 8 ohms, 160 W / 4 ohms

The MSA5500's power stage delivers 100 W per channel into 8 ohms and 160 W per channel into 4 ohms via a fully Solid State architecture with a Direct Coupled output, on a rated power band from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Total harmonic distortion 0.005%. Dynamic headroom 1.8 dB. Frequency response +0/-0.5 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0/-3 dB from 10 Hz to 100 kHz. Damping factor greater than 200 into 8 ohms and greater than 100 into 4 ohms. Signal-to-noise ratio 110 dB at the power amp input, 95 dB at high level, 82 dB at MM phono. The output transistors are mounted on the iconic McIntosh Monogrammed Heatsinks™, which minimize thermal equilibrium lag time while keeping the MSA5500 cool during long listening sessions. The Dual Layer Chassis isolates audio sections from mechanical disturbances.

Complete Streaming: AirPlay, Bluetooth, Google Cast, Qobuz, Spotify, TIDAL, Roon

The MSA5500 is certified for an impressive set of streaming platforms: Apple AirPlay, Bluetooth 5.0 (with Qualcomm aptX HD for high-resolution and Qualcomm aptX Adaptive for uninterrupted Bluetooth streaming), Google Cast, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect. Roon Ready AND Roon Tested certification — the MSA5500 is a network endpoint certified by Roon Labs, guaranteeing the highest quality Roon streaming. 2 Wi-Fi 6 antennas + 1 Bluetooth antenna for stable wireless + one Ethernet port for the wired connection preferred by audiophiles. No complex proprietary app to learn: you stream directly from your usual music apps on your phone or computer. 

32-Bit/384 kHz Quad Balanced DAC: Native DSD512 via USB

The MSA5500's digital core is an 8-channel 32-bit/384 kHz PCM/DSD digital-to-analog converter in Quad Balanced topology. Massive dynamic reserves and very low distortion. Formats accepted by input: USB (computer audio) — PCM 32-bit up to 384 kHz, DSD64/128/256, DXD 352.8/384 kHz, native DSD512 as well; coaxial and optical inputs — 24-bit/44.1 to 192 kHz; MCT input (McIntosh Music CD Transport, the McIntosh proprietary connection for SACD/CD players like the MCT450, MCD350) — 16-bit/44.1 kHz (CD) and native DSD64 (SACD); network/Wi-Fi input — 24-bit/44.1 to 192 kHz. This variety of inputs with best-possible resolution processing ensures the MSA5500 gets the most out of any source on the market — streaming, computer, SACD transport, TV.

12 Inputs: 7 Digital + 5 Analog Including MM Phono and HDMI ARC

The MSA5500's rear panel offers 12 inputs in total. Analog: 1 balanced XLR input (0.5 V sensitivity, 20 kΩ impedance), 4 unbalanced RCA inputs (0.25 V sensitivity, 20 kΩ impedance), 1 moving magnet (MM) phono input at fixed loading (2.5 mV sensitivity) to connect a McIntosh MT2/MT5 turntable or any other turntable with an MM cartridge directly. Digital: 2 coax, 2 optical, 1 MCT (McIntosh Music CD Transport for McIntosh SACD/CD players), 1 USB (asynchronous for computer), 1 HDMI ARC for the TV — the last automatically converts Dolby and DTS multi-channel formats to 2-channel for stereo playback (the HDMI ARC input plays TV audio only, no video pass-through). Input Assign function lets you rename and disable unused inputs to simplify day-to-day selection.

High Drive Headphone + HXD®, Subwoofer Output, Home Theater PassThru

1/4-inch (6.35 mm) High Drive headphone output with the proprietary Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®) circuit that simulates the spatial presentation of a speaker system for headphone listening — avoids the excessive stereo separation effect of traditional headphone listening. Dedicated subwoofer output to add an active subwoofer to the system. Home Theater PassThru function for integrating the MSA5500 into a home theater system: when engaged, the MSA5500 lets an external A/V processor handle volume and acts as the power amplifier for the surround system's front channels — your main speakers then serve both cinema and stereo listening without swapping cables. Variable unbalanced preamp output (1 RCA) to connect an external power amplifier later if you upgrade to more demanding speakers while keeping the MSA5500 as a streaming preamp.

McIntosh Technologies: Power Guard®, Sentry Monitor™, Solid Cinch™

The MSA5500 carries the full arsenal of patented McIntosh technologies. Power Guard®: continuously monitors the output signal and makes microsecond-level micro-adjustments to the input signal to prevent clipping — which protects your speakers from damage caused by a saturated signal that can burn a tweeter. Sentry Monitor™: fuse-less short-circuit protection circuit that disengages the output stage before current exceeds safe operating levels, then automatically resets as soon as conditions return to normal — no fuse to replace in the signal path. Monogrammed Heatsinks™: signature McIntosh heatsinks. Solid Cinch™ speaker binding posts: patented McIntosh binding posts, gold-plated (against oxidation), with a secure clamping system that keeps the speaker cable from coming loose. Bass and treble tone controls with a Tone Bypass switch for a short signal path when you prefer neutrality. Standby power consumption under 0.25 W.

Common Questions

Can I connect my turntable and my TV directly to the MSA5500?

Yes to both. The MSA5500 offers a dedicated moving magnet (MM) phono input at fixed loading (2.5 mV sensitivity) to connect a turntable equipped with an MM cartridge directly (the McIntosh MT2, MT5, or any third-party MM cartridge turntable). Note: MM input only — no MC (moving coil) input. For an MC cartridge, you need to add an external MC phono preamp (for example the McIntosh MP100 which offers adjustable MM and MC). TV side: the MSA5500 offers an HDMI ARC input — you connect an HDMI cable between your TV's HDMI ARC output and the MSA5500's HDMI ARC input, and the TV's audio (regardless of source — Apple TV, Netflix, cable, antenna) plays through your McIntosh hi-fi speakers. Dolby and DTS multi-channel formats are automatically converted to 2-channel stereo. You can add a subwoofer via the dedicated subwoofer output to reinforce the low end for cinema listening.

Can I use the MSA5500 in a surround home theater system?

Yes, via the Home Theater PassThru function. You connect the front-channel preamp output of your home theater A/V processor (Marantz CINEMA series, McIntosh MHT300 or MX200, Denon AVR, etc.) to an input assigned to Home Theater PassThru mode on the MSA5500. Once that input is selected, the MSA5500's volume control is bypassed — your home theater processor handles the surround system's overall volume. The MSA5500 then acts as a dedicated power amplifier for the surround system's front left/right channels, while remaining usable in stereo mode (streaming, phono, digital sources) for everyday music listening. A single pair of main speakers thus serves both hi-fi and home theater — no cable swapping, no duplicate speakers.

How is the MSA5500 different from the other McIntosh integrated amplifiers (MA352, MA5300, MA9500, MA12000)?

The MSA5500 is the only McIntosh integrated amplifier that combines complete network streaming and 100 W amplification in a compact all-in-one chassis. It's the most rational solution for someone who listens mostly via streaming and wants to reduce the number of components in the living room. The other MAs are positioned differently. MA5300 (100 W Solid State): classic integrated without streaming, built-in DAC, more versatile analog inputs. MA352 (200 W hybrid): tube preamp + Solid State power amp, iconic look with visible tubes, no built-in streaming. MA8950 (200 W Solid State with Autoformer™): Solid State reference with McIntosh Autoformer™ technology for stability into any load. MA9500 (300 W Solid State): Solid State power reference. MA12000 Hybrid Drive™ (350 W): the McIntosh integrated flagship, tube preamp + Solid State amp + Autoformer™ + DA2 Digital Audio Module. MA2375 (75 W tube): all-tube integrated. For the compact streaming user: MSA5500. For reference McIntosh power and engineering: MA12000 or MA9500.

What's in the Box

McIntosh MSA5500 Streaming Integrated Amplifier

McIntosh HR085 remote control

Detachable AC power cord

2 Wi-Fi 6 antennas

1 Bluetooth antenna

Owner's manual