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Take Scott Niblett's passionate song "Gun" from It's up to Emma. As percussion and electrical guitar build up against one another, the Mac's phono clearly clumped together far more than my external phonostage which resolved more differentiated detail. If you only crank up your table occasionally, what's here should be plenty good enough. If you're deeply into vinyl however, a separate phono stage will be in your future. That's true also if you drive MC. The Mac doesn't accommodate it. |
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Conclusion. Whilst for McIntosh the new MA5200 might be li'l, it feels big on features and very mature and grown up on sound. Few should need more than 5 inputs with one balanced. Add three digital inputs including async USB and moving-magnet phono. Diehard vinylistas will miss MC but they're most likely to already own a separate phono stage. Pre-out, main-in and a number of remote trigger points complete the business end, headfi is on the front.
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Sonically it's no longer surprising that I was really surprised. This small Mac stays clear of showy effects and impresses as a very well-balanced nicely nuanced all'rounder that's all about long-term musical pleasure. And that's key. To tie up the open question on price, not least because of the very convincing on-board DAC do I think that this McIntosh is well worth its ask. Add a stylish note book and some proper speakers and you're off to the races.
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Psych profile for the McIntosh MA5200...
• Globally balanced tonality with minor restraint upwards of the presence region and minor generosity in the lower midband. 'Warmth' would exaggerate. 'A tick mild' hits it better.
• The bass is even and contoured but not bone dry. Electronica with profound infra bass could wish for more definition.
• Acoustic instruments meanwhile could benefit from these 'semi sec' textures.
• Pleasantly differentiated and well resolved mid and high registers. There's air but not generously so. This deck feels very natural, authentic and relaxed in the treble.
• Micro and macro dynamics are typical for this price range.
• Above class and a real forté are embodiment and plasticity of individual actors on the musical stage. Stage dimensions are just right, neither cinerama-style extra large nor diminutive.
• Some amps with more snap can get annoying over time, others are friendly but lack 'redline RPM' to stifle involvement. This amp sounds relaxed and exciting at the same time. That's quite the trick and highly praiseworthy.
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Facts.
• Trim: Black.
• I/o: 3 x RCA, 1 x RCA/XLR, 1 x MM phono, 1 x USB, 1 x Toslink, 1 x coax (activating any of the last two deactivates one high-level input), 1 x pre-out, 1 x main-in, 6.3mm headfi, various trigger/remote points and single speaker terminals
• Power output: 100wpc
• Dimensions and weight: 8 x 15.1 x 44.3cm (WxHxD), 17kg
• Power consumption; ca. 30 watts at idle
• Warranty: 2 years
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redaktion @ fairaudio.de
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