The McIntosh MSA5500 is a streaming integrated amplifier that brings a complete system into one chassis, delivering 100 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 160 watts per channel into 4 ohms. Total harmonic distortion is held to 0.005% and the damping factor exceeds 200 into 8 ohms, giving the MSA5500 the control required by demanding loudspeakers. Power Guard and Sentry Monitor protect both the amplifier and the loudspeakers connected to it.
Streaming is built in across Wi-Fi 6, Apple AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect and Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX Adaptive, with Roon Ready certification for library playback. A quad balanced 32-bit/384 kHz DAC handles conversion for the coaxial, optical, USB and HDMI ARC inputs, and a moving magnet phono stage and high-drive headphone amplifier with HXD crossfeed complete the input and output set. The dual blue watt meters, monogrammed heatsinks and Solid Cinch binding posts carry the McIntosh identity.
Key Features
- 100 watts per channel into 8 ohms, 160 watts into 4 ohms
- Quad balanced 32-bit/384 kHz PCM and DSD DAC
- Wi-Fi 6 streaming with AirPlay 2 and Google Cast
- Spotify, TIDAL and Qobuz Connect built in
- Roon Ready and Roon Tested certified
- Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX HD and aptX Adaptive
- Moving magnet phono input for turntable connection
- HDMI ARC input for television audio
- High-drive headphone amplifier with HXD crossfeed
- Power Guard and Sentry Monitor protection circuits
- Subwoofer output and Home Theater PassThru
- Dual blue watt meters and monogrammed heatsinks
Warranty
This product comes with a 3-year manufacturer warranty.
Why Consider the McIntosh MSA5500
The MSA5500 replaces a streamer, a DAC, a phono stage, a headphone amplifier and an integrated amplifier with a single component, without the compromises usually attached to that consolidation. The DAC is the same quad balanced 32-bit design McIntosh uses in its separates, the phono stage handles moving magnet cartridges directly, and the HDMI ARC input means the same system covers television audio. For a listener who wants McIntosh build and the blue meters without assembling a rack of boxes, this is the shortest route to it.
Ideal For
- Single-component systems that cover streaming, vinyl and television
- Listeners wanting McIntosh build quality without separates
- Modern living spaces where rack space is limited
- Roon, TIDAL and Qobuz subscribers wanting native playback
- Headphone listeners needing a capable built-in amplifier
What's in the Box
- McIntosh MSA5500 Streaming Integrated Amplifier
- HR085 remote control
- Power cable
- Wi-Fi antennas
- Owner's manual
Downloads
Technical Specifications
| Amplifier Performance |
| Power Output, 8 ohms |
100 W per channel |
| Power Output, 4 ohms |
160 W per channel |
| Dynamic Headroom |
1.8 dB |
| Total Harmonic Distortion |
0.005% |
| Frequency Response |
20 Hz - 20 kHz (+0, -0.5 dB) |
| Frequency Response, Extended |
10 Hz - 100 kHz (+0, -3 dB) |
| Damping Factor |
Greater than 200 (8 ohms), greater than 100 (4 ohms) |
| Maximum Output, Unbalanced |
8 V |
| Signal to Noise Ratio |
| S/N Ratio, Phono MM |
82 dB |
| S/N Ratio, High Level |
95 dB |
| S/N Ratio, Power Amp Input |
110 dB |
| Analogue Inputs and Outputs |
| Balanced Inputs |
1 |
| Unbalanced Inputs |
4 |
| Phono Input |
1 moving magnet, fixed loading, 2.5 mV sensitivity |
| Variable Output |
1 unbalanced |
| Subwoofer Output |
Yes |
| Headphone Output |
1/4 inch, High Drive with HXD |
| Digital Inputs and Conversion |
| Digital to Analogue Converter |
8-channel, 32-bit/384 kHz PCM and DSD, quad balanced |
| Coaxial Inputs |
2, up to 24-bit/192 kHz |
| Optical Inputs |
2, up to 24-bit/192 kHz |
| MCT Input |
1, for CD and SACD transports |
| USB Input |
1, PCM up to 32-bit/384 kHz, DSD64/128/256, DXD up to 384 kHz |
| HDMI Input |
1 ARC, audio only from television |
| Network and Streaming |
| Wi-Fi |
Wi-Fi 6, dual antennas |
| Ethernet |
Yes |
| Bluetooth |
5.0 with aptX HD and aptX Adaptive |
| Streaming Services |
AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect |
| Roon |
Roon Ready and Roon Tested certified |
| Control |
| Tone Controls |
Bass and treble with tone bypass |
| Input Assign |
Yes |
| Home Theater PassThru |
Yes |
| RS232 Control |
Yes |
| Power Control Output |
1 main |
| Rear Panel Data Ports |
2 |
| General |
| Type |
Solid state |
| Finish |
Black painted steel with aluminium end caps |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) |
444.5 x 152.4 x 476.3 mm, without antenna |
| Depth with Horizontal Antenna |
565.2 mm |
| Power Requirements |
230 V, 50/60 Hz at 1.6 A |
| Standby Power Consumption |
Less than 0.25 W |
| Net Weight |
17.2 kg |
| Shipping Weight |
25.2 kg |
