McIntosh MXA60 Integrated Audio System First Look

What do you get for the audiophile with everything this Christmas? They already have amps galore, cutting edge processors (meaning it actually has HDMI), power cables as thick as a baby's arm, and a record cleaning machine to keep their vinyl in all of it's pristine, scratchy, glory. They've got racks, stacks, and isolation. They have speakers that cost more than most cars, amps that require forklifts to power them, and a closet full of discarded gear that would make any self respecting Audioholic weak in the knees. They don't have any room treatments but they're sure they do need them. So what to do?

McIntosh has the answer. The MXA60 Integrated Audio System is a standalone tabletop system complete with a CD/SACD/MP3 player, 75-watts per channel amplifier, and speakers. This system is for the true connoisseur of high end audio. The preamplifier is tube powered (yeah!) and the speakers are two-way bass reflex.

What has always distinguished McIntosh, of course, is their look. The MXA60 doesn't disappoint. The case is all metal with anadized aluminum accents. The front analogue gauges (a virtual requisite for any piece of McIntosh gear - someday they'll release a speaker with these) are present with that trademark (and quite comforting) blue backlit glow. You rarely need to see a logo to know that a piece of gear is constructed by McIntosh and the MXA60 is no different.

The 75 watt per channel sports a number of McIntosh features including:

• 75 watt per channel, complementary-balanced amplifier
• ThermalTrak™ Output Transistors - for improved bias stability and enhanced low level linearity
• Sentry Monitor fuse-less short circuit protection
• Power Guard anti-clipping circuit

The hybrid preamplifer sports tubes, input switching (both balanced and unbalanced inputs are accepted), tone controls, 24-bit, 192kHz sampling Burr Brown DACs, and more. The solid state input circuitry is designed to eliminate noise with the vacuum tubeassisted line stage provides that classic sound that McIntosh (and tube) lovers crave.

While the inclusion of MP3 support is probably more a nod to the times and the quickly diminishing ability of the public to recognize good sound, the real audiophiles are interested in both the redbook CD and SACD support. There is a tuner on board as well for terrestrial radio enjoyment.

When you flip the MXA60 around, you'll find two inputs (one balanced, one unbalanced), speaker terminals, remote power outputs (for turning on/off gear with the MXA60), and analogue RCA outputs. You can use only one of these outputs if you want to add a subwoofer to the included speakers. The speakers are rear ported with a bottom that is actually cut on an angle so that they speaker naturally points slightly up. McIntosh included a integrated stand so that the speaker could be leveled for a more standard orientation. The speakers have a 3/4" titamium dome driver and 4" woofers and boasts response down to 45hz (which would be very impressive indeed).

The strange thing about the MXA60 is that it includes the analogue RCA outs for use with an external amp. It seems to us that if you paid $7500 for an integrated McIntosh system that you'd want to use the fabled McIntosh amps. Plus, it would be sad if those little needles just sat there. We're pretty sure most McIntosh owners would consider that a mortal sin.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.