Wow, great summary. I was looking for a summary like this. I just put a downpayment on an MX200, plus a MI254 (amp) and a MC275 (for my 2 channel desire and I just love the way McIntosh tubes look). However, after watching this, I am wondering if the MHT300 would be the way to go (vice a 200 and the 254), or do I get better quality from the separates? The 300 would require a phono preamp also. Thoughts?
For $6000, it should have a large OLED display and animations with real images of system components that are downloaded from the Internet, current voltages and temperatures.
For must brands I would with the large display and modern graphics suggestion. However, the McIntosh brand is built on its look that have been consistent for decades. If they were to incorporate a large display, I wonder how they will merge into their time honored design. I agree that having status of voltages and temperatures etc. would be a very nice perk for this price. -Jon
It looks like a nice unit and would fit in nice with other McIntosh gear of course. Assuming it sounds great my main concern is the lack of HDR 10+. For the price, it feels like it should have HDR 10+ and Auro3D. Everything else I really like and I do not mind the absence of streaming services at all. I would love to know where it places on your sound quality chart. Besides just someone wanting to match their other McIntosh gear, it would be hard to justify unless it blows everything at that price out of the water on sound quality.
The Marantz Cinema 50 is listed as supporting 120hz and VRR, however, the On Screen Display (when hitting info button) *can not* function above 60hz. If you try to bring that up in a 120hz mode it will blank the screen and interrupt content to switch modes to 60hz (and slowly I might add) and then display info at that point. When it tries to go back to 120hz mode after that point it will sometimes fail to re-sync with 120hz and show an invalid format warning in some cases. I have called support about this and unfortunately this is more or less expected behavior. Extremely disappointing. If the unit being reviewed here behaves similarly I simply couldn’t imagine recommending it. If you get a chance to ask this question of McIntosh, I would love to know the answer.
I appreciate you sharing your experience. Yes, the 120hz support is independent of the VRR support so the fact you are not getting support across all rates, doesn’t surprise me. What I would like to see is more clarity from brands on supported modes. I suspect that all brands will have similar limitations. -Jon
McIntosh product hold their value over time well. Some like just to have their classic look and the build quality and their long term support is excellent. If you can live without the latest features - yes. -Jon
@@ripewave, I understand ART integration comes with a lot of complexities, but having hardware capable of eventually being able to use it when we are talking about the direct competence working on it is another miss. If the user does not want the complications, it´s absolutely fine, but if they do, it should be there.
So far I am only aware of Storm Audio support ART. If anyone knows which brands are supporting (and just not claiming it will be coming) that would be helpful. -Jon
There are qualities that a McIntosh possess that go beyond the standard feature checklist. If you are looking for a high value product, Onkyo is hard to beat. -Jon
I have had all the common brands like Yamaha Denon Onkyo Then stepped up to Primare, and just recently bought the McIntosh mx100 had it now 3 months and it’s unbelievable night and day everything is fine butter, you need good sources and high quality media I am using the Zidoo 5000 pitcher and sound is amazing
Great review! However, I’m a little disappointed in McIntosh. Sure, the HDMI 2.1 and Dirac Live are nice (and I’d say mandatory) upgrades, but not including XLR outputs for the subwoofer is a strange decision. Subwoofers are usually placed the furthest away and could really benefit from balanced signals. The lack of detailed DAC specs is also disappointing, though not surprising. Then there’s the pricing...this unit will go for €8,000 in Europe, which is way too much! Especially considering it offers zero connectivity for streaming, meaning you’ll need a separate streamer. One thing that stands out to me is the design: when you look inside, the HDMI board only has a tiny heatsink, whereas the competition uses multiple, much larger heatsinks. Even though the competition does have more HDMI connections, it makes me wonder if McIntosh is using different chips for their HDMI board.
I am with you on price, missing XLR subwoofer outputs and their usual limited details about internal components. As for an internal streamer capability, my feeling is that McIntosh doesn’t have a lot of internal software developers as their history has been focused on hardware design. Given their hardware expertise, I would imagine they have performed sufficient thermal analysis on the HDMI board to determine the require heat sync for the chips used. If they are using different HDMI chips that do not generate as much heat, that is good. Furthermore, popular chips from Novoton still have issues that won’t be resolved till their next generation estimated for 2026 production. Not enough detail to know what McIntosh selected and no details on HDMI 2.1 feature support which is also disappointing. -Jon
I have the MX100 and I absolutely love it, I have AB tested with many other brands and there is no comparison in sound quality
Fantastic summary Jon! Thanks for posting.
Glad you enjoyed the content. -Jon
Wow, great summary. I was looking for a summary like this. I just put a downpayment on an MX200, plus a MI254 (amp) and a MC275 (for my 2 channel desire and I just love the way McIntosh tubes look). However, after watching this, I am wondering if the MHT300 would be the way to go (vice a 200 and the 254), or do I get better quality from the separates? The 300 would require a phono preamp also. Thoughts?
For $6000, it should have a large OLED display and animations with real images of system components that are downloaded from the Internet, current voltages and temperatures.
For must brands I would with the large display and modern graphics suggestion. However, the McIntosh brand is built on its look that have been consistent for decades. If they were to incorporate a large display, I wonder how they will merge into their time honored design. I agree that having status of voltages and temperatures etc. would be a very nice perk for this price. -Jon
Thanks🙂
It looks like a nice unit and would fit in nice with other McIntosh gear of course. Assuming it sounds great my main concern is the lack of HDR 10+. For the price, it feels like it should have HDR 10+ and Auro3D. Everything else I really like and I do not mind the absence of streaming services at all. I would love to know where it places on your sound quality chart. Besides just someone wanting to match their other McIntosh gear, it would be hard to justify unless it blows everything at that price out of the water on sound quality.
Fair assessment - great sound quality will be essential to entice new McIntosh owners
The Marantz Cinema 50 is listed as supporting 120hz and VRR, however, the On Screen Display (when hitting info button) *can not* function above 60hz. If you try to bring that up in a 120hz mode it will blank the screen and interrupt content to switch modes to 60hz (and slowly I might add) and then display info at that point. When it tries to go back to 120hz mode after that point it will sometimes fail to re-sync with 120hz and show an invalid format warning in some cases. I have called support about this and unfortunately this is more or less expected behavior. Extremely disappointing.
If the unit being reviewed here behaves similarly I simply couldn’t imagine recommending it.
If you get a chance to ask this question of McIntosh, I would love to know the answer.
I appreciate you sharing your experience. Yes, the 120hz support is independent of the VRR support so the fact you are not getting support across all rates, doesn’t surprise me. What I would like to see is more clarity from brands on supported modes. I suspect that all brands will have similar limitations. -Jon
Nice comparison. Still out of reach of most consumers. Is it worthwhile going for an older model, say the MX160 🤔 ?
McIntosh product hold their value over time well. Some like just to have their classic look and the build quality and their long term support is excellent. If you can live without the latest features - yes. -Jon
No info on the potential to employ Dirac DLBC? Not being able to take the correction would be a massive miss.
For their caliber of product, I believe having Dirac Live Bass Control option is important. -Jon
@@ripewave, I understand ART integration comes with a lot of complexities, but having hardware capable of eventually being able to use it when we are talking about the direct competence working on it is another miss. If the user does not want the complications, it´s absolutely fine, but if they do, it should be there.
So far I am only aware of Storm Audio support ART. If anyone knows which brands are supporting (and just not claiming it will be coming) that would be helpful. -Jon
$6000 what a rip off. Better buying a top of the line AVR from Onkyo/Pioneer or Yamaha. Nice video though.
There are qualities that a McIntosh possess that go beyond the standard feature checklist. If you are looking for a high value product, Onkyo is hard to beat. -Jon
I have had all the common brands like Yamaha Denon Onkyo
Then stepped up to Primare, and just recently bought the McIntosh mx100 had it now 3 months and it’s unbelievable night and day everything is fine butter, you need good sources and high quality media I am using the Zidoo 5000 pitcher and sound is amazing
If you have medium level sources and speakers there is no point in having it, unless you’re planning on upgrading parts
Yamaha rx-a8a did shows inside of the unit on there website.
That’s the type of thing that displays the quality. -Jon
@ripewave I do know that because I have been doing home theater installation since vcr, laser disc etc. sir.
Nice to have someone who supported through the pioneering days of surround sound here. -Jon
Good product for your money
You get the value that McIntosh delivers on top of the feature checklist. -Jon
Great review! However, I’m a little disappointed in McIntosh. Sure, the HDMI 2.1 and Dirac Live are nice (and I’d say mandatory) upgrades, but not including XLR outputs for the subwoofer is a strange decision. Subwoofers are usually placed the furthest away and could really benefit from balanced signals. The lack of detailed DAC specs is also disappointing, though not surprising.
Then there’s the pricing...this unit will go for €8,000 in Europe, which is way too much! Especially considering it offers zero connectivity for streaming, meaning you’ll need a separate streamer.
One thing that stands out to me is the design: when you look inside, the HDMI board only has a tiny heatsink, whereas the competition uses multiple, much larger heatsinks. Even though the competition does have more HDMI connections, it makes me wonder if McIntosh is using different chips for their HDMI board.
I am with you on price, missing XLR subwoofer outputs and their usual limited details about internal components.
As for an internal streamer capability, my feeling is that McIntosh doesn’t have a lot of internal software developers as their history has been focused on hardware design. Given their hardware expertise, I would imagine they have performed sufficient thermal analysis on the HDMI board to determine the require heat sync for the chips used. If they are using different HDMI chips that do not generate as much heat, that is good. Furthermore, popular chips from Novoton still have issues that won’t be resolved till their next generation estimated for 2026 production. Not enough detail to know what McIntosh selected and no details on HDMI 2.1 feature support which is also disappointing. -Jon