McIntosh MA-352 Integrated Amp, $7000 (200×2)

(9 7/8h, 17.5w, 20.5d, 66 lbs)

Mac’s MA-352 integrated may be just the ticket as you refine your hi-fi experience. It checks a lot of boxes for the die hard audiophile- not just the loyal Mac lover. As always, Mac is built beautifully in Binghamton, NY with a 3 year warranty.

First of all, MA-352 is a pure analog integrated. If you need a DAC or Bluetooth, do it in another box. Mac makes plenty of models with additional features. But with MA-352 they wanted to give you the BEST SOUND for the money and have chosen to spend elsewhere.

Preamp Section

MA-352 features tubes in the preamp. You get four tubes, two 12AX7s and two 12 AT7s. These venerable tubes are known for musical sound, great reliability and fair cost if they ever have to be replaced. Mac does, by the way, test all of its tubes and provides them to you in matched pairs.

MA-352 treats the issue of tone controls SERIOUSLY. It has a five band EQ on board that won’t add noise- it’s a useful tool. The hinge points are 30Hz, 125, 500, 2k & 10k. If you have commensurate taste in speakers, as you do in electronics, it’s likely you’ll only touch the top and or bottom control. But the shaping is up to you. If you enjoy older music that wasn’t recorded especially well, you’ll love the EQ.

MA-352 has an MM phono input, three sets of RCA inputs and two sets of XLR inputs. MA-352 has one set of RCA variable outputs in case you want to add a subwoofer. It also has a fine headphone amp with 1/4” jack. And yep, it has remote control.

Power Amp Section

MA-352 has a direct coupled amplifier. The bigger Mac amps use autoformers. If you like the smoothness of autoformers, step up. If you like more precise detail, you might actually prefer MA-352. MA-352 delivers 200×2 into 8 ohms and 320×2 into 4 ohms. The amp section has Mac’s Power Guard and additional circuitry to save you from over serving yourself.

Luscious Meters

MA-352 is the first Mac integrated to use its iconic blue meters. I continue to say, there’s nothing wrong with having a little FUN with our gear. It’s a gas to have something built in the USA with sheer radiance!