McIntosh MSA5500: A Streaming Integrated Amplifier Built for Modern Hi-Fi
Named Best High-End All-In-One Hi-Fi System 2025/2026.
For audiophiles looking to own a single, powerful centerpiece for their sound, the search for the ideal solution ends with the McIntosh MSA5500. In a recent review from AVForums, Ed Selley explored the McIntosh MSA5500 Streaming Integrated Amplifier, a product that challenges the traditional boundaries of high-end audio. The review concluded that the MSA5500 is an all-in-one system initially worthy of a "Highly Recommended” rating and has since been named their Best High-End All-In-One Hi-Fi System 2025/2026.
Why the MSA5500 Stands Out in Hi-Fi Streaming
The MSA5500 is a streaming integrated amplifier that redefines what a high-end component can be. While other products may be ordered as a basic integrated amplifier and then built out, the MSA5500 exists in one form only, making it a comprehensive, self-contained solution from the start. This design approach ensures that it is versatile and accessible while still delivering what Selley describes as an "imperious level of output to just about any speaker on the market." In terms of all in one solutions, Selley states that the MSA5500 is the "ultimate expression of what those systems can be."
Design & Build Quality of MSA5500
“Needless to say, the build quality is sensational.” The MSA5500 maintains the classic McIntosh aesthetic with the durability and quality consistent with the brand’s legacy. As Selley notes, "A huge percentage of all the McIntosh stuff ever made is still working and you begin to appreciate why when you spend time with the MSA5500." Even for those who have used other high-end equipment, the McIntosh "is still going to feel like a step up." Selley praises the amplifier’s design, stating, “There is something fundamentally satisfying about using and interacting with the McIntosh that is hard to truly get across in words.”
Connectivity & Streaming Features at a Glance
The MSA5500 is an "extremely flexible bit of kit" with a wealth of connectivity. For a modern home, its integrated streaming capabilities are a major draw. It can access content from Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, supports AirPlay, Google Cast (formerly Chromecast), and Bluetooth, and functions as a Roon endpoint. It comes with a wide range of physical inputs, including one XLR input, four RCA line inputs, a USB connection, two optical, two coaxial connections, and a high-quality moving magnet phono stage. The unit also features an HDMI ARC input, which the review notes can convert a multichannel soundtrack to stereo, making it a "class act" for home theater use.
Performance: Power, Phono Stage & Sound
The MSA5500 is "effortlessly powerful," delivering 100 watts into 8 ohm speakers and 160 watts into 4 ohm speakers. This power ensures it can drive a wide range of speakers. Despite this, the soundstage avoids the common pitfall of making small-scale music sound oversized. “It’s raw without being aggressive and it consciously avoids any smoothing off of the performance,” Selley notes. He also highlights the “exceptional” phono stage, which seamlessly combines a lack of background noise with a tonal balance. Selley also describes that when connected via HDMI ARC, “the expansiveness of the in space sequences was extremely impressive for something being created by a single pair of speakers.”
Final Verdict: Is the MSA5500 Worth It?
Earning a score of 9 out of 10, a "Highly Recommended" Award, and ultimately being named Best High-End All-In-One Hi-Fi System 2025/2026, the McIntosh MSA5500 is lauded for its superb performance and build quality. According to Selley, “It will deliver everything that the high end should in terms of how it looks, feels and sounds, and that includes a bit of visual drama while it does it. It combines the classic flourishes with a real world user friendliness that would have been impossible to conceive of even comparatively recently.” Combining legendary design with cutting-edge technology, the MSA5500 is a top-tier choice for the modern audiophile.
(Excerpts taken from original review by Ed Selley / AVForums.com / May 22, 2025)
