Skip to content
McIntosh logo
  • THE BRAND
    THE BRAND
    • McIntosh Heritage
    • Discover McIntosh
    • McIntosh Legends
    • Reviews, News and Events
    • Find Your Sound
    • Gifts
    • Newsletter
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
  • PRODUCTS
    PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Hybrid Drive
    • Amplifiers
    • Preamplifiers
    • Integrated Amplifiers
    • Receivers
    • Home Theater Audio/Video Processors
    • Speakers
    • D/A Converters
    • Lifestyle
    • Turntables
    • Phono Preamplifiers
    • CD Players
    • Media Streamers
    • Tuners
    • Blu-ray Players
    • Custom Install
    • Specialty Products
    • Headphone Amplifiers
    • Cables
    • Furniture
    • Gifts and Accessories
  • SYSTEMS
    SYSTEMS

    LIFESTYLE

    • RS150 Wireless Loudspeaker
    • RS250 Wireless Loudspeaker System
    • MXA80 Integrated Audio System
    • McAire Integrated Audio System

    MUSIC

    • Reference Music System
    • SoHo I Music System
    • SoHo II Music System
    • SoHo III Music System

    HOME THEATER

    • Reference Home Theater System
    • Westchester I Home Theater System
    • Westchester II Home Theater System
    • Westchester III Home Theater System
    • Westchester IV Home Theater System
  • AUTOMOTIVE
    AUTOMOTIVE
    • The Story
    • The Systems
    • The Vehicles
  • Marine
  • DEALERS
    DEALERS
    • Find a Local Dealer
    • Find an Online Dealer
    • Dealer Dashboard
  • Support
    Support
    • Product Support
    • Service Network
    • Contact Us
    • FAQs
    • Warranty Registration
  • Gifts
  • Contact Us
  • LOGIN / REGISTER
  • LOGIN / REGISTER
Close Search
Home / Headphone Amplifiers / MHA50
McIntosh MHA50 Portable Decoding Amplifier
McIntosh MHA50 Portable Decoding Amplifier
McIntosh MHA50 Portable Decoding Amplifier
McIntosh MHA50 Portable Decoding Amplifier
McIntosh MHA50 Portable Decoding Amplifier
McIntosh MHA50 Portable Decoding Amplifier
McIntosh MHA50 Portable Decoding Amplifier

MHA50

Portable Decoding Amplifier

  • Smartphone sized headphone amplifier with DAC
  • Digital inputs for iOS, Android and PC/Mac
  • Bluetooth input
  • Supports PCM to 192kHz, DSD128, aptX
BUY ONLINE FIND A DEALER
Eligible for online purchase?
1 Year Limited Warranty
Add to WishlistRemove From Wishlist
Print this page
COMPARE
Ask an Expert
Share

MHA50

Portable Decoding Amplifier

1 Year Limited Warranty
Print this page
COMPARE
Ask an Expert
Share
Add to WishlistRemove From Wishlist
BUY ONLINE FIND A DEALER
  • Made for iPhone and iPad logo
  • Qualcomm aptX logo

Listen to your music with McIntosh sound quality no matter where you go. Your headphones will thank you.

Nearly everyone walks around with most if not all of their music library in their pocket or bag where it’s readily accessible via a pair of headphones. While convenient, it likely doesn’t sound as good as it could. The handheld MHA50 Portable Decoding Amplifier can make your music sound its best – and likely better than you’ve ever heard it before – through your wired headphones.

The MHA50 includes wired inputs for Apple® iOS and Android OTG1 devices plus Mac® and Windows® computers.2 It can also wirelessly connect to these devices via Bluetooth® 4.2 with support for AAC and Qualcomm® aptX™ - a technology that ensures you receive the highest possible sound quality from your Bluetooth source device. Featuring a high-performance 32-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC), it decodes music files from almost any digital source and outputs audio that is superior to what your device alone can produce. It supports 32-bit/192kHz hi-res audio, DSD64, DSD128, DXD352.8, DXD384 files and asynchronous USB audio. Its generous 3,000 mAh rechargeable battery provides up to 6 hours of playback on a single charge when connected to a source device via Bluetooth; playback can last even longer when using the wired connections.

Comparably sized to smartphones, the MHA50 is compact and lightweight for easy portability with a beveled case that fits comfortably in your hand or pocket. Its sleek design features a glass front panel with a touch sensitive volume control knob inspired by the classic knobs found on countless McIntosh amplifiers, preamplifiers and other products. It's built primarily from durable extruded aluminum which also has some inherent noise shielding properties to help block external interference.

Two gain settings allow the MHA50 to work with all types of wired headphones from small in-ear models to large over-ear studio type designs; it can drive headphones with impedances ranging from 8-600 ohms. Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®) brings added dimension to your music in a natural sounding way and can be easily turned on and off depending on your preferences. All audio is output via a gold plated 3.5mm jack that connects the MHA50 to your headphones. This jack can also connect to a pair of powered desktop speakers, allowing the MHA50 to serve as a desktop DAC.

The MHA50 comes complete with a luxurious leather carrying case, a Lightning to USB-A cable for Apple devices, a USB micro-B to USB micro-B cable for Android devices, a USB micro-B to USB-C OTG cable, and a USB micro-B to USB-A cable for Mac and Windows PCs. A wall mount charger with USA plug and adapter for Europe and Japan is also included. Contact your local dealer to learn more.

1) Mobile devices must be Host or Embedded Host capable and support USB Audio Class.
2) See Downloads section for required Windows OS driver. Driver not needed for Mac OS.

“Made for iPhone” and “Made for iPad” mean that an electronic accessory has been designed to connect specifically to iPhone or iPad, respectively, and has been certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards. Apple is not responsible for the operation of this device or its compliance with safety and regulatory standards. Please note that the use of this accessory with iPhone or iPad may affect wireless performance. iPhone and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Individual users are permitted to use iPhone and iPad for private copy and playback of non-copyrighted contents and contents whose copy and playback is permitted by law. Copyright infringement is prohibited by law.

The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by McIntosh Group, Inc. is under license. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.

Qualcomm is a trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other countries. aptX is a trademark of Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd., registered in the United States and other countries. Qualcomm aptX is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

  • Specifications

    Headphone Output Specifications

    • Headphone Power Output
      200mW
    • Headphone Output Impedance
      8-600 Ohms

    Electronic Specifications

    • Rated Power Band
      20Hz to 20kHz
    • Total Harmonic Distortion
      0.005%
    • Frequency Response
      +0, -0.5dB from 20Hz to 50kHz
    • Signal To Noise Ratio
      105dB
    • Preamplifier Output
      1.8V

    Connectivity

    • Headphone Output
      3.5mm with Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®)
    • Digital USB Input
      2 (1 Type A, 1 micro B)
    • Wireless Input
      Bluetooth 4.2 A2DP with support for AAC and aptX
    • Source Support
      Apple iOS devices; Android devices (must be compatible with USB On-The-Go technology to use a wired connection); MacOS & Windows OS computers

    Digital Audio Specifications

    • Digital USB Input Sample Rate
      PCM 16-bit, 24-bit, 32-bit to 192kHz, DSD64, DSD128, DXD352.8, DXD384

    General Specifications

    • Output Meters
      No
    • Vacuum Tube or Solid State
      Solid State
    • Power Requirement
      5V DC, 0.7A
    • Output Type
      N/A
    • Battery Playback Life
      Up to 6 hours with Bluetooth connection; playback can last even longer when using the wired connections
    • Included In The Box
      1 leather carrying case
      1 Lightning to USB-A cable
      1 USB micro-B to USB-A cable
      1 USB micro-B to USB micro-B cable
      1 USB micro-B to USB-C OTG cable
      1 wall mount charger with USA plug and adapter for Europe and Japan
      All cables are 8"/200mm long

    Weights & Dimensions

    • Unit Dimensions (W x H x D)
      2.7" (7cm) x 6.1" (15.5cm) x 0.6" (1.4cm)
    • Unit Weight
      0.5 lbs (0.2 kg)
    • Shipping Weight
      1 lbs (0.5 kg)
  • Downloads

    Product Literature User Documents Software Updates
    • MHA50 Portable Decoding Amplifier Brochure (1.84 MB)
    • MHA50 Portable Decoding Amplifier Operation Guide (3 MB)
    • McIntosh USB Audio Windows Driver G v1.0 (compatible with Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10) (1.6 MB)

More from Headphone Amplifiers

  • Product Placeholder McIntosh MHA200 Vacuum Tube Headphone Amplifier

    MHA200

    2-Channel Vacuum Tube Headphone Amplifier

    • Compact footprint: just 6-1/8" (15.6cm) x 9-1/8" (23.2cm)
    • 4 selectable headphone impedance ranges
    • Balanced and unbalanced analog inputs
    • Balanced stereo or dedicated Left & Right outputs 

  • Product Placeholder McIntosh MHA150 Headphone Amplifier

    MHA150

    2-Channel Headphone Amplifier

    • Supports DSD64, DSD128 & DSD256 files
    • 3 headphone impedance ranges

Headphone Amplifiers

ASK AN EXPERT:

MHA50

Portable Decoding Amplifier

Please Enter First Name
Please Enter Last Name
Please Enter Email Address
Please Enter Message
Captcha validation is required.

* Required Field

Please Fill In All Required Fields.
Submit

Thank you for contacting McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. We will reply to your message as soon as possible.

Compare Products:

PLEASE SELECT PRODUCTS TO COMPARE
  • Product Placeholder McIntosh MHA200 Vacuum Tube Headphone Amplifier

    MHA200

    2-Channel Vacuum Tube Headphone Amplifier

    COMPARE
  • Product Placeholder McIntosh MHA150 Headphone Amplifier

    MHA150

    2-Channel Headphone Amplifier

    COMPARE
  • Product Placeholder McIntosh MHA50 Portable Decoding Amplifier

    MHA50

    Portable Decoding Amplifier

    COMPARE
Compare
  • The Brand
  • Products
  • Systems
  • Automotive
  • Marine
  • Dealer Locator
  • Support
  • Gifts
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter
  • Dealer Dashboard
  • Help
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Recycle
  • Employment
  • Sitemap
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Youtube

McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. - 2 Chambers Street - Binghamton, NY 13903-2699
© 2023 McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.
Designed by Aumcore

I have reviewed and agree to the foregoing Terms & Conditions, including the McIntosh Privacy Policy linked therein. As explained in the Privacy Policy, Our Website uses cookies to improve your experience and to analyze our website traffic. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and use of cookies.

Accept