[TSAVJason]

Hey Jason,

When you can please post those pics. I can’t get it to work. Sorry to hassle you.

Thank you

Hey Jason,

When you can please post those pics. I can’t get it to work. Sorry to hassle you.

Thank you

1st pic shows the output of the MHA150
2nd & 3rd pics shows you the in/out puts

 

[Puroplatino]

1st pic shows the output of the MHA150
2nd & 3rd pics shows you the in/out puts

Thank you for doing this bro…

The output says speakers on the MHA150 but I wanted to plug headphones on the MHA200 and it didn’t work. Is it not possible to run this from MHA150 to MHA200 and listen on the MHA200 through headphones?

 

[u2u2]

Have had the MHA150 on my wish list for a long time. My MHA200/C8 slowed the purchase. Hope the solution here is a simple oversight like I sometimes (often?) make when switching between easy and hard to drive gear... Turning up the output volume on the pre-amp and maybe the MHA200... At 28% output (like in the photo) with hard to drive phones, and the MHA200 at unity, I can't hear a thing. Crank the pre-amp output up and the MHA200 is glorious! Depending on source, 1300 on the MHA200 volume (rarely needed). That impedance switch catches me on occasion as well Hoping Puroplatino finds happiness without grief.

 

[TSAVJason]

Thank you for doing this bro…

The output says speakers on the MHA150 but I wanted to plug headphones on the MHA200 and it didn’t work. Is it not possible to run this from MHA150 to MHA200 and listen on the MHA200 through headphones?

Yes the preamp output of the MHA150 is not engaged unless you have the mha150 in “speaker” output.

 

[Puroplatino]

Yes the preamp output of the MHA150 is not engaged unless you have the mha150 in “speaker” output.

That’s what I was missing: I’ll try and report back. You are a legend mate

 

[Puroplatino]

Yes the preamp output of the MHA150 is not engaged unless you have the mha150 in “speaker” output.

Now we’re talking. Not much power but it works. I had to go full tilt on the MHA200 and use the 600 ohm taps but now it’s beautiful. Thanks man. I really appreciate all your help.

 

[Strat1117]

Still loving my MHA200 after more than a year, don’t understand why the little PIA problems seem to be keeping more people from owning and loving this glorious piece of gear.

That being said, I’ve been using an old Marigo ac cord with a c15>c7 adapter. It works, but isn’t very elegant. I went ahead and purchased a good quality c7 connector to replace the c15 and eliminate the adapter, but I’m not sure what to do with the ground wire, for which there seems to be no spot on the c7 iec plug. Do I connect it to cold (or hot?), can I just cover it with electrical tape and let it float inside the body of the plug, or do I need to create a flying ground and screw it to the back of the amp?

NB: I am NOT looking to debate the merits of upgrading power cords. I have all the parts and it will cost me zero, so I’m going to try it - I just need some real world technical advice on the grounding scheme for the figure 8 receptacle.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated and, of course, I’m hoping @TSAVJason will weigh in here, since I can see in his above photos that he has upgraded the ac cord on his unit as well.

Thank you!

 

[TSAVJason]

Still loving my MHA200 after more than a year, don’t understand why the little PIA problems seem to be keeping more people from owning and loving this glorious piece of gear.

That being said, I’ve been using an old Marigo ac cord with a c15>c7 adapter. It works, but isn’t very elegant. I went ahead and purchased a good quality c7 connector to replace the c15 and eliminate the adapter, but I’m not sure what to do with the ground wire, for which there seems to be no spot on the c7 iec plug. Do I connect it to cold (or hot?), can I just cover it with electrical tape and let it float inside the body of the plug, or do I need to create a flying ground and screw it to the back of the amp?

NB: I am NOT looking to debate the merits of upgrading power cords. I have all the parts and it will cost me zero, so I’m going to try it - I just need some real world technical advice on the grounding scheme for the figure 8 receptacle.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated and, of course, I’m hoping @TSAVJason will weigh in here, since I can see in his above photos that he has upgraded the ac cord on his unit as well.

Thank you!

In every part of the 1st world there are certifications of safety on electronics and Power Cables. Manufacturers let’s provide cables that are pre-certified and cost as little as possible. Example: McIntosh provides a $6 power cable because it doesn’t require thousands of $$ to have a cable certified because a $6 cable is already certified and cheap.

So that’s the manufacturers thinking.

But the reality is almost every manufacturer will tell you that a better power cable will improve amplifier performance and that the cable provided is purely for instant use not so much performance. High performance power cables will cause 99% of non-wall wart power amplifiers to perform better and it does not require big money cables to realize this performance difference. Based on power cables I’m aware of a $60 - $200 budget is more than plenty to get a power cable that will make an MHA200 to perform more dynamically than the factory provided cable. One power cable I find very budget sensitive but a great performance value is a brand called Tributaries made in Florida. We sell them at $100 (I think) and if you buy the mha200 from us you get it included with your purchase.

Your ground wire, if that is your question is a good question. Provide a pic so I can be sure I answer if that is your main question

 

[Strat1117]

In every part of the 1st world there are certifications of safety on electronics and Power Cables. Manufacturers let’s provide cables that are pre-certified and cost as little as possible. Example: McIntosh provides a $6 power cable because it doesn’t require thousands of $$ to have a cable certified because a $6 cable is already certified and cheap.

So that’s the manufacturers thinking.

But the reality is almost every manufacturer will tell you that a better power cable will improve amplifier performance and that the cable provided is purely for instant use not so much performance. High performance power cables will cause 99% of non-wall wart power amplifiers to perform better and it does not require big money cables to realize this performance difference. Based on power cables I’m aware of a $60 - $200 budget is more than plenty to get a power cable that will make an MHA200 to perform more dynamically than the factory provided cable. One power cable I find very budget sensitive but a great performance value is a brand called Tributaries made in Florida. We sell them at $100 (I think) and if you buy the mha200 from us you get it included with your purchase.

Your ground wire, if that is your question is a good question. Provide a pic so I can be sure I answer if that is your main question

Yes, the ground wire is the only question. I have been using upgraded power cables for at least 30 years and think they have as much impact on overall SQ as signal carrying cables, but want to avoid a cable debacle, so I’m deliberately avoiding that part of the conversation. I know I can buy a premade C7 compatible cable, but I already have a very good, spare ac cable with a C15 iec at the amp end, and a good, rhodium plated, solid copper C7 connector I wish to install. My ‘issue’ is what to do with the center (ground) wire, since the C15 has 3 ‘holes’ (one for each of the three conductors), but the C7, obviously, has only two. More specifically, I’m wondering if I’m ok just floating the ground wire inside the C7 connector (i.e., just wrapping it and not connecting it to anything), or do I need to connect it up with the neg. Here’s a photo with the C15 connector open. What I’m asking is what to drive with the middle wire, for which the C7 (figure 8) connector has no ‘slot’.

And since I had it open I took a leap of faith and installed the C7 connector - sounds great, fits MUCH tighter than the C15>C7 adapter I had been using, and I can touch it without getting electrocuted. A total success in my book.

Thanks, @TSAVJason, as always.

Neil

 

[TSAVJason]

Yes, the ground wire is the only question. I have been using upgraded power cables for at least 30 years and think they have as much impact on overall SQ as signal carrying cables, but want to avoid a cable debacle, so I’m deliberately avoiding that part of the conversation. I know I can buy a premade C7 compatible cable, but I already have a very good, spare ac cable with a C15 iec at the amp end, and a good, rhodium plated, solid copper C7 connector I wish to install. My ‘issue’ is what to do with the center (ground) wire, since the C15 has 3 ‘holes’ (one for each of the three conductors), but the C7, obviously, has only two. More specifically, I’m wondering if I’m ok just floating the ground wire inside the C7 connector (i.e., just wrapping it and not connecting it to anything), or do I need to connect it up with the neg. Here’s a photo with the C15 connector open. What I’m asking is what to drive with the middle wire, for which the C7 (figure 8) connector has no ‘slot’.



And since I had it open I took a leap of faith and installed the C7 connector - sounds great, fits MUCH tighter than the C15>C7 adapter I had been using, and I can touch it without getting electrocuted. A total success in my book.


Thanks, @TSAVJason, as always.

Neil

Don’t worry about it. If you’re grounded on at least one side you’re actually creating a shield

 

[u2u2]

Enjoying the MHA200 this afternoon and this thread needs a bump but first a question - Been seriously considering adding a Yamaha YH-5000SE to my setup. Anyone MHA200 users here have experience with pairing the Yamaha with a McIntosh? Recently auditioned a set but that is a long way from living with them and the local "no returns" policy. Appreciate any comments.

 

[TSAVJason]

Enjoying the MHA200 this afternoon and this thread needs a bump but first a question - Been seriously considering adding a Yamaha YH-5000SE to my setup. Anyone MHA200 users here have experience with pairing the Yamaha with a McIntosh? Recently auditioned a set but that is a long way from living with them and the local "no returns" policy. Appreciate any comments.

​

Check out the TSAV YouTube video on exactly this combination.its listed as The Source AV Design Group

 

[Quadfather]

I just began lurking here. The only tube amp I have ever tried is Bottlehead Crack.

 

[Quadfather]

What are some headphones that pair well with this? I am anxious to try my Meze 109 Pro headphones.

 

[TSAVJason]

What are some headphones that pair well with this? I am anxious to try my Meze 109 Pro headphones.

I think it pairs well with nearly every easy to drive headphones. It doesn’t get loud on harder to drive headphones like the 1266 and similar headphones