McIntosh MP100 Phono Preamplifier

Like all McIntosh products, the MP100 is packed with features designed specifically for the vinyl lover including: Moving Coil (MC) and Moving Magnet (MM) inputs; Moving Coil and Moving Magnet adjustable loading (6 settings each); balanced and unbalanced analog outputs; optical, coax and USB digital outputs; and a "Mono" switch for playing mono records to decrease noise and play the signal correctly.

There are many ways to integrate the MP100 into an audio system. If someone is just building their system, it can become the main part of the setup. For someone who already has a system with an older, but functional, preamp, the MP100 is an excellent way to add modern phono features. For home theater systems where a turntable is desired, the MP100 is an easy way to add full phono preamp capabilities without having to purchase a full-sized stereo preamp that would undoubtedly duplicate many of the home theater processor’s features.

When used with a properly configured conversion program, the MP100 can “rip” vinyl to a computer via USB to produce high quality digital files. The digital outputs are fixed at 24-bit/96kHz to capture the full dynamic range of a record while optimizing digital file size. If an album has a very loud section, the digital output clipping protection prevents harsh sounding and speaker damaging distortion from being recorded to the file.

Compact in size at just 3” tall, it shares the same 11.5” narrow chassis design as the MXA70 Integrated Audio System, MHA100 Headphone Amp and MB50 Streaming Audio Player to help build a cohesive system. It can also easily be added to a system comprised of standard, wider width chassis.

• Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.005%
• Frequency Response: ±0.3dB from 20Hz to 20,000Hz
• Maximum Volts Out (Balanced / Unbalanced): 16/8 V RMS
• Input Impedance: Moving Coil: 25, 50, 100, 200, 400 or 1k Ohms; 470pF / Moving Magnet: 47k Ohms; 50, 100, 150, 200, 300 or 400pF
• Phono Voltage Gain: Moving Coil: 60dB / Moving Magnet: 40dB
• Signal To Noise Ratio: Moving Coil: 78dB / Moving Magnet: 80dB
• Maximum Input Signal (Moving Coil): 8mV
• Maximum Input Signal (Moving Magnet): 80mV
• Maximum Input Signal (Balanced/Unbalanced): N/A
• Sensitivity Phono MC/MM: 1mV / 10mV
• Sensitivity (Balanced/Unbalanced): N/A
• Rated Output: 2V Balanced / 1V Unbalanced
• Output Impedance: 200 Ohms Balanced / 100 Ohms Unbalanced
• Phono Equalization Curves: 1 - RIAA
• Noise Filters: 0
• Phono Profiles: 0
• Phono Input Moving Coil/Moving Magnet: 1 (adjustable) / 1 (adjustable)
• Phono Input Universal: 0
• Balanced Line Input (Balanced / Unbalanced): 0
• Fixed Output (Balanced / Unbalanced): 1 Stereo / 1 Stereo
• Digital Coaxial Output: 1
• Digital Optical Output: 1
• Digital USB Audio Output: 1
• Unbalanced Analog Connector Type: Standard
• Power Control Input: 1
• Power Control Output: 1
• Digital Output Sample Rate: Optical: PCM - 24-bit/96kHz; Coaxial: PCM - 24-bit/96kHz; USB: PCM - 24-bit/96kHz
• Output Meters: No
• Power Consumption (On): 8 Watts
• Dimensions: 11.5" (29.2cm) x 3.78125" (9.6cm) x 16.75" (42.5cm)
• Weight: Net 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg)