McIntosh Details MC257 7-Channel Power Amplifier

A new premium home theater amp has been revealed.

McIntosh has announced its latest audio component, the MC257 7-Channel Power Amplifier. The amp is set to start shipping this month for an MSRP of $10,000.

When using only the front left, center, and right channels, power output is rated for 250 Watts per channel. Meanwhile, when using all 7 channels, the unit is rated for 200 Watts per channel. Likewise, the unit supports 4 or 8 Ohm speakers via McIntosh's Dynamic Power Manager (DPM) tech. In addition, the amp incorporates the company's new TripleView Power Output Meter. The 15" (38 cm) wide TripleView meter displays the real time power reading of the device's three front channels with the ability to turn McIntosh's trademarked blue lighting or on off.

Monogrammed Heatsinks, a toroidal isolation power transformer, Power Guard tech, and Sentry Monitor tech are all integrated as well. In addition, speaker terminals with McIntosh's standard gold-plated binding posts, and balanced and unbalanced inputs are also included. Finally, the amp offers a polished stainless steel chassis, a black glass front panel, illuminated logo, control knobs, and aluminum end caps.

Here's a full rundown of key specs per McIntosh:

• Power Output per Channel - 3 Front Channels only: 250W @ 4 or 8 Ohms, All 7 Channels: 200W @ 4 or 8 Ohms
• Number of Channels - 7 (can also be used as a 2-zone amplifier with 5 channels in zone A and 2 channels in zone B)
• Total Harmonic Distortion - 0.005%
• S/N below rated output - 108dB
• Dynamic Headroom - 3.3dB
• Damping Factor - >70 @ 4 Ohms, >140 @ 8 Ohms
• Rated Power Band - 20Hz to 20kHz
• Frequency Response - +0, -0.25dB from 20Hz to 20,000Hz, +0, -3dB from 10Hz to 100,000Hz
• Remote Power Control - Yes, 7 or 5 + 2 Channel
• Multi-Channel DB25 Cable - Yes
• Circuit Configuration - Push-Pull Complementary
• Circuit Design - Solid State
• Mono Bridge - No
• Mono Parallel - No
• Output Type - Direct Coupled with Dynamic Power Manager®
• Meters - Yes
• Meter Light Switch - Yes
• Balanced Input - 7
• Front Panel - Glass
• Illumination - Direct LED
• Chassis Style - Polished stainless steel & black painted steel

Source: McIntosh