MA8950 vs Dan D'Agostino Pendulum
The Pendulum's power @ 8ω is 120W against the MA8950's 200W and its signal-to-noise 70 dB against 113 dB. Both share bit depth (32-bit) and max sample rate (384 kHz).
AI-generated product photo — not official manufacturer imagery.
Estimated price (community-sourced)
Around — community and catalog average, updates slowly
The McIntosh MA8950 Integrated Amplifier offers 200 watts per channel and combines McIntosh's amplification expertise and preamplifier technologies into one comprehensive stereo sound system component. It replaces the award-winning MA8900 and adds significant performance enhancements including a 55% increase in dynamic headroom (from 2.0dB to 3.1dB) for superior reproduction of musical peaks with less distortion and improved bass control. The amplifier features upgraded power supply components for lower noise emission and reliability, powerful control microprocessors for smooth system operation, and state-of-the-art audio-grade circuit components. Key protective technologies include Power Guard® which monitors input and output signals to prevent distortion and clipping, and Sentry Monitor™ fuse-less short-circuit protection. The unit includes a discrete five-band tone control for manual analog adjustment at 30Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, 2kHz, and 10kHz frequencies, gold-plated speaker binding posts, and power control outputs for connected McIntosh components. The MA8950 is Roon Tested certified.
Amplification power output and characteristics
Analog signal output specifications
Input and output connections
Size, weight, and appearance
Specifications are community-contributed and may not be accurate or complete. Verify all details with the manufacturer before making purchasing decisions. Terms & Conditions
Components that show up alongside the MA8950 in real systems. A verdict means the pair has been checked for compatibility and headroom — open it to see how the two get along.
The closest alternatives on specs, description and the systems they turn up in, with the specs they share set side by side.
The Pendulum's power @ 8ω is 120W against the MA8950's 200W and its signal-to-noise 70 dB against 113 dB. Both share bit depth (32-bit) and max sample rate (384 kHz).
The Michi X3's max sample rate is 768 kHz against the MA8950's 384 kHz and its thd 0.008% against 0.005%. Both share power @ 8ω (200W) and bit depth (32-bit).
The MSA5500's power @ 8ω is 100W against the MA8950's 200W and its signal-to-noise 110 dB against 113 dB. Both share bit depth (32-bit) and max sample rate (384 kHz).
The Platina's max sample rate is 768 kHz against the MA8950's 384 kHz and its signal-to-noise 110 dB against 113 dB. Both share power @ 8ω (200W) and bit depth (32-bit).
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