McIntosh has launched the MI502 2-channel digital amplifier, a powerful and highly versatile Class D power amp that’s set to expand the company’s uncompromising ‘Ci-Fi’ (custom install fidelity) portfolio. The MI502 offers 500 watts of power into 8 ohms or 800 watts into 4 ohms, it uses closed-loop digital switching technology with resilient power supplies to produce “groundbreaking performance levels for custom install”.
The MI502 can be configured to power the front left and right speakers in a home cinema system; drive two in-wall subwoofers; a pair could drive the three front channels of a home cinema plus one subwoofer; or even power a pair of outdoor speakers; multiple MI502s could also be used to power a distributed home audio system. Rack-mountable with a 2U height, the MI502’s highly efficient Class D amplifier means the amplifier does not require cooling fans to maintain nominal operating temperature, despite its high power.
Blue Watt meters display the power output of each channel, while multi-colour LED indicators display the status of each channel. The rear panel includes a pair of balanced and unbalanced inputs to connect to preamplifiers, and a pair of McIntosh’s standard five-way speaker binding posts
The MI502 also benefits from several proprietary McIntosh technologies including Power Guard signal overload technology that prevents overdriving the speakers and Sentry Monitor short-circuit protection that disengages the output stage before current exceeds safe operating levels and then resets automatically when operating conditions return to normal
Shipping is expected in November 2022 (United States and Canada), and the rest of the world, shortly thereafter, price £5,995.