McIntosh makes its high-end audio tech portable

said braka 1:06 AM
Boutique audio gear like the

mighty MA9000 and the gorgeous MC275 from New York's McIntosh Labs is generally big, blocky and booming. Even its headphone amp tips the scales at over 25 pounds. But now this monstrous personal listening enhancer is about to get a smartphone-sized sibling designed for on-the-move music lovers – the MHA50 Portable Decoding Amplifier.
Though the pocket-friendly dimensions (2.7 x 6.1 x 0.6 in/7 x 15.5 x 1.4 cm) of the MHA50 mean that the trademark McIntosh blue backlit power meters are obviously not included, the so-called Portable Decoding Amplifier does sport the familiar mix of pale blue, jet black and blackletter logo. It's mostly aluminum housing is topped with a glass front panel that includes a touch-enabled circular volume control dial.