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  1. Home
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  3. PS Audio PMG S200 vs McIntosh MC152
PS Audio PMG S200 vs McIntosh MC152
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PS Audio PMG S200

Power Amplifier | 100 watts RMS into 8-ohms

PS Audio PMG S200
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McIntosh MC152

Power Amplifier | 150 watts RMS into 8-ohms

McIntosh MC152
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PS Audio PMG S200 PS Audio PMG S200
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McIntosh MC152 McIntosh MC152
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PS Audio PMG S200
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McIntosh MC152
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PS Audio PMG S200 vs McIntosh MC152 Power Amplifier Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing PMG S200 and MC152, two Power Amplifiers from PS Audio and McIntosh. Let's have a brief look at the main features of PS Audio PMG S200 and McIntosh MC152 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key SpecsPS Audio PMG S200McIntosh MC152
BrandPS Audio
United States · founded 1973
McIntosh
United States · founded 1949
PowerFirst 10W per channel in Class A. Damping factor over 240 at 8 ohms.150 watts x 2
Amplifier classClass A/ABClass A/B
Built-in DACNo—
Phono inputNo—
Headphone outputNo—
BluetoothNo—
Weight25.50kg / 56.1lbs—
Dimensions (H x W x D)8.00" x 17.50" x 16.00"
203.2 x 444.5 x 406.4 mm
6" x 17-1/2" x 21"

The rest of this page covers where each one wins, how they compare in size, their inputs and outputs, the full specifications and a verdict.


Reasons to choose PS Audio PMG S200 over McIntosh MC152

Reasons to choose McIntosh MC152 over PS Audio PMG S200
MSRP Price(*) 6,500USD vs 7,999USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
Watts into 8-ohms 150 watts vs 100 watts Delivers higher power into 8-ohms speakers
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) 0.005% vs under 0.002% typical, 20Hz to 20kHz at 1W into 8 ohms Less Harmonic Distortion
Total Analog Inputs 2 vs 1 More options for connecting Analog sources
Height 0mm vs 203mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces

Inputs and Outputs

The input and output selections that are offered is an important factor when comparing two amplifiers. Here you can find how the I/O selections of the PS Audio PMG S200 and McIntosh MC152 differs from each other.

PS Audio PMG S200 Inputs
  • Total Number of Analog Inputs: 1
  • RCA Line Input
  • XLR Input Port
McIntosh MC152 Inputs
  • Total Number of Analog Inputs: 2
Outputs
Outputs

Balanced connections

PS Audio PMG S200 has balanced XLR connections and McIntosh MC152 does not. A balanced cable carries the signal twice, on two conductors of opposite polarity. Interference picked up along the way lands on both equally and cancels when the two are recombined at the far end, so the longer the cable run and the noisier the surroundings, the more it is worth. Whether it also yields more power depends on how the amplifier is built inside - some are balanced end to end, others convert to single-ended internally and deliver the same either way.

PS Audio PMG S200 vs McIntosh MC152 full specifications

Every spec we hold for both, side by side
SpecificationPS Audio PMG S200McIntosh MC152
Overview
BrandPS AudioMcIntosh
TypeStereo Power AmplifierStereo Power Amplifier
Channels22
Amplifier classClass A/ABClass A/B
Output devicesSolid StateSolid State
Released20262015
List price$7,999$6,500
SeriesPMG–
Power and performance
Power into 8 ohms100 W RMS150 W RMS
Power into 4 ohms200 W RMS–
Power, as ratedFirst 10W per channel in Class A. Damping factor over 240 at 8 ohms.150 watts x 2
Minimum impedance–2 ohms
THDunder 0.002% typical, 20Hz to 20kHz at 1W into 8 ohms0.005%
Frequency bandwidth–20 Hz-20 kHz
Digital and DAC
Built-in DACNo–
Network and streaming
Wi-FiNo–
BluetoothNo–
Inputs
Analogue inputs12
RCA inputsYes–
XLR inputsYes–
Phono inputNo–
HDMI inputNo–
Outputs
Headphone outputNo–
Speaker terminalsBinding postsBinding posts
Speaker outputs–2
Features and control
CD playerNoNo
Handheld remoteNo–
Physical
Dimensions (H x W x D)203.2 x 444.5 x 406.4 mm–
Dimensions, inches8.00 x 17.50 x 16.00 inch–
Weight25.50 kg (56.22 lbs)–
FinishesBlack, Silver–
Removable power cordIECIEC 3-prong
Parts warranty3 Years3 Years
Labour warranty3 Years3 Years

A dash means the manufacturer does not publish that figure, or it does not apply. 34 specifications compared.

Verdict

No single best amplifier here. What decides it is what you have to drive, what you need to plug in, and how much of the system you want in one box.

AreaBetterWhy
PowerBMcIntosh MC152 has more power - 150W against 100W into 8 ohms. That is about 1.8dB, which is a small step in loudness but real headroom on peaks.
Analogue inputsBMcIntosh MC152 takes more analogue sources - 2 against 1.
Amplifier classdependsPS Audio PMG S200 is Class A/AB and McIntosh MC152 is Class A/B. Class A/B runs warm and is the long-established mainstream choice. Modern examples of both measure well - judge by the rest of the page.
PriceBMcIntosh MC152 costs less - $6,500 against $7,999 at list.
Watts per dollarBMcIntosh MC152 is the cheaper watt - about $43 per watt against $80. A blunt measure, and it says nothing about how either sounds, but it is the honest one for raw output.

A PS Audio PMG S200  B McIntosh MC152
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both amplifiers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.

Which should you choose?

McIntosh MC152 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take PS Audio PMG S200 if one of the "depends" rows above describes your system.

What a spec sheet cannot show: how either sounds with your speakers, how the controls feel day to day, and what the app is like to live with - which is where most all-in-one amplifiers are actually won or lost. Power figures are the manufacturers' own and are not measured to a common standard, so treat small differences as noise. If you can hear both, that will tell you more than any row above.

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