The MHT300 is a home theater receiver by McIntosh. It is a 7-channel design using a D output stage. A minimum impedance of 4 ohms makes it compatible with a wide range of loudspeakers. The McIntosh MHT300 has an MSRP of $9,500.
Performance Specs
One of the most important factors when deciding on a home theater receiver is its power ratings and compatibility with your speaker's impedance requirements. The McIntosh MHT300 is rated at 120 watts RMS into 8-ohms (2 channels driven).
Here are the main highlights of its performance specs:
- 120 watts into 8-ohms
- 4-ohms Min Impedance (allows compatibility with a wide range of loudspeakers)
How loud will 120 watts actually play in your room? →
Wiring more than one pair of speakers to it? Check the load first →
Need more power?
McIntosh MHT300 is rated at 120 watts into 8 ohms, which puts it in our 91 to 120 watts band. The next band up is 121 to 180 watts, which is worth about 1.5dB more output. That is a real difference in headroom on peaks, and a modest one in how loud the system plays - power and loudness are not the same thing.
Before buying watts, check what your speakers actually need: the amp and speaker matcher works it out from their sensitivity, impedance and your room. Plenty of systems are better served by the 61 to 90 watts band and better speakers.
When pairing the McIntosh MHT300 with a passive Bookshelf (Stand mount) or Passive Floor Standing (Tower) speaker, you have to check if their Max Power Range is below the max wattage of the amp for the given impedance levels.
Operating your amp outside of this max range may damage the speakers.
Inputs and Outputs
Besides the performance specs of the McIntosh MHT300, the next important feature set that you have to evaluate is the input and output selections that it offers.
Inputs
- 2 Optical Digital Input
- 2 Coaxial Digital Input
Outputs
- Speaker Outputs
- 11.2-channel Preamp Outputs
- Subwoofer Output (Dual)
- HDMI Output (1)
Phono Input
McIntosh MHT300 doesn't have a phono input so in order to play your vinyl albums, McIntosh MHT300 has to be paired with a Phono Preamp that is MM (Moving Magnet) or/and MC (Moving COil) depending on your cartridge type.
Surround Sound and Channels
McIntosh MHT300 is a 7.2-channel receiver, powering 7 speakers directly - the .2 is 2 subwoofer outputs, not extra amplified channels. It decodes Dolby Atmos, DTS:X.
Video and HDMI
An AV receiver is the switch every source passes through on its way to the
television, so what it can carry sets a ceiling on the rest of the system.
- Pass-through: 8K/60Hz, 4K/120Hz
- HDMI version: 2.1
Room Correction
McIntosh MHT300 includes
Dirac Live.
Room correction measures the speakers where they actually stand and corrects
for what the room does to them, which in a multi-channel system matters more
than in a stereo one - the surround and height channels are usually the ones
placed where they fit rather than where they should be.
McIntosh MHT300 Pros and Cons
Drawn from the published figures on this page, not from listening.
- ✓Power is quoted honestly both ways: 120 watts with two channels driven and 120 with all of them, which is the figure that applies to a film.
- ✓7 channels of amplification on board.
- ✓4 HDMI inputs and 1 output, HDMI 2.1.
- ✓Video passthrough at 8K/60Hz, 4K/120Hz.
- ✓Decodes Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
- ✓Room correction: Dirac Live.
- ✓Subwoofer outputs: Dual - more than one sub is the cheapest route to even bass in a real room.
- Nothing the published specs count against it.
McIntosh MHT300 External Dimensions and Weight
McIntosh MHT300 has external dimensions of (H x W x D) (157.2 x 444.5 x 544.6mm ). The unit weighs
12.25 kg (27 lbs).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a home theater receiver may become an important decision factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of the McIntosh MHT300 is approximately 2420.7cm2 / 375.2inch2.
- Width: 444.5mm (17.5")
- Height: 157.2mm (6.19")
- Depth: 544.6mm (21.44")
- Weight: 12.25 kg (27 lbs)
- Base Surface Area: ~2420.7cm2 / 375.2inch2
- Volume: ~38.1 liter / 10.0 gallon
| General |
| Brand |
McIntosh |
| Full Model Name |
McIntosh MHT300 |
| Amplifier Type |
Home Theater Receiver |
| Number of Channels |
7 |
| Amp Class |
D |
| Amplifier Technology |
Solid State |
| Performance |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 8-ohms |
120 watts |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 6-ohms |
N/A |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 4-ohms |
N/A |
| Frequency Bandwidth |
|
| THD |
|
| Minimum Impedance |
4 |
| Signal to Noise Ratio |
N/A |
| CONNECTIONS |
| Total Analog Inputs |
0 |
| Phono Input |
No |
| Optical Digital Inputs |
2 |
| Coaxial Digital Inputs |
2 |
| USB Input |
No |
| Preamp Outputs |
11.2-channel |
| Removable Power Cord |
|
| PHYSICAL SPECS |
| Height |
157.2mm (6.19") |
| Width |
444.5mm (17.5") |
| Depth |
544.6mm (21.44") |
| Weight |
12.25 kg (27 lbs) |
| OTHER |
| Parts Warranty |
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
What amplifier class is the McIntosh MHT300?
The McIntosh MHT300 uses a Class D amplifier design. Class D is a modern switching design that runs cool and wastes very little energy as heat, which is how makers fit high power into a compact, light chassis.
Can I connect a turntable to the McIntosh MHT300?
No. The McIntosh MHT300 has no phono input, so a turntable needs an external phono preamp (or a deck with one built in) before it can be connected.
Can I connect a subwoofer to the McIntosh MHT300?
Yes. The McIntosh MHT300 has dual subwoofer outputs, so you can add a powered subwoofer to extend the low end below what your main speakers manage.
How much does the McIntosh MHT300 cost?
The McIntosh MHT300 has a manufacturer's list price (MSRP) of $9,500.
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