The MA-230 stereo integrated amplifier boasts two 'firsts' for McIntosh: it was the first integrated stereo amplifier made by this company the first using solid state circuitry. Their promotional literature for this hybrid made a big selling point out of this fact by mentioning that the preamplifier had "twelve solid state devices mounted on a military spec. board".

As the model number suggests, the amplifier had an output of 30 watts per channel. The preamplifier used silicon planar transistors while the power amplifier was all valve, each channel having two 7591 output tubes.

Controls included:
Input selector: (Aux, Tape, Tuner, Phono 1, Phono 2 and Tape HD)
LF filter: 50Hz at 12dB/oct
HF filter: 5k at 12dB/oct
Dual concentric bass and treble controls
Stereo mode selector: L to L+R, R to L+R, stereo rev, stereo, mono (L+R), L+R to L and L+R to R
Stereo balance
Volume
Equalisation switches: RIAA or LP
Tape monitor
Phase: 0 or 180
Loudness compensator

The amplifier presented itself very nicely with a dark glass panel at the top and a lower panel of gold anodized aluminium. Two headphone jacks were provided on the front panel.

In a 1964 test report (reproduced in its entirety in the Test report section), High Fidelity magazine said: "Without doubt, the MA 230 is one of the finest integrated amplifiers available today, being both magnificently constructed and a pleasure to operate."

Price when new was $US 349.00. A very nice example in excellent working order can fetch up to $1,200 at internet auction. A good working example but with broken glass faceplate only reached $550.

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Photographs courtesy of Barry Nachman