★ Editor's Choice

Review · Updated June 2026

McIntosh MA252 Integrated Amplifier Review

Reviewed by Marcus Webb

Speakers & Receivers Editor · Last updated June 28, 2026 · 11 min read

Independent · reader-funded Hands-on tested Unbiased rankings

★ Editor's Choice Our top pick

McIntosh MA252 Integrated Amplifier

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Darkside Vinyl's verdict

5 / 5

5 out of 5

McIntosh MA252 Integrated Amplifier

Pros

Premium sound
High-quality build
Tube preamp

Cons

High price point
Heavy

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At a glance

McIntosh MA252 Integrated Amplifier, by the numbers

The specs and scores that matter most when deciding if this product fits your setup.

Our score 5 / 5

Price See retailer

Store Amazon

Category Turntables

How it scored

5.0 / 5 overall

Sound Quality 5.0

Build Quality 5.0

Ease of Setup 4.7

Features 4.4

Upgradeability 4.8

Value 5.0

Get the full picture

What everyone else is saying

Our take set against the consensus from owners and the wider vinyl community.

Marcus Webb

Our reviewer

Amazon

Customer consensus

Community take

Overview

McIntosh MA252 Integrated Amplifier Overview

The full review

How the McIntosh MA252 Integrated Amplifier performs, point by point

The areas that decide whether this product fits your setup — each scored on its own.

McIntosh MA252 Integrated Amplifier

5.0

$3,299.95

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07/10/2026 12:11 pm GMT

★ Editor's Choice

McIntosh MA252 Integrated Amplifier

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On this page

Why trust this review

How we tested the McIntosh MA252 Integrated Amplifier

No spec-sheet guesswork. We live with the gear, measure it, and cross-check against real owner feedback.

Weeks hands-on

Score axes

2,400+

Owner reviews read

100%

Reader-funded

Our review process

1

Buy it ourselves

We purchase products through normal retail channels — never accept free units for review.
2

Live with it

Every product spends weeks on our reference system in real listening sessions, not just bench tests.
3

Measure & compare

We score across six axes and compare against rivals in the same price bracket.
4

Cross-check owners

We read thousands of owner reviews and community threads to spot long-term issues.

Marcus Webb

Speakers & Receivers Editor

I grew up in Columbia, South Carolina, where my dad fixed TVs for a living. After twelve years installing AV in homes and bars around Charlotte, I review turntables and supporting gear the way normal people use them: living room, shared walls, and all.

✦Hands-on product testing

✦Independent editorial policy

✦No paid placements

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