Mcintosh amps

[Nightbrace]

What Mcintsh amplifier would open my eyes to what I've been missing out on at a reasonable price? ($300-$500). The general concensus seems to be that JBL and Mcintosh go together like peas and carrots. Power rating is not too much of a concern, but overall value is as well as sound quality. Just was wondering if you guys has a model number to recommend. 50 watts a channel is more than enough for me.

[hapy._.face]

McIntosh amps are nice. IMO, they don't command the insane prices these days because they sound equally as nice. 3-5 is not much to work with in the land of today's McIntosh figures. You might be able to pick up one of the older solid state duds for that price- but they are easily bested. A few questions:

Tube or ss?
Will you be running the bottom end with this amp?
What speakers are you driving?


My opinion is that you can do better for the money of most McIntosh's. There is no doubt they are beautiful and they sound very nice. Even those who remember the days when you could pick these up for cheap are stunned at the money they command on ebay these days.

[Nightbrace]

I will be using it as a full range set-up SS is fine, and I agree, but don't want to spend more than $500 as I know what I can get for under that, just thought I'd try one to see what all the buzz is about. The speakers I need to run are Altec Model 19's.

[Mr. Widget]

What Mcintsh amplifier would open my eyes to what I've been missing out on at a reasonable price? ($300-$500). I think the only choices in your price range would be the MC-250 or the MC-2100. They are styled to look like their older tubed siblings but are not really examples of what a Mac can sound like... in your price range, I think I'd look at the more affordable mosfet amps.


Widget

[remusr]

You'd be a lucky man to find a worthwhile Mac power amp for under $1500. Try a Hafler, suggestions in order are Transnova 9505, PE 500, DH500 or DH220. Good MOSFET sound, reliable, fixable, quiet and and solid bass. But you are stuck with 250wpc for the first 3 and 110wpc for the 220, much more than your desired 50wpc, dang.

[SUPERBEE]

http://www.sretenovicaudio.com/mc275.GIF
I promise you wont regret it.

[Mr. Widget]

Cool... but they cost 10 times what he wants to spend...


Widget

[SUPERBEE]

Cool... but they cost 10 times what he wants to spend...


Widget

I know that Widget

What I am saying is to spend the money now. Take out a loan, Borrow from your soon to be ex-girlfriend, Sell the wife and kids, do whatever you need to do to buy a good Mac tube amp now. It will sound wonderfull and go up in value.

Thats win/win right there Pal

I bought my MC 75s in 1990 and thought I was an idiot spending what I did. SMARTEST move I ever made.

[Mr. Widget]

Selling your kids.... hmmm, now that didn't occur to me.

Damn, I never thought there was a good reason to have them and now that you've proven me wrong I could use a couple... oh well.;)



Widget

[SUPERBEE]

Selling your kids.... hmmm, now that didn't occur to me.

Damn, I never thought there was a good reason to have them and now that you've proven me wrong I could use a couple... oh well.;)



Widget


In the pursuit of JBL and Mcintosh its just like Henny Youngman said

"Take my wife, please"

[boputnam]

...Try a Hafler...Yea, Ken Patchkowsky had good results from them, for years. He had quite a few of them... ;)

[hapy._.face]

Hi NightBrace,

....back to your original post- you wanted to 'know what you've been mising'. I think you mean- "what is the whole McIntosh thing all about", right? I hate to break it to you- but buying a lesser model won't tell you anything. McIntosh made some duds, and still does. In order to experience what a McIntosh can do- you need to get one of the better ones. I still say you can do better for the money. Especially when the "money" is 3-5 hundred. That will barely buy a McIntosh logo- let alone signature performance.

Look into other options- You're obviously a very smart guy. 3-5 bills will net a multitude of great all around solid state performers. If your heart is dead set on them- Widget's suggestion is a good one.

[SUPERBEE]

My first Mac piece was a beat to shit 1700 that I got for $200. That thing sounded way better than any receiver I had owned up to that point. Thats what brought me to the 75s.

I liked the sound of the 1700 so much I have a nice clean one powering my bedroom system

[Mr. Widget]

If your heart is dead set on them- Widget's suggestion is a good one.I thought my suggestion was to get a mosfet amp... from someone else...

However if the McIntosh logo is what is sought, there are options even in that price range.


Widget

[SUPERBEE]

Sell the children
Sell the children

[Rusnzha]

I got a 1900 for $270 off ePay. I had to put some work into it and I got about $400 in it now. I like it better than anything else that I had connected to my L100s. There may be better bedroom stereos out there, but it don't matter to me!

[Shane Shuster]

McIntosh sound is mostly about polished stainless and big blue meters. For 3-500 a new amp from brands like ATI, Rotel, ect. would be a much better buy I think.

[JBL Dog]

I know that Widget

What I am saying is to spend the money now. Take out a loan, Borrow from your soon to be ex-girlfriend, Sell the wife and kids, do whatever you need to do to buy a good Mac tube amp now. It will sound wonderfull and go up in value.

Thats win/win right there Pal

I bought my MC 75s in 1990 and thought I was an idiot spending what I did. SMARTEST move I ever made.

Yup, no doubt Mac tube gear is a good investment. I bought an MC240, C22 and an MR66 five years ago and it's already doubled in value. At the time I was concerned I was spending too much.

[SUPERBEE]

McIntosh sound is mostly about polished stainless and big blue meters. For 3-500 a new amp from brands like ATI, Rotel, ect. would be a much better buy I think.


No, Mcintosh sound is mostly about............"My god that sounds great"

[Shane Shuster]

No, Mcintosh sound is mostly about............"My god that sounds great"

I own a McIntosh. In the price range he would be better off with a different brand. If he wanted to spend more a TacT or other room correction system would make a much bigger difference.

[Triumph Don]

Nightbrace, with a little patience look for the following: MC 250 [50 WPC], MC 752 [75 WPC] and 754 [100 WPC], a 2100 [100 WPC] and a 2120 [120 WPC]. All can be bought for $500 or less. The 7 series does not have the McIntosh "autoformers" which lets the amp perform the same at any load impedience. Some say the autoformers color the the sound somewhat. I tend to agree, but this [IMO!] is one reason that gives the McIntosh such a great sound.

[JBLnsince1959]

I own a McIntosh. In the price range he would be better off with a different brand. .

I agree to a point. I've been listening to Mac's and JBL's now for 35 years. Getting a GOOD Under $500 Mac is tough..the 2100 comes to mind..BUT depends on what speakers you're wanting to hook it up to..some speakers need more head room.

Exactly what speaker are you planning to mate this with ( I must have missed that)

Personally IMHO to get the "real" MAC sound your need some cash...

[Hornblower]

Hope i dont get flamed here! LOl.

I had a mc 2300 , weighed in at around 120lbs!! :blink:

the sound was from my point of view a little too "laid back" , velvet definately, but just too dreamy sounding for my liking. I am now using a classe CAV 150, which i picked up used from a dealer here in Mexico, I would say it is as velvety (nearly) but has the ability to stand up and flap my sva2100's into a frenzy.

Just MHO.

regards
Gareth

[Coolmac55]

McIntosh MC 502 Power Amplifier is inexpensive at the moment. Macs are well made and hold their value, or appreciate. Figure about $500 for a clean one on eBay. It's just a power amp, so you'll need a preamp if you're playing records, but if just a CD player I think you can skip the preamp.

[Audiobeer]

Theres a real nice 5100 on ebay right now that I was going to pull the trigger on.......but I'm learning to deal with my audio compulsiveness....ah for now. :o:

[Triumph Don]

After a few contacts with the thread starter, he is not really interested in buying, but I'm sure he appreciates the attention!

[Audiobeer]

I think you are accurate! :D

[duaneage]

we have come to expect this of Nightbrace in a fun sort of way.

[altecjunky]

I have a Mcintosh 2300 and yes its a nice amp. I bought it almost a year ago to replace my phase linear 400. And let me tell ALL you mac fans! The 2300 at 300wpc virses the phase 400 at 200wpc side by side the mac didnt stand a chance. I dont know if the output transformers is what muds up the fq response . That 400 tingles on the high notes and just pounds on the low notes. The mac is a better built amp but let me tell you for the money the phase linear is by fare the best bang for your buck. And no need for the phase 700(way to much power) the 400 will run what ever you have. On ebay you can buy one of these for less then $250.00 and you wont be disappointed!

[Triumph Don]

Never owned a Phase amp, but my 54 yr old tech refers to them as "time bombs". Could this be the reason for the less than stunning resale value?

[scott fitlin]

Phase Linears sounded good back in the day, but, they were notorious for blowing up, and taking the speakers with them. Especially the 700, although it had a much larger power transformer than the competitions DC-300A, and was known to kick really hard, they also burned up many a woofer and speaker system and themselves too.

There,s a reason they earned the nickname " Flame Linear " !

[Nipper]

Phase Linears sounded good back in the day, but, they were notorious for blowing up, and taking the speakers with them. Especially the 700, although it had a much larger power transformer than the competitions DC-300A, and was known to kick really hard, they also burned up many a woofer and speaker system and themselves too.

There's a reason they earned the nickname " Flame Linear " !

In all fairness, most of the reason they got that name was from people who didnt know what they were doing. These were not an amp for a novice. One wrong move will cost you a set of speakers or a trip to the shop. Every time. Trust me!

I have two of them I purchased new with a PL 4000 pre amp. The only trouble I ever had was what I caused. :D

They are still plenty impressive.

[Allanvh5150]

Its a better idea to keep an eye on Ebay and wait for a Mesa Boogie Strategy 500 to come up. They sometimes sell for about $700 wich is an absolute steal. They are something like 250 watts per channel Simul-Class which means they run Class A and Class AB at the same time. And they are all tube and handmade. :)

[hawk900]

Actually the McIntosh tube amps are their down fall. In 67 when a new engineer took over with solid state(1st MC2505) that's where the quality and value come in plus spec like no other amp around.
MC2300specs:
ELECTRICAL: 300w/ch. (600w mono). Response 20-20kHz (+0 -0.5dB). Distortion 0.25%. Noise and hum -90dB. Output impedance 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 ohms. (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 ohms in mono). Damping factor 14 or greater. Input impedance 200k. Input sensitivity 0.5v. Sentry Monitor.

FRONT PANEL: Anodized gold and black panel. Power level (meters read +3 at 300w). Gain controls. Meter range sw: -20, -10, 0, and off. Power sw: on or off. Handles.

BACK PANEL: Output barrier strips. Audio inputs. Mode sw: stereo or mono. Circuit breaker. Dual cooling fans.
retailed for $1800 in 77
Size 19" rack mounting. 10-1/2"H and 17"D. Weight 128 lb Sold from 1971-1980. Last retail price
$1799.00
Just price an MC2300 and the 2100,250,100
Yes JBL E-120's 8ohm suit and have the highest specs of any speaker with a 4'' voice and largest sensitivity range. Best amp ever for guitar post pre amp aka fender blackface tone stack.
hawk.

[Allanvh5150]

Yes JBL E-120's 8ohm suit and have the highest specs of any speaker with a 4'' voice and largest sensitivity range. Best amp ever for guitar post pre amp aka fender blackface tone stack.
hawk.

Just curious but are you comparing a Fender Twin Blackface to a Mesa Strategy 500? From memory the E130 shares the same spec as the E120 but offers 2db more.

Allan.