Macintosh MC2100.

[Doc Mark]

Greetings, Friends,

Yesterday, at a local swap meet, I found a Macintosh MC2100 power amp for sale, along with a preamp. The seller was asking $800 for the Mac amp, but was offering it "on consignment", and so knew nothing about it. I can say that the preamp looked a bit too tired and beat, and I had no interest in it. It's price, FWI, was $600. The amp chassis looked a little corroded, but could be cleaned up, I'm sure. However, my thought is that, if the previous owner did not care enough about his amp to keep it nice a clean, then who knows the condition of the guts inside it!??! Any thoughts, comments, or suggestions? Thanks, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

[Triumph Don]

$600 is way too much for a rough 2100 IMO. Here are a few past eBay sales.




McIntosh MC 2100 Audiophile Power Amp MC2100 Amplifier

17$433.88

$29.75 Sep-08 19:40
McIntosh 2100 Amplifier--No Reserve--Starts at $1


16$182.50
Pickup only: FreeSep-08 18:11
Vintage MCINTOSH MC2100 MC-2100 amplifier amp Beauty!!

0$499.99
$85.00 Sep-03 18:27
McIntosh MC-2100 POWER AMPLIFIER * AMP For Restoration


9$146.50
$82.95 Sep-01 17:11
McIntosh 2100 VINTAGE POWER AMPLIFIER ---- NO RESERVE!
3$430.00
$85.00 Aug-31 20:15
McINTOSH MC-2100 Stereo Amplifier 105w/ch MC2100 SUPER!


$610.00

$91.55Aug-31 18:38
McIntosh MC 2100 solid state vintage amp amplifier !!

[Doc Mark]

Hey, Triumph Don,

Thanks, very much, for that great information! I know next to nothing about Mac gear, other than it's always been very well regarded. IF I were going to go down that road, I'd probably want to try a Mac biamped system, with tubes on the top, and SS on the bottom. Back in Minneapolis, many years ago, when I worked for a chain store called Shaak Electronics, I heard a Heil AMT system that was so amped, and man, did it sound sweet! I've also heard some horn systems like that, and they, too, sounded very open, sweet, and natural, with no harshness in the highs, at all.

Right now, I have no plans, whatsoever, to walk down the Mac road, as I'm up to my eyeballs in speaker projects. Maybe someday, however, I might venture into those deep and unknown waters! Thanks, again, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

[doodlebug]

There are a lot of bottom-fishers here as well as other forums, myself included.

For most gear that's getting into the 30+ age bracket (myself included!), I would want to factor in the costs of restoration. The pre/power amp combo you saw would be candidates and, as you can see from the eBay auctions, this is being reflected in the marketplace today.

Frankly, these are really niec amps but will need some restoration to be heard as they were originally designed and built. If the costs are reasonable, though, they're really worthwhile.

Cheers,

David

disclaimer: I like Mac gear and enjoy them as much for the rebuilding of well-built/engineered gear not unlike JBL.

[Doc Mark]

There are a lot of bottom-fishers here as well as other forums, myself included.

For most gear that's getting into the 30+ age bracket (myself included!), I would want to factor in the costs of restoration. The pre/power amp combo you saw would be candidates and, as you can see from the eBay auctions, this is being reflected in the marketplace today.

Frankly, these are really niec amps but will need some restoration to be heard as they were originally designed and built. If the costs are reasonable, though, they're really worthwhile.

Cheers,

David

disclaimer: I like Mac gear and enjoy them as much for the rebuilding of well-built/engineered gear not unlike JBL.

Hello, David,

It's good to hear from you, Sir! I like the term "bottom-fisher", or even "bottom-feeder"!! Everytime I read such terms, I laugh!

You make some very good points, and this is one reason why I'm not going to be venturing down any new directions, right now. I'm very happy with my older H/K stuff, and will put my resources into the list of current speaker projects on tap. Thanks, again, David, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

[Audiobeer]

Doc, for a good match look for a Aragon 4004 MKII. They are a great amp for driving your L-300s and can be had for under $700!

[Doc Mark]

Hey, Audiobeer,

I'll check those out. I'm not in a hurry, and besides my little HK crapping out the other day, for the very first time (1812!!), I'm pretty happy with the HK stuff. I also have Crown amps, which work very well, too. But, I'm thinking "down the road", after all speaker experimentation is said and done. Then, I may think about upgrading my amp situation. Thanks, again, for the suggestion. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc