Should I worry about my McIntosh after sitting unused

[BeDome]

I have a true treasure that I have not been able to use for about fourteen years.

It is a McIntosh MC2500. It has been kept inside, in a road case, but what if I just plugged it in?

I have heard of horror stories where people let an amp sit for many years and they had dried out caps exploding upon first run.

I am a bit apprehensive about just slamming 120V into it and standing back. I would very much like to use this amplifier to drive my JBLs, if I can safely revive it.

Anyone have any experience in this area??

[4313B]

You are supposed to bring them up on a Variac... find a shop that has one.

*****

It looks like Parts Express might have some. I didn't look closely.

[BeDome]

You are supposed to bring them up on a Variac... find a shop that has one.

*****

It looks like Parts Express might have some. I didn't look closely.

I think this amp is certainly worth the trouble to bring it back into service.


Only place I have found with a Variac is 120 miles away. They build a line of tube amps.

Good call about Parts Express. They have a 10A version for $170. Better than a long round trip, I'd say.

Thanks for the advice.

[Mr. Widget]

I brought up a vintage tube pre with a variac once... the lower voltage caused the rectifier tube to blow.



Widget

[JuniorJBL]

The MC2500's were pretty bullet proof. About the only thing that can get hurt is caps, unless it has had some critters in it.

[grumpy]

I brought up a vintage tube pre with a variac once... the lower voltage caused the rectifier tube to blow.

hindsight... 1st run up, no tubes. 2nd run up, no expensive tubes

[berf]

If it were mine I'd have the factory go over it. If it's already in a case it stands a better chance of surviving shipping. In the last year I had my MC2105 and one of my Soundcraftsmen go bad. Age-related failures do happen.

[Chas]

If you don't want to pay the money for possibly a one time use variac, you can string together some incandescent light bulbs in series with the AC line power with different wattages with switch bypasses and bring the power on in stages.

Be careful, lethal volatges are at play. If you aren't comfortable, get someone who is experienced to help you.

[BeDome]

I am thinking that, just to play it safe, I should just spring for the Parts Express piece and do it myself. Then hope beyond reason that nothing has gone stale over the years.

Kind of a gamble, since I am not much of a tech, but if I can't find a place locally that I can trust, I would hesitate to ship it anywhere except the McIntosh factory service center.

The thing is actually quite a beast, if you are not familiar with them. This old school Big Boy weighs about 160 lbs in its road case, so shipping would be fairly expensive. I would probably just bolt it to a pallet and use Fed Ex Freight if I end up having to ship it.

[Chas]

I am very familiar with that beast! I have since moved on to some Bryston and Levinson amps, but have mucho respect for the Mc. Good luck with getting her fired up!

[Mr. Widget]

I'd just fire it up... the likelihood of a catastrophic failure is pretty low.


Widget

[grumpy]

Or call mc labs and ask... Not all solid state gear is happy in a sustained brown-out state.
Using variacs and "forming caps" is largely a tube gear thing. Often there are hundreds of volts vs tens in the supply voltages.

[Chas]

Widget is probably right, but put a table lamp with 60W incandescent light bulb in series and you are erring on the safe side.......

[ratitifb]

60W incandescent light bulb

... isn't a piece of the past from your side of the magma


Variac works fine with slow voltage ramp up and ramp down before ...

[grumpy]

Do note that if you go the variac route, they often will allow you to go -past- 120VAC as you increase the voltage,
so keep an eye on it (voltmeter, or at least watch the markings).