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Breathe Deeply (2301s on Order)

W

Weirdcuba

New Member
OK - I couldn't take it any more. My dealer was offering full credit on the 302 and a good discount on the 2301s. I was making myself crazy (and had practically memorized every review and write up and image I could find on the internet). I talked to the guys at AC about a used pair (which they didn't have), but would have lost $$ on the 302. I also considered 3500s, but couldn't really find a good situation there.

My 802ds sound great with the 302, and I can barely imagine how they'll do with the 2301s. I'll give you guys a full report when they're up and running. I've got some other system shuffling to do and no-one knows when the Mc factory is going to actually ship them, so it may be a while.

So, I did it, and I'm damned excited. After this, that's it - I'm done, no more upgrades (really, I mean it).

But until then . . . breathe deeply.
 
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Congrats! It sounds as if your dealer has earned their stripes with you all the way around.

I know there is a ton of spectacular feedback out there about the MC3500s and they look to be a fine amplifier. But, how could McIntosh have not taken that into consideration when the development of the MC2301s began? I mean surely they did. [As well as the performance of the MI200s - after all ron-c owns a pair and he's on the product team!] I for one would take the MC2301s all day long so I think you made a wise choice there.

I'm anxious to hear your feedback once you get the amps.
 
OMG!

Congratulations. You are going to love them. I'm still lusting for a pair myself. Sweet deal ..
 
I almost bought the last pair that went on the 'bay for 14k. I will likely pick up the next pair I see and sell on the 601s as I've had a lot of interest in them, and where I've moved now I don't leave my equipment on anymore.
 
Lets see the 2301 has 17 to 22 db more signal to noise. Has about 100 watts less power. Remember a 3500 in good shape puts out over 450 watts before it starts to think about clipping. It will drive more impedances. Including motors on Ampex 300's etc for pitch correction. The 3500 has that good old tube sound that the 2301 seems to shy away from just like the new 275 has a different sound than the original. And then there is the sound of the KT 88 versus the sound of the 3500's tubes. Sure the 3500 could be updated design wise for increased signal to noise and lower harmonic distortion as some owners have. And I wonder if a 2301 is a continuous duty amp like the 3500 was. They are two different animals. My favorite sound system is a pair of Concert Grands driven by 3500's. Is the sound as good as my Grands with Celestion super tweeters tri-amped with a MC207 using a Urei electronic crossover and parametric EQ's, of course not. But if you want to hear a set of Concert Grands get up and speak with authority and at the same time be able to listen to the system for countless hours, the 3500 is the only answer. I had 275's, 2100's, 2200's, tried 2300's, and it wasn't until the 7200's came along my Grands could really out perform a pair with 3500's in some respects. A friend of mine in Old Mexico still has his Grands and 3500s and the last time I heard them before the drug Cartel wars they were still going strong after 35 years. I don't go to Old Mexico anymore, PERIOD.
 
twiiii said:
Lets see the 2301 has 17 to 22 db more signal to noise. Has about 100 watts less power. Remember a 3500 in good shape puts out over 450 watts before it starts to think about clipping. It will drive more impedances. Including motors on Ampex 300's etc for pitch correction. The 3500 has that good old tube sound that the 2301 seems to shy away from just like the new 275 has a different sound than the original. And then there is the sound of the KT 88 versus the sound of the 3500's tubes. Sure the 3500 could be updated design wise for increased signal to noise and lower harmonic distortion as some owners have. And I wonder if a 2301 is a continuous duty amp like the 3500 was. They are two different animals. My favorite sound system is a pair of Concert Grands driven by 3500's. Is the sound as good as my Grands with Celestion super tweeters tri-amped with a MC207 using a Urei electronic crossover and parametric EQ's, of course not. But if you want to hear a set of Concert Grands get up and speak with authority and at the same time be able to listen to the system for countless hours, the 3500 is the only answer. I had 275's, 2100's, 2200's, tried 2300's, and it wasn't until the 7200's came along my Grands could really out perform a pair with 3500's in some respects. A friend of mine in Old Mexico still has his Grands and 3500s and the last time I heard them before the drug Cartel wars they were still going strong after 35 years. I don't go to Old Mexico anymore, PERIOD.
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Twiiii, the longer I spend here the less I understand some of your rants and raves.

The guy decided on the 2301s and has them ordered. What is the need to come in here and **** all over his thread by extolling the virtues of the 3500s? We get it, the 3500 was an *AMAZING* amp. In my opinion the most legendary amp McIntosh *EVER* made. But in terms of modernity and practicality I too decided to go with 2301s, unless I can find a BONAFIDE pair of FULLY restored 3500s.
 
Weirdcuba,
Congrats on your new 2301's. They are truly special. I've owned a pair for a long time, bought them in 2009, and they are fantastic performers day in and day out. Plus they look fantastic - really big and beefy and in line with McIntosh's more modern appearance. I just retubed them earlier this year, so they are also very easy on tubes. They will be a great complement to your 2500. They are the only quad balanced tube amp McIntosh has ever made. There are significant technical and sonic advantages to the quad balanced topology for a tube amp. There is really nothing quite like them. Enjoy in good health!
Tom
 
You were smart to leverage that trade up program (I assume that's what you did). I think everyone wishes they had a pair of these!!!
 
Its just statements of facts. The first time I heard A7 phantoms by Snell that blew away 1K and XRT 28's, they were driven by 2301's and a SS C500 an awesome combination. Did the 1k sound better when heard them being driven by a 602? No. How about with my favorite amp, the 1.2 K? NO. What else have I heard driving a pair of A7, the 1.2 k and a C-2300. A step down I'm afraid. I blame that on the C-2300. But I did hear the A7 with the 1.2k with a a C-46 and found the sound to great. Was it better than the c500 and 2301's I would like to say yes, but to be honest, the 2301's did a fantastic job. What will they sound like in 35 years? Fantastic, I hope. 3500's require a lot of maintenance, over that period. I hope the not so much for your 2301's. Enjoy your purchase.

Now for those of you you guys who love the euphonic sound of your MC 60's and 30's and the special sound of the 225, the 3500 is like that. If you grew up in that period where SS state was making in roads and tubes were nasty things to be shunned, the 3500 was the last of a great breed and the best of that breed. It produced great sound that once heard was loved by many. I was one of them. You don't for get your first love!
 
Well, they're here and they're incredible. I had the old 302 hooked up, so I was able to do A/b and there was no contest. First reaction was "did we add a sub-woofer to that thing and expand the width of the room?" (And that was when the Amps were dead cold and obviously not broken in.) just bigger, better, juicier, and toobier. Also, the comments about them being dead quiet are all true - stunning silence, which makes everything better when the music does pump through there. I have them plugged into the 4 ohm slot right now (running bw 802di's) but I'll move it to the 8 after a while for a comparison.

Now, onto some great listening. I'm going to go to yoga to calm down first though.

Weirdcuba.
 
On 802D I would suspect the 4 ohm taps are best but try the 8 ohm and report back. MC2301 are great amps for sure and will deliver over 10 amps so they may be fine with the 8 ohm setting.
As far as the MC3500 VS MC2301 thing, that is kind of silly comparing amps built 45 years apart and I even like MC3500s. By the way, they make about 550 watts, at least the ones in the Stereo Review article did.
MC2301s are much easier to live with of course with better performance numbers and use readily available 12ax7, 12at7 and KT88 tubes. TV sweep tubes as used in MC3500, not -so -much.

Thanks again,
Ron-C
 
Weirdcuba said:
Well, they're here and they're incredible. I had the old 302 hooked up, so I was able to do A/b and there was no contest. First reaction was "did we add a sub-woofer to that thing and expand the width of the room?" (And that was when the Amps were dead cold and obviously not broken in.) just bigger, better, juicier, and toobier. Also, the comments about them being dead quiet are all true - stunning silence, which makes everything better when the music does pump through there. I have them plugged into the 4 ohm slot right now (running bw 802di's) but I'll move it to the 8 after a while for a comparison.

Now, onto some great listening. I'm going to go to yoga to calm down first though.

Weirdcuba.
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Awesome. May have to "audition" a pair of these before I downsize my system at some point. I'd imagine C100 into a pair of 2301s would be absolutely blissful.
 
the 2301s are entirely inconsistent with downsizing. They're beasts - it's hard to imagine until they're sitting in your room, but they are absolute beasts in terms of size and heft. I've got them on rolling amp stands, as I can't imagine any other way to deal with them. Had a long listening session last night with the set up and it is absolutely incredible (but not small, by any means).
 
Weirdcuba said:
the 2301s are entirely inconsistent with downsizing. They're beasts - it's hard to imagine until they're sitting in your room, but they are absolute beasts in terms of size and heft. I've got them on rolling amp stands, as I can't imagine any other way to deal with them. Had a long listening session last night with the set up and it is absolutely incredible (but not small, by any means).
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I meant that I have been toying with the idea of going a different direction with my primary listening system. But that before I go "smaller", I want to rotate a pair of 2301s into my current system (which has 601s right now) for a little while. As I've explained before here, I augment my audio hobby by buying and selling equipment, and keeping the stuff that really blows me away (until I get an itch to do something different). Hence that comment.
 
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