CruzBay
Super Member
Read up on posts regarding the MC-7300, it's a very different animal than anything previously made.
Although having pairs of amplifiers is a compelling suggestion.
‘Vintage’ Mcintosh SS amp to go with C29 preamp and AR3 speakers
Read up on posts regarding the MC-7300, it's a very different animal than anything previously made.
Although having pairs of amplifiers is a compelling suggestion.
This certainly supports my findings. A number of years ago I came across a 2205 for a couldn't pass up price at a local estate sale.
Upon auditioning this unit, I could not detect any audible difference between it and my 2155. Now granted my Altec Flamenco's are extremely efficient. Maybe using less efficient speakers would have yielded different results. When all was said & done, there was no reason to keep the 2205.
Not to mention you'll always be able to use a single (in stereo mode) to stand in should either need to go on the bench. Of course doubling of amplifiers will only produce an additional 3 dB of headroom so whether it's worth the added investment is something best left to be determined after you've spent some time with a single.
Frankly, in your situation I'd sooner add another pair of AR3s (stacked) which would be far more sonically advantageous than doubling output capability used with a single pair could ever hope to achieve. An MC2155/2255 will have no trouble dealing with the load.
twiiii
Lunatic Member
Its not me that dislikes autoformers its my speakers that prefer direct coupled amps. If I had XR-7's for instance I would have no problem owning 7270 or 7300. Of course today it would be a 302 or a 452. If I had a lot of money and owned Magico speakers it would be either of my preferred audition speakers with amps. 1201, or 1.2 k.
That said with a pair of Magico S5 MK II or I. the little 275 running mono outperformed 601's and 2301's. Its the quality of the bass and lower midrange with out a high frequency edge that's the most important to me. I detest other manufactures amps where you start pushing above the -10 db rating with peaks and they start coloring the sound or doing something weird I just don't have a name for. I could say it's like some one loosing their grace while performing. When amps start loosing their grace or finesse I stand up and leave the sound room where the audition takes place.
Especially if I bring my own recordings with me. One in fact does have distortion on it and there are very very few systems that can produce that distortion authentically. That always frustrates sales persons. Its the Altec M-30 tube condenser mic being over loaded. Only Steve Rowell was able to pick out instantly that it was the mic. Frank thought it was the mixer. When I first heard it upon play back I thought it was the tape machine. I repeated the performance live and using an oscilloscope we traced it down to the output of the microphone was clipping. It might have been the element, the tube or the the electronics in the power supply. We couldn't go that far. We substituted a KM 84 with a 10 db pad and the issue never re-appeared, so thats what's on the LP. But my original master now dubbed to CD has the M-30.
That said with a pair of Magico S5 MK II or I. the little 275 running mono outperformed 601's and 2301's. Its the quality of the bass and lower midrange with out a high frequency edge that's the most important to me. I detest other manufactures amps where you start pushing above the -10 db rating with peaks and they start coloring the sound or doing something weird I just don't have a name for. I could say it's like some one loosing their grace while performing. When amps start loosing their grace or finesse I stand up and leave the sound room where the audition takes place.
Especially if I bring my own recordings with me. One in fact does have distortion on it and there are very very few systems that can produce that distortion authentically. That always frustrates sales persons. Its the Altec M-30 tube condenser mic being over loaded. Only Steve Rowell was able to pick out instantly that it was the mic. Frank thought it was the mixer. When I first heard it upon play back I thought it was the tape machine. I repeated the performance live and using an oscilloscope we traced it down to the output of the microphone was clipping. It might have been the element, the tube or the the electronics in the power supply. We couldn't go that far. We substituted a KM 84 with a 10 db pad and the issue never re-appeared, so thats what's on the LP. But my original master now dubbed to CD has the M-30.
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Yet more food for thought here then
Stacked AR3s - hadn’t thought to do that but I do now have all the drivers to do so, still trying to find someone with some cabinets though. I’ve not read much out there on stacked AR3s but I did enjoy my stacked large advents (at least compared to having just two). Off topic, and this is perhaps sacrilege, but I’m genuinely not sold on the AR3s just yet (although I replaced every piece of them so giving them chance to burn in etc) - they’re a bit heavy on the bottom end for me, feel myself mentally trying to turn an equalizer to hear voices clearer, which the c29 helped with certainly. They were a mess when I found them though so it was a project and wanting to bring them to life, from what I researched I wasn’t sure if they would produce my kind of sound. Still great speakers though, blown away by the feel of the bass and the mid at times, and especially given the age, but perhaps just not my perfect speakers.
I think I’m leaning towards a 7300 or 2155. Reason being the 2205 is older than the 2155 and for me, the 2155 gives me enough ‘vintage’ and is collectible enough while going with the c29 without spending extra on the 2205 and taking more risk. Not that I’d pass up a 2205 for a reasonable price that has recently been serviced (who would), just trying to be realistic. Again, would love a 2255, but point is I can use a 2155 and it costs less. Maybe one day I’ll be able to compare 2155 to 2255 and upgrade if warranted, but suspect a properly serviced/recapped 2155 would be fine given the quality of the amp. As We’ve said, if I needed more power I have a few choices.
Im still considering the 7300 as there’s one available for a reasonable price near me. It’s a completely different proposition to the 2155, less vintage and less collectible for sure, but perhaps might be more so in the future, and of course has age and power advantage. I think it’s really hard to compare a 2155 to 7300.
I’m feeling like there’s not a wrong answer as such but certainly a difference in what people want from their Mcintosh amps - I guess only I can make that call but the opinions on here have been invaluable in providing more information and thank you all for that
Stacked AR3s - hadn’t thought to do that but I do now have all the drivers to do so, still trying to find someone with some cabinets though. I’ve not read much out there on stacked AR3s but I did enjoy my stacked large advents (at least compared to having just two). Off topic, and this is perhaps sacrilege, but I’m genuinely not sold on the AR3s just yet (although I replaced every piece of them so giving them chance to burn in etc) - they’re a bit heavy on the bottom end for me, feel myself mentally trying to turn an equalizer to hear voices clearer, which the c29 helped with certainly. They were a mess when I found them though so it was a project and wanting to bring them to life, from what I researched I wasn’t sure if they would produce my kind of sound. Still great speakers though, blown away by the feel of the bass and the mid at times, and especially given the age, but perhaps just not my perfect speakers.
I think I’m leaning towards a 7300 or 2155. Reason being the 2205 is older than the 2155 and for me, the 2155 gives me enough ‘vintage’ and is collectible enough while going with the c29 without spending extra on the 2205 and taking more risk. Not that I’d pass up a 2205 for a reasonable price that has recently been serviced (who would), just trying to be realistic. Again, would love a 2255, but point is I can use a 2155 and it costs less. Maybe one day I’ll be able to compare 2155 to 2255 and upgrade if warranted, but suspect a properly serviced/recapped 2155 would be fine given the quality of the amp. As We’ve said, if I needed more power I have a few choices.
Im still considering the 7300 as there’s one available for a reasonable price near me. It’s a completely different proposition to the 2155, less vintage and less collectible for sure, but perhaps might be more so in the future, and of course has age and power advantage. I think it’s really hard to compare a 2155 to 7300.
I’m feeling like there’s not a wrong answer as such but certainly a difference in what people want from their Mcintosh amps - I guess only I can make that call but the opinions on here have been invaluable in providing more information and thank you all for that
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AR3/3a's are definitely not everyone's cup of tea. They were made in a certain era for a certain type of listening experience using gear from a certain period. Music and how it was listened to was quite a bit different in those days. Lots of modern listeners feel like you do. For me, they are pretty much the perfect speaker. And with my Mc gear, they just make me want to listen all day and all of the night.
I have early 3a's with the cloth surround, yet if I could get a pair of restored 3's for a "reasonable" price I would not hesitate.
I have early 3a's with the cloth surround, yet if I could get a pair of restored 3's for a "reasonable" price I would not hesitate.
CruzBay
Super Member
Not true, it's really easy to compare the two.
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...-they-double-down.785378/page-2#post-12478435 (see post 38)
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...air-with-a-mcintosh-c40.910744/#post-13699194 (post #6)
There are a host of others, suffice it to 'say,' the MC-7300 was a complete redesign from the amplifiers Mcintosh made before, where the autoformer matched the load.
The '2155 (x2) would be fine, but before you decide; look further into the '7300.
Bear in mind that your speakers don't need what the '7300 offers, but be aware that the '2155 and the '7300's are 'an equine of a different hue.'
Cool!
Mike
Mike - my apologies, bad wording on my part. Definitely can compare them, as you and others have very well. I meant, they’re very different animals (compared to debating the merits of 2155 vs 2255 for example). No doubt I’d love the 2155 or the 7300, and are both great in their own ways judging from what I’ve read. That’s what I was trying to say, not very clearly by the looks of it!
@sberger agreed on the AR3/AR3as - I knew that before I started the project to be honest, but I got an opportunity to put some back to how they were meant to be for a fair investment and I thought I had to try. They’re growing on me, just to your point, different to what I’m used to. I couldn’t argue that they don’t do what they are designed to do superbly well, they really do, and a marked difference to others I’ve listened to of that era to my ears at least. Can only imagine the impact when they came out. This whole Mcintosh system is inspired by the AR3s tbh in some ways
@sberger agreed on the AR3/AR3as - I knew that before I started the project to be honest, but I got an opportunity to put some back to how they were meant to be for a fair investment and I thought I had to try. They’re growing on me, just to your point, different to what I’m used to. I couldn’t argue that they don’t do what they are designed to do superbly well, they really do, and a marked difference to others I’ve listened to of that era to my ears at least. Can only imagine the impact when they came out. This whole Mcintosh system is inspired by the AR3s tbh in some ways
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twiiii
Lunatic Member
Because the AR-3 is a well damped speaker any of the Mac amps will work. But I would choose the direct coupled 7200 myself because of its high current output capacity. Thoush a 7300 is almost as good. But for woofers if you want even more cone control the 7200 is the preferred choice. 392 watts continuous and 544 watts peak at 4 ohms. Though I wouldn't push the speakers that far. AS I said above they are only rated at 35 watts RMS by AR. because of the fragile tweeters and cheap tweeter level control. If a 7100 had meters that would be a better choice. Just don't let the meter swing above -3db and you should be OK with the 7200. Heaven forbid you pegging the meters even just once!!!!!!!!.
Marantz Model 9 owners had the option of an out put impeance ratio of one which allowed the damped AR woofer a chance to bemore dynamic with no amp back EMF control. But I didn't like the softness and fuzziness of sound with that hookup.
Marantz Model 9 owners had the option of an out put impeance ratio of one which allowed the damped AR woofer a chance to bemore dynamic with no amp back EMF control. But I didn't like the softness and fuzziness of sound with that hookup.
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cnolanh
Ad astra
Wonderful to see another MC2150! They apparently made fewer than 400 of them, and you and I each have one. It's been a terrific amp and I like its understated elegance.