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Better value: MC-250 or MAC 1900

marblesmike said:
Thanks for the advice! If I can swing both, I'll get both the MC250 and C27. Otherwise, looks like I'll lean towards the 1900.
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You're welcome. Now that we've come full circle back to your original question of which represents the "better value", the answer should be clear.

Best of luck however you decide. :thumbsup:
 
marblesmike said:
That's huge that the C27 needs a power amp to activate the headphone jack.

Thanks for the advice! If I can swing both, I'll get both the MC250 and C27. Otherwise, looks like I'll lean towards the 1900.
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As a person who uses both, I guess I should chime in with my 2-cents.

I think part of the decision would be the condition of the units - unless you have plan and budget to have them electrically and functionally restored after purchase, I'd favor units that are already restored - hopefully restored by a McIntosh specialist or expert tech.

Since all the units you're looking at are really old, their sound quality will be determined by their electrical condition. Sounds like the MC250 is "fully restored" but if you get a C27 or a MAC1900, they should also be fully restored - else these sound comparisons are meaningless.

The MAC1900 is more complicated to restore as it includes an AM tuner, FM tuner, preamp and amp.

Many McIntosh units from that time period used a power switch combined with the volume control such that every time the unit is switched on or off, the volume control is rotated from the off position to the normal volume position which wears out that section of the volume control prematurely. The result is a scratchy sound when adjusting the volume and also left-right balance changing as the volume is adjusted.

This worn-volume control issues seems to be un-fixable. I have watched threads on this forum of people trying in vain to find a replacement part that works or even rebuild the existing controls. I don't recall anyone reporting success.

The MAC1900 is one of these units so before you buy one, make sure the volume control works at least well enough to be useful as is. Restoration won't help this. C27 has a separate power button so not a issue.

Cosmetics are hard to restore, so you want to buy stuff that still looks good, especially no cracked glass.

If the units are working to original factory specifications, then my opinion is that the choice should be based on condition, features and even looks. They both sound great to me.

Good luck.
 
TSmith8605 said:
As a person who uses both, I guess I should chime in with my 2-cents.

I think part of the decision would be the condition of the units - unless you have plan and budget to have them electrically and functionally restored after purchase, I'd favor units that are already restored - hopefully restored by a McIntosh specialist or expert tech.

Since all the units you're looking at are really old, their sound quality will be determined by their electrical condition. Sounds like the MC250 is "fully restored" but if you get a C27 or a MAC1900, they should also be fully restored - else these sound comparisons are meaningless.

The MAC1900 is more complicated to restore as it includes an AM tuner, FM tuner, preamp and amp.

Many McIntosh units from that time period used a power switch combined with the volume control such that every time the unit is switched on or off, the volume control is rotated from the off position to the normal volume position which wears out that section of the volume control prematurely. The result is a scratchy sound when adjusting the volume and also left-right balance changing as the volume is adjusted.

This worn-volume control issues seems to be un-fixable. I have watched threads on this forum of people trying in vain to find a replacement part that works or even rebuild the existing controls. I don't recall anyone reporting success.

The MAC1900 is one of these units so before you buy one, make sure the volume control works at least well enough to be useful as is. Restoration won't help this. C27 has a separate power button so not a issue.

Cosmetics are hard to restore, so you want to buy stuff that still looks good, especially no cracked glass.

If the units are working to original factory specifications, then my opinion is that the choice should be based on condition, features and even looks. They both sound great to me.

Good luck.
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Well, figured out a way to pull the trigger on both the C27 and MC250.

So the solves that! The C27 was a really good price and looking at sales history, doesn't seem they come up too often. And that it comes from an audio/music gear shop and studio, I'm hopeful that their tech cleaned it up nice. They have great feedback on Google, Ebay, and Reverb, and the seller said he had been using it himself, so I'm hopeful.

You brought up my main concerns with getting a Mac 1900 or one of the C26/C28 which is why those were not really on my list.
 
The concerns regarding volume controls with integral off/on switch are valid. I insisted my brother get an external switcher for use with the MAC, just as I do with my MAC1500.
 
You don't need anything special provided the amperage rating is sufficient for the unit(s) in question. For added convenience, there are also remote controlled power switches.
 
I just use a $10 hardware store power strip with a switch for all my older Mc stuff regardless of the on / off switch configuration. 15 Amps is more than enough.
 
Got both the MC250 and C27 today.

MC250 works great, sounds fantastic for the brief time I had my speakers on.

The C27 looks and sounds great too. Loving having the headphone out powered by the amp. Tonality is great. Balance is great, however, the loudness portion of the balance control is scratchy and will cut the signal if in the wrong spot.

1) am I correct that there isn't anything like deoxit that can fix this, and
2) is this indicative of a deeper problem that I should contact the seller about?
 
Dirty controls can be stubborn. On a MAC4100, the VC became scratchy within 1-2 weeks after two rounds on the bench at Audio Classics. On the third trip, they gave it a really good power blasting and it's been fine since last December.
 
I had a C26 and C28, never a C27 so someone else will have to answer on that one. Access to the back of the pot is necessary, and I prefer to surround it with paper towels or similar to keep the mess contained.

As caddy mentioned it can be stubborn if it’s really dirty but it’s unusual for a balance pot to be worn to a point where it won’t clean up and work properly so probably just a good shot of faderlube and exercise the pot and you’re fine.

Of course “while you’re in there”, …
 
SaturationPt said:
I had a C26 and C28, never a C27 so someone else will have to answer on that one. Access to the back of the pot is necessary, and I prefer to surround it with paper towels or similar to keep the mess contained.

As caddy mentioned it can be stubborn if it’s really dirty but it’s unusual for a balance pot to be worn to a point where it won’t clean up and work properly so probably just a good shot of faderlube and exercise the pot and you’re fine.

Of course “while you’re in there”, …
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You read my mind. I don't plan to use the loudness pot since I'll listen on cans if I can't turn it up enough to get enough bass in the speakers.

I'll still reach out to the seller and see what they say.
 
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