C28 and MA230

[grafxdesin]

I have the opportunity to buy my two first pieces of Mcintosh gear. A C28 and a MA230. I know they will not work together as a preamp and a separate amp. I am looking for info on what to look for, check for, and look out for.
They are being offered to me for $1000 for the C28 and $1500 for the MA230. Below is what I know about them. I will be able to audition them as well.
C28, does not come with the wooden cabinet, according to buyer, it's working and had some updates done to it. I don't know what but I do know it was not the can capacitors .Cosmetically 8/10
MA230, does not come with wooden cabinet, two can capacitors replaced, maybe more, done in 2021. Cosmetically 8/10
I am mainly interested in the MA230 to listen to but ultimately resell for a MC2105 or MC2505 to go with the C28.
I have been doing audio repairs for 8+ years and most of my work has been done to Pioneer, Sansui, NAD, etc 70's gear. If I feel comfortable, I would like to do some repairs myself on this gear.

Is this a good deal? What should I be looking for, looking out for, and checking for?

 

[twiiii]

The C-28 had quite a few issues. The Volume control does not track well between the channels, the extensions on the input selector and Mode selector switches can shift making the signals distort or drop out when least expected. The controls on top are always in need of cleaning. The RCA input panel for the Phonos etc has grounding issues. The sweged RCA input connectors on the back of the unit become oxidized and will also loosen over time giving unwanted difficulties. The MA 230 has a 4 section volume control you have to keep continually clean. It tracks worse that the C-28 volume control and thats pretty bad. In fact all the controls on the front of both pieces if not properly maintained by previous owners will be a big service headache. I know I owned both over the years that I bought new. I traded the 230 in on a new C-22 and 240 for more power and Flexibility. I traded the 22 in on the 28 that I only kept for a few years because of its problems. DAvie O'Brien at a Mac clinic told me about a new pre-amp and ordered it before it was announced to the public. It was a C-29. It had the sealed precision volume control and better switch set up and didn't have as many connector problems. The phono section was quieter and didn't have the cross talk the C-28 had. I had the 29 for over 30 years and it never gave me any of the issues the C-28 had. But if you want a warm sounding SS pre-amp the C-28 is the one to buy as it has discrete components through out and doesn't have any IC's like the C-29 had. I changed to a C-34 because I wanted the separate Recording selector and the processor loops for both playback and record. The 34 also has gold RCA connectors and I love the Graphic tone controls which are much quieter than the C-28's tone controls. OH the MA 230 has a noisy phono section compared to later units so you have to use a cartridge with at least a nominal output rating of 10 mv. Which almost impossible to find now days. It was Mac's first hybrid and really did out perform all other integrated amps using tubes at the time. It convinced me to dump all my Scott and Fisher stuff. It was significantly better. So no matter how much I complain about the 230 it really out performed any tube integrated amp at the time. Early 63 as I remember. Maybe you should be thinking about a MA 2275 if you want a hybrid integrated amp. I love my C-34, but a C-33 is almost the same thing. Either will be a better choice.

 

[Destructor]

My first piece of Mac gear was a 230. I liked it very much. I eventually converted it to run as a stand alone tube amp by bypassing the SS pre. It is very easy to do. I ran it with my MX110 or a modern tube pre. It is also a very nice unit as is.

 

[grafxdesin]

The C-28 had quite a few issues. The Volume control does not track well between the channels, the extensions on the input selector and Mode selector switches can shift making the signals distort or drop out when least expected. The controls on top are always in need of cleaning. The RCA input panel for the Phonos etc has grounding issues. The sweged RCA input connectors on the back of the unit become oxidized and will also loosen over time giving unwanted difficulties. The MA 230 has a 4 section volume control you have to keep continually clean. It tracks worse that the C-28 volume control and thats pretty bad. In fact all the controls on the front of both pieces if not properly maintained by previous owners will be a big service headache. I know I owned both over the years that I bought new. I traded the 230 in on a new C-22 and 240 for more power and Flexibility. I traded the 22 in on the 28 that I only kept for a few years because of its problems. DAvie O'Brien at a Mac clinic told me about a new pre-amp and ordered it before it was announced to the public. It was a C-29. It had the sealed precision volume control and better switch set up and didn't have as many connector problems. The phono section was quieter and didn't have the cross talk the C-28 had. I had the 29 for over 30 years and it never gave me any of the issues the C-28 had. But if you want a warm sounding SS pre-amp the C-28 is the one to buy as it has discrete components through out and doesn't have any IC's like the C-29 had. I changed to a C-34 because I wanted the separate Recording selector and the processor loops for both playback and record. The 34 also has gold RCA connectors and I love the Graphic tone controls which are much quieter than the C-28's tone controls. OH the MA 230 has a noisy phono section compared to later units so you have to use a cartridge with at least a nominal output rating of 10 mv. Which almost impossible to find now days. It was Mac's first hybrid and really did out perform all other integrated amps using tubes at the time. It convinced me to dump all my Scott and Fisher stuff. It was significantly better. So no matter how much I complain about the 230 it really out performed any tube integrated amp at the time. Early 63 as I remember. Maybe you should be thinking about a MA 2275 if you want a hybrid integrated amp. I love my C-34, but a C-33 is almost the same thing. Either will be a better choice.

Thank you for this, seems like some work will be needed. Do you think the pricing is fair, a steal, or too much?
This could be a good starting point for me into McIntosh. But I will be checking what you pointed out above if I go through with it.

 

[ramjet]

Thank you for this, seems like some work will be needed. Do you think the pricing is fair, a steal, or too much?
This could be a good starting point for me into McIntosh. But I will be checking what you pointed out above if I go through with it.

From the Audiokarma Rules "All questions of value and links to auctions or ads belong in the Dollars and Sense forum."

 

[twiiii]

C-28 is about right, but be prepared to spend the money you saved dealing with the issues. The 230 sounds a bit high to me in price. That is unless is got all new tubes and has been restored. Remember the unit could easily be 60 years old an do you really want to deal with that noisy phono section? You have to use fairly efficient to very efficient speakers with the low power capability and efficient speakers will revel the 230's short comings. What was gret 60 years ago is just mid fi now days.