• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Considering McIntosh

Sitka

Sitka

Active Member
I have never owned a McIntosh. My experience is limited to a few solid state types, over the years. But my main and current gear includes a HT AVR HK4550HD and for 2 channel, a tube MP301, my and daily driver Marantz 2238b.

However, I am tempted to try a McIntosh. Perhaps a MC152 power amp using the Marantz as a pre amp?
Your comments, suggestions, recommendations? thanks
 
Register to hide this ad
Let the slippery slope begin!! You can’t own just one McIntosh.

My first foray with McIntosh was using my H/K 730t receiver as a preamp and running a MC-752 power amp from it. It was a shockingly drastic improvement. Utterly blew my mind. I eventually added a McIntosh MX-113 preamp tuner. It too was an improvement, but more refined and subtle compared to first adding the power amp. I’m now using a MX-117 pre tuner and it sounds significantly better than my 113, plus has some better features.
 
I started out modest like most of us but pretty quickly got into Mac gear. I recently sold off most of my main system to upgrade. While I’m locating and purchasing my new (to me) gear I put my Marantz 2252 back in the mix. As much as I loved it when I got it, it just does not stack up to the Mac stuff I was using which was an MX115 and a pair of MC50’s. I didn’t realize what an upgrade it was until I had to go back to the 2252. I haven’t played a record in close to two week because of it.
 
jek57 said:
I started with a mx113 preamp tuner with a Adcom gfa545 then got a Mc152 retirement present and I can say this is the last amp I will buy along with the mx113 and Revels Concerta2 F36 pure sonic bliss
Click to expand...

I was very interested in the Revel F36's but at the time they were out of stock everywhere with no end in sight. I ended up buying B & W 603's which I like but the Revels were really my first choice.
 
Snappahead said:
I was very interested in the Revel F36's but at the time they were out of stock everywhere with no end in sight. I ended up buying B & W 603's which I like but the Revels were really my first choice.
Click to expand...
I took a chance on them as I never heard them but glad I did
 
MRL_Audio said:
My only regret about being a Mac owner is that I waited till I was 58... all those years wasted. Dahum... :(
Click to expand...

That's probably not all that far from the average age of a new McIntosh equipment buyer back in the day. Case in point - it wasn't until my grandfather reached the age of 58 before he started assembling a serious hi fi system beginning with a single EV Georgian...in 1958 (he was born in 1900).
 
isotopesope said:
Let the slippery slope begin!! You can’t own just one McIntosh.

My first foray with McIntosh was using my H/K 730t receiver as a preamp and running a MC-752 power amp from it. It was a shockingly drastic improvement. Utterly blew my mind. I eventually added a McIntosh MX-113 preamp tuner. It too was an improvement, but more refined and subtle compared to first adding the power amp. I’m now using a MX-117 pre tuner and it sounds significantly better than my 113, plus has some better features.
Click to expand...
He’s right I’m more likely to have one lays potato chip then one McIntosh.
 
Sure, a good power Amp can be a good starting point.
Hypothetically, you could hook your 2238B to a pair of MC-601 Monoblocks, it will work. All you'll need is the cash, and a very strong back!

Most of us audio build as a "work in progress". I did.

I would say, false, one doesn't need more than one Mac, not like a bag of chips. You find the right combos and components, you'll likely stop looking.

Any Mac gear I ever bought was brand new, and I have no regrets.
 
This is how I got started with McIntosh.
I found a MC-2105 in a trash pile outside on someone's lawn about 25 years ago. I have been addicted ever since. The front glass was broken. I cleaned the unit, brought it up on a variac and it worked great! I used it for a few years to power some huge peavey PA speakers in a music studio me and some friends built in New Orleans. That was the first Mac unit I had ever seen. Ten years later I bought a front glass for it and set it up for my home stereo with some cheap sony speakers.
Ever since I first saw the thing I knew it was quality and was also impressed by the info I found about the company and all of its products. When I got the glass I was amazed that McIntosh was still supporting parts and info on their product - really great long standing American company!
I have slowly been adding components from the same year's product line. I purchased a C-26 preamp, an MR-74 tuner, a pair of ML-1C speakers and plan to get the MQ-101 next. I would also like to top it off with a MI-3 one day.
I need to get a second system. I have two children so I need a system for each to inherit.( Good excuse eh? Haha ) Older tube system? Time will tell.
All I can say is that you wont regret going McIntosh. Great gear that lasts More than a lifetime. Iconic American excellence you can feel proud of. Classic aesthetic styling.
Most importantly, McIntosh gear sounds great!
 
As long as the Marantz pre-amp can put out 3 volts comfortably you should be ready to go. A friend of mine uses his MC 152 to drive Mac XRT 28 speakers at a 12 foot distance and the amp is more than adequate. When the Brits checked the amp they got over 210 watts per channel with out any distortion or the Power Gard lights turning on. Always remember a Mac stereo power amp will normally put out 20 to 25 percent more power than rated and the Mac Mono amps even more. This isn't peak power this good old fashioned continuous muscle power. My 240's put out over 55 watts perchannel, the 275's close to 95 watts per channel, the 2100's 135, 2200 250 watts, 2250's 0ver 300 watts. But the champ was the MC 7200. It was a power house rated at 200 but could put out over 260 watts RMS and 325 watts peak. My 207 with all 7 channels operating about 245 and my MC 830 rated at 480 watts across 4 ohms over 600 watts before the Power Guard turns on. So remember that when matching your speakers to your amps. MC 152 would power and protect speakers rated from 200 to 250 watts very nicely, where some of the other larger amps rated higher would be way to much. Power Guard won't protect your speakers if they are matched properly to the amp.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom