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MC 2000 vs 2 x MC275

C220MC275

C220MC275

Duke,Louis,Ella,Oscar...
Hi,

I just bought a pre-owned MC2000 at Audio Classics.
I took my decision in 2 hours.
Now there's a big question in my mind :
2 x MC275 mono would not be better than one MC2000 ? Even if you don't care about 2 x 150 W (275) vs 2 x135 W ( MC2000 ? ).
Did you have the opportunity to compare that set-up ?

Value for the money would not be really better with 2 x MC275 ?

Maybe I took my decision too fast because I already have a MC275 MKIV.
The budget for an other one is 3300 euros.

With taxes, the MC2000 will cost me about 7900 euros !

Compared to 6600 euros for 2 x MC275.

Any thoughts ?
Thanks in advance !
Best Wishes
Jérôme
 
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dj_AmTraX said:
This may help.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=133486&highlight=mc2000

I think the MC2000 is much more valuable in the long run. Besides, it is very pretty.
Click to expand...


Hi Amtrax,

Do you mean I could resell it more easily ?
Don't you think that it's easier to sell cheaper items ? ( each MC275 could be sold to 2 different persons ). At least, in France, it's like that simply because we have a less proportion of fortunate people than in the US...

What's your opinion about the sound ?
When you concentrate about technical characteristics of the 2 amps, I don't see how 2 x MC275 could be beaten by a MC2000 . At least, the sound should be equivalent. :scratch2:

Then you're right : I won't have the blue meters and the incredible style. But actually, I don't care : the sound is more important to me.
I already sent a message to Mike from Audio Classics stating I'm not taking the 2000 right away.
Actually my bank transfer was on the point to be made this morning when I called my bank to cancel it. :nono:
Mike will kill me ! :sigh:
I will have the wonderful opportunity to test the set-up in 2 weeks.
My Mac dealer will bring me an other 275 and he's going to borrow a 2000 from one of his very nice customers. So the test will speak by itself. :music:
If the 2000 is better and still available at AC, and if Mike is not to angry against me, I'll take it.:thmbsp:

Best Regards
Jérôme
 
dj_AmTraX said:
This may help.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=133486&highlight=mc2000

I think the MC2000 is much more valuable in the long run. Besides, it is very pretty.
Click to expand...

Hi Amtrak,

Thanks for the link : I just read it. Very useful.
Yes, I'm quite sure the MC2000 will be better for deep bass than 2 x 275.
That can also be concluded when you read the reviews of the two amps.

Anyway, if it's the only difference, as I'm not concerned with very low frequencies ( I have ESL speakers, so there are some inherent limits...), I'm sure Iwon't go for the 2000...
 
C220MC275 said:
Hi Amtrak,

Thanks for the link : I just read it. Very useful.
Yes, I'm quite sure the MC2000 will be better for deep bass than 2 x 275.
That can also be concluded when you read the reviews of the two amps.

Anyway, if it's the only difference, as I'm not concerned with very low frequencies ( I have ESL speakers, so there are some inherent limits...), I'm sure Iwon't go for the 2000...
Click to expand...

Jerome,

I am not into deep bass either as you can see I use bookshelf speakers in a 24' X 24' room BUT it is the control of the low frequencies that sets it apart from the 2 X 275, not the amount of bass. The MC2000 is sweeter and more in control than mono 275s. This really comes into play when you play complex passages or large orchestral works. Good luck in your audition!

howie
 
howiebrou said:
Jerome,

I am not into deep bass either as you can see I use bookshelf speakers in a 24' X 24' room BUT it is the control of the low frequencies that sets it apart from the 2 X 275, not the amount of bass. The MC2000 is sweeter and more in control than mono 275s. This really comes into play when you play complex passages or large orchestral works. Good luck in your audition!

howie
Click to expand...


Hi Howie,

Ok, I understand. I was on the wrong way. :tears:
Yes, I think that could be a major difference; bass control is far from perfect with the 275.
I'll post my impressions after the test in about two weeks.
Hope Audio Classics will still have the 2000 then, if it's really better than the 275's... :scratch2:

Best Wishes

Jérôme
 
I spoke to audio classics about a week ago and they had 9 MC-2000's.

As far as your question about MC-2000 vs two MC-275's. In my mind, it's really a coin toss....they both look vintagely great. Sound wise neither has full balanced inputs and the MC-2000 actually use's semi-conductors in it's driver stage. So don't fret over making the wrong decision between an MC-2000 and two MC-275's.

If you have a fully balanced pre-amp, then the senerio would change....enter the MC-2102. Fully balanced 100WPC in stereo mode and can be switched into mono mode.

If your going to stay with a C-2200 type pre-amp, then either MC-2000 or MC-275 combo will work well......if your going to move to C-500 or C-1000, then you are basically setting the stage to go with MC-2102.
 
MC2102 is not a balanced circuit design. It's dual mono like the MC2000. I don't think McIntosh has ever made a balanced circuit tube amp. Ron can correct me if I am wrong.

As for my decision on the MC2000, no regrets. I listened to it a little more last night. The sound is very pleasing. Bass seems 3 dimensional and very VERY controlled compared to the Cary V12(my memory)(same CD, pre-amp XLR output to amp, wires, speakers). I used the MX119, but I strongly believe that a C2200 will take the sound to a higher level. I think that component synergy plays a large part in making good sound. When I had the Cary pre-amp(balanced design) hooked up to Cary V12(balanced design) via XLR, the sound was beyond my expectations at that price level. I am going to try my Cary SLP-2002 pre-amp on MC2000 this weekend. I wonder if the sound will improve or degrade.

Anyone else wants to chime in with their experience?
HapPy HolidaYs!
 
C220MC275 said:
Hi,
Maybe I took my decision too fast ........
Jérôme
Click to expand...

It's called buyers remorse, happens to me all the time, usually not with McIntosh though :yes: You have a win win situation either way you go, let your budget decide. The MC2000 has a collectors factor + it is beeeutiful. Whenever I've seen Ron C demo; (RMAF/AudioKarma Fest) he has had the MC275's monoblocked and the bass was rather outstanding, surprising really, maybe it was partially the Mac speakers? Anyway, good luck!
 
Jerome:
I own an MC2000 and two MC275 MkVs and to my ears, the MC2000 is better sounding. I don't think you made a mistake. That's just my opinion.
Ernie
 
""MC2102 is not a balanced circuit design. It's dual mono like the MC2000. I don't think McIntosh has ever made a balanced circuit tube amp. Ron can correct me if I am wrong. ""

I didn't design or build it so I can only relay what I was told by Mcintosh technical folks. What I was told is that the MC-2000 has an input transformer which has one leg terminated to ground. Once past the input transformer....the signal travels the same path as an RCA signal into a single tube. The MC-2102, actually has seperate input tubes for each phase of the XLR circut and the signals do not get re-combined until the output transformers. In RCA mode, the MC-2102 will work just fine if the - phase input tube is pulled. Notice the MC-2000 has 6 small tubes and the MC-2102 has 8. I own both amps, and was curious how this was handled and asked different Mcintosh technical folks and this is the answer I recieved. Could I be mis-informed...sure. So yeah....an update would be useful.

"MC2102 is not a balanced circuit design. It's dual mono like the MC2000"

About that...the MC-2000 can be considered dual mono since it has seperate power transformers for each channel....but the MC-2102 shares one power transformer for both channels so I would not consider it dual mono.
 
Thank You !

Hi guys,

Thank you very much for your answers : very useful !:banana::banana:

Merry Christmas and Happy new year !

Jérôme
 
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