MC 60 speakers??

[Stildawg]

I have a pair of McIntosh MC60 Amps and want to know if anyone has a recommendation for speakers. I would like to stay under $1000. Anyone have MC60's and can make a recommendation for a pair of great sounding speakers?

 

[TR6man98]

Some people would recommend Klipsch La Scala or similar and various JBL's but I have no experience with those.
As a KEF fan, I run my MC60s with 103/4 and I'm happy with the combo. My KEF 105.2 are great but a bit too inefficient for 60 WPC... but perhaps 104/2 would be ideal if you're fond of British sound.
I'm sure others will chime in with their favorites.
Good luck and please post some pictures of your amps.

 

[Stildawg]

I have a pair of KEF 104/2 and they don't sound like should.

 

[damacman]

I ran my MC60s with all kinds of speakers - from B&W DM580s to Altec 14s. I never felt the amps couldn't drive them with ease. I'm not familiar with the Kefs, have you gotten better results with other amps?

How long since your MC60s were serviced?

 

[Stildawg]

I just had them recapped and refurbished last week.

 

[damacman]

Well thats pretty recent! I don't know squat about KEF speakers. Maybe the MC60s simply do not have enough power to drive them to realistic levels?

 

[nalthien]

Well thats pretty recent! I don't know squat about KEF speakers. Maybe the MC60s simply do not have enough power to drive them to realistic levels?

At 92dB sensitive, the MC60s should be able to drive them to 103dB at a 10ft distance before room reinforcement. I doubt output is a significant issue. You might try measuring your room response with REW or something similar to see if you're encountering issues in your room that are making your speakers sound off.

 

[SoCal Sam]

MC-60's with Yamaha NS-1000M's is an absolute joy.

 

[TR6man98]

I have a pair of KEF 104/2 and they don't sound like should.

Is that with MC60s (only) or with other amps as well?
It might be speaker issue, not sure why would be the amp...

 

[L-82]

I have Vandersteen that sound greeeeeat with my MC2505

 

[nj pheonix]

I have 104-2s. I think the Mac drives them fine. I just think the highs on the Kefs are a bit rolled off. I tend to run them with Polk RTI A9s. Really a nice combo (a bit over your budget). I have a pair of AR 9s getting refoamed that i want to try. I'll get back on those.

 

[bcarey13]

well I just subscribed to this thread and will give my input soon. My MC-60's will be back to me next week after a refurb from Yves at Vintage Vacuum. I will be trying them with ADS 1530's and 1290's as well as Klipsch KLF-20's and some Infinity Kappa's

 

[SilverTpt999]

They're great for treble, when paired with solid state assistance on the bass, on almost any biamp-capable speaker. Lots of people do this with Martin Logans, for example, which are probably too inefficient for them alone in most settings. Gives you the best of both worlds. Also makes speaker sensitivity worries a thing of the past as the full 60w/ch to treble drivers will, in most cases, essentially melt them.

 

[twiiii]

I had MC 60's pushing Altec Coronados and then Carmels. Both very close to 100 db efficiency and the amps worked great. Custmers used MC 60's with Klipsch Cornwalls and Cornerhorns with great success. When I had my 3 channel set up using Bozak Symphonies and home made version of a 305, my Mc 60's and 240 did a great job. A friend of mine still has his MC 60's and C-11 driving Altec 619's in custom ported 6.5 cu ft enclosures and the sound is great. I've heard MC60's drive Concert Grands, Altec 604's, Valencias, and Capistranos and JBL Paragons with great success. They did a great job cooling off the ring radiator which could be very nasty. I imagine in small rooms you could drive almost anything but panel speakers, they are so inefficient. I would look for speakers over 96 db efficiency. But then again if you don't like to blow the walls down speakers with 90 db+ efficiency might be acceptable. Remember on a good day a tuned up 60 can produce over 80 watts before clipping and that's only db or so less that a brand new 275.

 

[62caddy]

I tend to run them with Polk RTI A9s. Really a nice combo (a bit over your budget). I have a pair of AR 9s getting refoamed that i want to try. I'll get back on those.

The boys over at the Polk Forum insist - in the strongest possible language - that RTi A9 should be run by an amplifier of 200 watts minimum, preferably 500w in order to make them "sing". I guess it's an engineering term unfamiliar to me.

Agreed with damacman, Altec Model 14 would be ideal with the MC 60, while remaining well within the OP's $1,000 stated budget.