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Mc Intosh 250 / C26 help.

T

Tim Randle

New Member
I’ve just inherited these two components. I have no idea how to hook these together. Also, if I have just the 250 with inputs, it only operates in the mono side. Not stereo. Is the switch bad? Any help or diagrams are appreciated. I’m not audio savvy. Thanks in advance.
 
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you know you will need a tuner and phono or a cd player to make music. You have the amp and preamp two very important pieces and what you have is very hi end stuff. your amp hooks into that preamp and then you hook your tuner or cd or phono or all of the above into your preamp in order to play music. I hope this helps You some and welcome to AK Tim!
 
The c26 is the preamp, and the simplest way to work it is to hook your sources into the c26, then use rca cables to connect main outputs on the c26 to the inputs in the mc250.

It could be the switch. Deoxit the switch and work it a bunch of times to try to clean it up. Try running your cd player directly into the mc250 to figure out if that is the problem. If no luck, then you will have to dig in to figure it out.
 
Ok. Thanks for all the help. I’ve hooked up a CD player into the 250 alone and I can only get the volume dials to work in mono. When in switch to stero only one works. As for that c26. I’m baffled by it. I was under the impression that was a amp also. So I put the CD player into it and hooked up speakers and nothing comes out. Is there a place to find manuals for this? I appreciate and apologized to those rolling their eyes. I never heard of McIntosh before.
 
Audiokarma maintains a database at Akdatabase.org, a c26 and mc250 manual should be there.

If you get both channels from the amp in mono but only one in stereo it well could be a issue with the switch or possibly a input board issue.

Switch cleaning is always a starting point for these 50 year old units.

It was not uncommon, back in the 60s! to hook the amps speaker output back into the preamp to provide both headphone listening and speaker 1 and 2 switching.
 
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It has only been 50 years, 1967, since those units were introduced and were a new product.....surprised your benefactor had not shown them off to you years ago.
 
These are from a distant relative who lives out of state. My family knew I was looking for a new stereo and asked me if I would like these from his estate.The only thing I knew about him is that he had very expensive taste.
 
Thanks! I’ve been reading up on the past few days about these. Honestly unless your a audio person I don’t think anybody else is ever heard of the stuff. I thought high-end was like Pioneer and Kenwood. I also can’t believe how expensive it is! The new stuff is very beautiful. I like the green and the blue. I’ve been playing almost everything I own today through this amp! I will definitely be a fan for life!
 
Congratulations on your "new" McIntosh units.

Welcome to AK.
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Tim Randle said:
Thanks! I’ve been reading up on the past few days about these. Honestly unless your a audio person I don’t think anybody else is ever heard of the stuff. I thought high-end was like Pioneer and Kenwood. I also can’t believe how expensive it is! The new stuff is very beautiful. I like the green and the blue. I’ve been playing almost everything I own today through this amp! I will definitely be a fan for life!
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Keep in mind that both of these units are 45 or so years old. As good as they sound, they may be due for a refresh as components within them have likely drifted from tolerance. Use and enjoy them until that time comes.

Keep in mind that the MC250 was among the very first solid state amplifiers offered by McIntosh and the C26 the 2nd solid state preamp offered by McIntosh. When performing to spec, each is still quite capable even when compared to modern equipment.
 
Yes, thanks for the info! I’ve been emailing a few of my friends about this experience. They never had heard about this company. It seems so elusive to the general public. I’m guessing from the price or high end dealers.

Crazy. It’s like I just discovered Ferrari or Porsche and have been in Chevy or Ford my whole life.
 
Your experience is just beginning. If this equipment is new to you with little out of pocket, I would spend some time researching technicians in your area.

With them both working, a reasonably little amount of money will give you comfort that they are performing as they should. Many technicians will also touch base with you to confirm that the pieces they have worked on are set up correctly -- they will want you to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

You have great pieces, and they may well have been previously serviced. Someone with expensive taste might move to other equipment as these aged. By holding onto them, you have a level of confidence that they were well cared for.
 
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