Alguymcgee
Active Member
Sad lil update... the 2155 showed up with the classic shattered face, it was even in the factory box and everything. It's being taken care of but it's gonna be a bit :*(
Mc2155 vs mc2255
- Thread starter Alguymcgee
- Start date
dangorange
Member
Sorry that’s terrible, had the exact same thing happen with a C32 a few days ago. Was the 2155 bolted down in the box?
Luckily for me I had a 2125 delivered today that made it intact, but I was expecting the worst after reading this about your 2155.
Alguymcgee
Active Member
Yeah the guy packed it exactly right. It's pretty clear that it was dropped face down, it sheered the feet of and there's an imprint of the face on the inside of the box. Glad to hear your 2125 made it in one piece. Have you heard one before?
damacman
Resident Psycho
You can no longer relay on any shipper for HiFi. The problem is the sorters in the DCs. When your 85lb amp falls off the conveyor, 5feet above the ground, and lands on the concrete below, it don't matter what box it's in and how it's secured inside. Newton's first law . . . Ask me how I know . . .
For years I've been saying McIntosh can no longer be shipped safely with the faceplate installed regardless of the packaging used! This is especially true with heavy power amplifiers with glass faceplates. Without exception, faceplate and knobs should ALWAYS be removed and shipped separately from the main unit!!!
I too would like to know whether the 2155 was bolted to the 1/2" plywood skid plate which is a requisite part of the factory packaging kit from Audio Classics or McIntosh itself. Packaging for lighter electronics such as preamps, tuners etc do not come with this; the feet cutouts in the cardboard are supposedly sufficient for these units but I don't think I would trust that system- not nowadays.
I too would like to know whether the 2155 was bolted to the 1/2" plywood skid plate which is a requisite part of the factory packaging kit from Audio Classics or McIntosh itself. Packaging for lighter electronics such as preamps, tuners etc do not come with this; the feet cutouts in the cardboard are supposedly sufficient for these units but I don't think I would trust that system- not nowadays.
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In addition, the "factory box" was 41 years old. Over time these lose their rigidity. It is always best to buy a new shipping carton from McIntosh or Audio Classics. The new cartons are thicker and have better protection between the inner and outer cartons.
Larry
Larry
Alguymcgee
Active Member
There was no plywood with the cart. And now that you mention it, I ordered a box from the factory for an mc2105 and that did not come with a plywood plank either. It's also worth noting that this was not the original factory box, but a new(ish) one ordered from the factory
Also... My shipper has a receipt for signed delivery and there wasn't even anybody at the house when it got dropped off. So just be advised that in addition to represent usual handling, your carriers may not be asking for the signatures that we all know come with this territory, just a heads up
Also... My shipper has a receipt for signed delivery and there wasn't even anybody at the house when it got dropped off. So just be advised that in addition to represent usual handling, your carriers may not be asking for the signatures that we all know come with this territory, just a heads up
That may explain why packaging from Audio Classics is slightly more expensive than from McIntosh- or so I've heard.
I still have the original box from one of my MC2125s with the original S/N stamping on the outside. I thought it had the plywood but I can't remember now. The seller packed that box within another oversized box to prevent the original from becoming damaged. The amp arrived unscathed but that was ten years ago.
@VintageMac...did they supply the plywood back in the day?
I still have the original box from one of my MC2125s with the original S/N stamping on the outside. I thought it had the plywood but I can't remember now. The seller packed that box within another oversized box to prevent the original from becoming damaged. The amp arrived unscathed but that was ten years ago.
@VintageMac...did they supply the plywood back in the day?
That's 90% of the problem right there.
"@VintageMac...did they supply the plywood back in the day?"
Yes, for those amps that were deemed heavy enough to need the stability. I can't remember if the 2105 had the plywood. Sometimes a large fender washer was used under the thick carboard and a screw went through that into the bottom of the chassis.
Yes, for those amps that were deemed heavy enough to need the stability. I can't remember if the 2105 had the plywood. Sometimes a large fender washer was used under the thick carboard and a screw went through that into the bottom of the chassis.
Was it double-boxed? All of my new McIntosh equipment comes with the inner box, amps have the wood base in the inner box, all have a second outer box with dunnage between the boxes.
Alguymcgee
Active Member
Yeah it was double boxed like a champ. It didn't have the wood plank but otherwise it was textbook
dangorange
Member
I actually have never heard a 2125 or any vintage McIntosh to be honest, I have friends with newer ones and love the sound. I prefer the look of older stuff, so decided to change things up.
Mine came in the original packing, double boxed and bolted to plywood with 3 screws. I bet the C32 would have faired better if bolted. I’m going to guess the packages were treated a lot better 40 years or so by the shippers…
Sorry to hear of your catastrophe and hopefully you have a good outcome. I guess I should count my lucky stars as my 4100 got shipped from Texas to Ct. with bare minimum packing and it arrived in perfect condition. But I also had 7084 tuner get shipped from a 2 hour drive from here and it arrived with a smashed faceplate. You just never know.
An unboxed MC2155 weighs 65 lb. The cardboard cutouts are no match for it being dropped. @VintageMac can correct me if I'm wrong but I believe new Mc product shipped to dealers would have been sent via freight on pallets. Sometime I'll have to check the original MC2125 box (which weighs an identical 65 lb as the MC2155) and verify whether the plywood was indeed furnished. The MAC4100 and MAC1500 each weigh 40 lb but the plywood wasn't used for those. The chances of transport damage has become far worse with Mc over the past several years then it had been. I have no idea what changed.
Very sorry to hear about this unfortunate experience. Hopefully a replacement MC2155 faceplate will become available soon.
Very sorry to hear about this unfortunate experience. Hopefully a replacement MC2155 faceplate will become available soon.
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Back in those days, McIntosh used distributors. They may have shipped the amps on pallets to the distributor, but when an individual dealer needed one, the distributor shipped it. I don't remember them ever coming on a pallet.
Did distributors use private carriers?
Alguymcgee
Active Member
More updates: the frame holding the glass plate is bent pretty badly underneath a few of the knobs. Said knobs still turn but require more effort, but I was able to get a new faceplate and frame. The guy at the shop said over the phone that he needs to lay eyes on it first, but he's pretty confident it will be a total loss. Like I said, I'm going to be made whole again so I'm not worried about that... I just hate to see a work of art go to waste if it doesn't have to. Now. I know how the man in black felt after beating Inigo Montoya in a duel....
The wood base is essential when shipping their amps. With the double walled inner and outer boxes and foam suspension pieces of foam between the two boxes I’m confident in items arriving intact no matter who ships it. FedEx, UPS etc.
I have shipped around 15 SS glass faced McIntosh amps over the years. Never had a broken faceplate. Never would remove glass either. If one feels like it you could remove knobs to prevent any glass damage. I would never recommend glass removal if proper packing is used.
I have shipped around 15 SS glass faced McIntosh amps over the years. Never had a broken faceplate. Never would remove glass either. If one feels like it you could remove knobs to prevent any glass damage. I would never recommend glass removal if proper packing is used.