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mc250 vs mc2100

N

nuzic

New Member
It will be my first mcintosh amp and I have a choice between these two. mc250 @$375 or mc2100 @$550. Is there much difference between the two other the 50 watts and 105 watts comparison. Both are in nice shape but the 2100 looks better. :banana:
 
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You might want to ask this in the McIntosh forum, but they're both good amps, it just depends if you need the extra power to drive your speakers.
I have the Mc2105, which is like the 2100 but with meters, and it's really more amp than I need to drive my Klipsch Epic CF-4's, but then again who didn't like a little extra power in their car? I'd drive a Cobra 427 instead of a VW if I could, but it wouldn't really be needed, but I do like the extra power!!
You like the looks of the 2100 better, then go for it, as you're the one who has to keep looking at it! If it needs any going over, may I suggest you send it to Terry DeWick, like I've done with my "new" Mc gear, and have him go over it; very reasonable work of the highest order, and a great guy to deal with. He also loves and owns Mc gear himself!
Best of luck with your decision either way, you can't go wrong with vintage Mc gear!
 
I had the Mc250 and heard the Mc2100 at a shop..sizewise, the Mc2100 is a monster!!! its a nut buster for sure.

Soundwise I didnt feel that much difference, but in yoru case given the price, if the Mc2100 is in great shape I would take it...amazingly enough,,,most of the time, the MC2100 sells for less than the 250...weird collector's universe.!
 
I used and still own an MC250 that I bought new and sidelined it only b/c I bought a set of speakers that seemed to want another 3 db of power to get them to blossom and got a 2105 (2100 with meters and glass). As for the sound, they are virtually identical with the big difference being in the bass. The 250 bass is well balanced and not lacking by any means while the extra headroom of the 2105 will emphasize it a bit more on the same material. I do not play my music at high enough volumes even with my Bozaks to get the 2105 meters to deflect a whole lot so it is not that the 250 is running out of steam in the region. As to which I personally prefer, well on other than the big Bozaks, the 250 seems to give me the balance I like but then again I ran it for 30 years so have growwn accustumed to it while the 2105 have only had 5 years and still getting aclimatized to it. I think from a value perspective, the 2100 would be the way to go though you could add a second 250 and go with dual mono 100 watt amps or 4 50 watters.
 
I've always thought that the MC2100 sounded a little better than the MC250. The MC2100 will drive just about any speaker whereas the MC250 may limit you in some situations. The MC2100 is without a doubt the best value in older Mcintosh equipment.

Mike
 
Welcome nuzic! :)
It would be nice to know the speakers you are using. As already stated as the 2100 is a much better $$ value and the headroom will give you better/deeper bass if you like rock or other music that requires it. The nice thing is it does keep your options for speakers open. A set of planars would
make a 250 cry, a 2100 would drive them very decently, and 2 2100's would really make them sing. :)

Carl
 
I would get the 2100.

I have several McIntosh 250's, and they are fine amps, for sure......but I'm using them on 100+db efficient Klipsch. On the B&W's, a little extra zip is probably a good thing.

Besides, it's in better shape, and there's nothing as visually pleasing in the rack than a nice shiny Mac! :yes:
 
No decision neccessary.

Buy both,and an active crossover.Bypass the internal crossovers in the B+W's.Use the 250 on the treble,the 2100 on the bass.Then give up buying equipment,sit back and enjoy the music. :yes:
 
Both amps belong to first solid state MAC generation, I have been appreciating both, mainly the sweetness of the "baby" (as we call the 250/2505 here in Italy), and the exceptional dynamic power (compared with the same wattage amps designed in the same period, we are talking of the late sixties) and good sound of the 2100/2105.
I owned both, the "baby" Mac 2505 still drives a pair of new infinity, with its companion C28, while I recently sold a 2100 to buy another vintage solid state amp, Audio Research D-100, to be used as treble-amp in my main system (Linn Genki cd player, McIntosh MR-78 tuner, Audio Research LS-7, AM Audio AS-207 electronic x-over, McIntosh MC-7150 as bass-amp, JBL 4333A Studio Monitor)
Better if I had kept my MC-2100...
Marco from Milan (Italy)
 
Nuzic, great question. Had the same one awhile back. Bought 1 of each. I'm about 12 months into the comparison and have decided to keep BOTH. Couldn't be happier (unless they had tubes of course)! Just like children, I can't say I like one better than the other. They each offer a little something different to my ears. I like to call them Dr. Evil and Mini-Me. The 250 will give you a hernia if you pick it up and the 2100 will make you blow out a disc. If $ is an issue, buy the 250 and be prepared to quite possibly find it is plenty good. My 250 is presently driving a pair Ohm Walsh here in the office. The 2100 pushes a crazy little pair of JBLs at home. Both are pure joy.
 
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