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MC2600 - Is it the Big Dog?

I never liked attaching the "Big Dog" monicker to anything. Big dogs eat a lot more, need a five-gallon bucket to clean up after them, and they don't live nearly as long.
 
If you add a bunch of jewelry or larger handles to the 155 pound MC602 I’m sure it will pack on a few lbs and meet/exceed the 156 pound 1.25 or 158 pound 2.1KW power modules. The 155 pound MC303 is no slouch either, I’ve had a few of those too.

The heaviest single chassis unit these days is the 180 pound MC901. It doesn’t make the 155-158 pound 303/602/1.25/2.1 any lighter.
 
I worked for Rockford Fosgate for some time. In the 1980s, even before I held my first job in the industry, RF introduced a 4ch automotive power amplifier which was an honest 250wpc x 4 or 500wpc x 2 - the Power 1000. In 2004, during my tenure, we introduced the T15004 - a 4ch power amplifier that made about double the power the Power 1000 was capable of, which to my surprise didn't diminish the Power 1000s legacy in any way. Even today, there are folks out there still running these amplifiers and they never felt an upgrade was necessary. They bought the best one time and never looked back.

This is much the same with McIntosh enthusiasts who simply won't turn their MC2300s loose. After all, it was the Big Dog when they bought it in the '70s. To them, amplifiers like the MC2500, MC2600, and MC602 simply do not exist. I personally find this just absolutely fascinating. It's a bit romantic I guess - the attachment to an outdated electronic device weighing North of 125lbs. I'm also guilty as charged I suppose as I just never moved passed the 2300 / 2500 / 2600 family.

In an interesting sidebar, all of the RF Power series amplifiers of that era, the Power 300, 650, and 1000 had circuit boards which were too big to fit into the automated production machines. So, parts were stuffed and assembled in normal folks' homes looking to make some extra money, cottage industry style. Finished boards were then brought into the factory for testing and final assembly. The gentlemen that did this final assembly and testing during that time is now our production manager.
 
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, sometimes the reason people do not replace stuff has nothing to do with possible improvements having been made. Sure nothing wrong with a 2300, heck another company liked it so much they basically copied it. That is definitely high praise , because we all know that saying about imitation. Sometimes you just like something, it ' easier to not replace something than it is to replace it. I have never owned the 2300. I did have an MC 2500 and the biggest reason its not here still is it developed a flaw, which no local repair shop around here could manage to fix.

I have read there are those who have heard and lived with all three 2300/2500/2600. some of them say the 2300 beats them all, maybe it does, I can't say, I have only had one of them, and a few "too late" attempts to get a 2600.

I think sometimes a piece of gear is just made in such a way, that some people just aren't interested in replacing it. After owning a 2500 and knowing full well how heavy and cumbersome it is to transport. I only weighed about 40lbs more than the 2500 did when I got it, lol.

I think the 2105, c 28, c33, MC 2205, c2300 MC2300, MC452, MC275, seem to be the most loved pieces produced by this company. read SO many posts about each of these pieces, and so many people who have them, use them forever. in those instances, they got just about every aspect of a piece of gear right,, from the sound down to the fit and finish.

Something I forgot, perhaps the MC 2300 is so beloved, is I do not think there was an amp that compared to it at the time of it's release ( perhaps it was the ONLY dog at the time.)

have I left out a model? it seems the MC 2300 is one of a handful of special amongst all the gear produced by the first high end company in audio. McIntosh.

you don't get the amount of haters they get unless you are really doing something right.
 
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I have owned an MC300 for about six years. I'm old and it was hell getting it into my house and put into position with my adult daughter. The FedEx driver was probably not happy. This amplifier has caused me to forgo putting new carpeting in the living room where it sits. I will probably sell the house with the amp remaining in position.
 
jdwk said:
, sometimes the reason people do not replace stuff has nothing to do with possible improvements having been made. Sure nothing wrong with a 2300, heck another company liked it so much they basically copied it. That is definitely high praise , because we all know that saying about imitation. Sometimes you just like something, it ' easier to not replace something than it is to replace it. I have never owned the 2300. I did have an MC 2500 and the biggest reason its not here still is it developed a flaw, which no local repair shop around here could manage to fix.

I have read there are those who have heard and lived with all three 2300/2500/2600. some of them say the 2300 beats them all, maybe it does, I can't say, I have only had one of them, and a few "too late" attempts to get a 2600.

I think sometimes a piece of gear is just made in such a way, that some people just aren't interested in replacing it. After owning a 2500 and knowing full well how heavy and cumbersome it is to transport. I only weighed about 40lbs more than the 2500 did when I got it, lol.

I think the 2105, c 28, c33, MC 2205, c2300 MC2300, MC452, MC275, seem to be the most loved pieces produced by this company. read SO many posts about each of these pieces, and so many people who have them, use them forever. in those instances, they got just about every aspect of a piece of gear right,, from the sound down to the fit and finish.

Something I forgot, perhaps the MC 2300 is so beloved, is I do not think there was an amp that compared to it at the time of it's release ( perhaps it was the ONLY dog at the time.)

have I left out a model? it seems the MC 2300 is one of a handful of special amongst all the gear produced by the first high end company in audio. McIntosh.

you don't get the amount of haters they get unless you are really doing something right.
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The Count once called the MC2300 the Dirty Harry of all Mc amps. Fitting.

Owning them all, I can tell you with certainty they're all fine amplifiers. The 2600 power capability is roughly the equivalent of a pair of strapped 2300s and it can't be driven into clipping thanks to Power Guard. I rank them as follows: 2600 > 2500 > 2300.

Of the newer Mc amps, I called the 452 the next "classic" about the same time kev got his. I would definitely like to try one one day.
 
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