MC7300 lights bug me

[AndyPrice44]

Hello,

Owners of the MC7300 or MC7270, I have a question for you. On my MC7300 amp, the backlighting is much brighter on the Mcintosh logo and the model number in between the meters. The "digital dynamic stereo power amplifier"
below is much dimmer. The word stereo in the description is brighter but the words digital and amplifier are almost unreadable in the dark. I am trying to figure out how to make all the backlighting even and readable in the dark. I have pulled the glass and did check that all bulbs are working. The clear light deflector is in place as well. My MC7300 only has 4 bulbs. It seems like it needs more than that. Has anyone ever added more bulbs? I am including a pic so you can see what I am talking about. It doesn't look as bad in the picture but, it is noticeably dimmer in person.

 

[steelgtr]

Nice amp

 

[damacman]

How long has it been since fresh bulbs were installed? My MC2600 is of the same era and although only the meters are backlit, an 8-pack of fresh bulbs really helped it glow.

 

[twiiii]

When the 7005 CD payer was introduced Mac intentionally emphasized some words and letter over others as they have with many products. In fact everything I own the word Mcintosh is highlighted compared to other lettering. Smaller lettering is even dimmer than emphasized letter. My MR-80, 78, C-34, MC2505, Mpi-4, MC207's, Mc-206, MX-120, MAC-3, MVP861, all suffer from three levels of lighting. Right now the MC-2505 has two burned out bulbs, so, thanks! I will be replacing them soon. What's really an issue is the meter color of the 206 and MC2505 match perfectly, the 207's are the new blue! I really prefer the older green myself.

If you ever gone to a live ballet production and seen Les Sylphides or Swan lake, Capella, etc, the blue ballets referring to the strong stage blue lighting, and have come out at the conclusion with your eyes running and not being able to focus, you will know why I don't like blue meters.

 

[playdrv4me]

Hello,

Owners of the MC7300 or MC7270, I have a question for you. On my MC7300 amp, the backlighting is much brighter on the Mcintosh logo and the model number in between the meters. The "digital dynamic stereo power amplifier"
below is much dimmer. The word stereo in the description is brighter but the words digital and amplifier are almost unreadable in the dark. I am trying to figure out how to make all the backlighting even and readable in the dark. I have pulled the glass and did check that all bulbs are working. The clear light deflector is in place as well. My MC7300 only has 4 bulbs. It seems like it needs more than that. Has anyone ever added more bulbs? I am including a pic so you can see what I am talking about. It doesn't look as bad in the picture but, it is noticeably dimmer in person.

That would bug me enough that I'd almost just rather not have that section of words lit up at all if there's not a way to make it even.

 

[jlovda]

I believe it is very precise alignment of the clear plastic light diffuser as well as the condition of the white screen printing that makes a difference. It can turn "yellowish" over time from heat. The alignment involves both X-Y positioning and distance from the back of the glass. This Z distance is controlled by the thickness of the double sided tape. My MX130 has three spots that are quite dim and there really doesn't seem to be much I can do about it since the plastic has been attached to the glass with double sided tape.

 

[AndyPrice44]

When I got the amp from audio classics, It had a cracked glass panel. I purchased a new panel from Tom at Mcintosh audio and had it shipped up to audio classics to be installed before they shipped it to me. I did look at the double sided stick tape and at first glance it looked too thick. I don't know what the correct size tape is but, it looks to be almost a quarter inch thick. I wondered why they would leave such an air gap between the light diffuser and the glass panel. The white silk screen looks to be in good condition.

Damacman- Fresh bulbs were installed at audio classics before they shipped it to me. I might contact dwogo and see if I can purchase some brighter bulbs to replace the bottom three. I will leave the top one original as it lights the logo and it is already bright enough.

 

[leftside]

The 7270 only has the McIntosh word lit up. I almost think it is worth getting the 7300 just to have the extra lights

 

[Panotaker]

Mine was like that when I first bought it. I bought mine after a fresh rebuilt including a new face plate. Mine wasn't bright either in the same places. The words Digital and Amplifier where not as bright as the two middle words. One day, not long after I got it, one of those blue jells in front of the meter fell down about a 1/4 inch, so I took it back and asked him if he could make those two words brighter while he had it a part. I watched him adjust everything behind the glass, but I don't know exactly what he did, but it is brighter now and looks fantastic. It's still not perfect, but it's a lot better than it was. Now that I have owned it a while, it doesn't bother me since I spend most of the time looking at the big blue meters.

 

[jlovda]

Mine was like that when I first bought it. I bought mine after a fresh rebuilt including a new face plate. Mine wasn't bright either in the same places. The words Digital and Amplifier where not as bright as the two middle words. One day, not long after I got it, one of those blue jells in front of the meter fell down about a 1/4 inch, so I took it back and asked him if he could make those two words brighter while he had it a part. I watched him adjust everything behind the glass, but I don't know exactly what he did, but it is brighter now and looks fantastic. It's still not perfect, but it's a lot better than it was. Now that I have owned it a while, it doesn't bother me since I spend most of the time looking at the big blue meters.

If you look at the location of the bulbs sometimes you can see why a spot is dim. The bulb could be located such that the light is partially blocked where you want it. In the case of your amp the inside bottom corners of the meters could be the culprit. The Power Guard lamp board could also be affecting the Mac logo. My MX130 has a problem with the tuner window blocking some words.

 

[AndyPrice44]

Panotaker -

That does look brighter than my MC7300. I Tried to use some aluminum faced tape last night. I added it on the back of the light diffuser to hopefully reflect more light forward. I had high hopes for this but, it made no difference. I am going to keep trying to see if I can solve this

PS. I am really loving this MC7300 by the way. The C40 - MC7300 combo is wonderful. I play some digital playlist in the morning and then spin some vinyl in the afternoon when I get back from work. My B&W 804D's have never sounded so good.

 

[playdrv4me]

Mine was like that when I first bought it. I bought mine after a fresh rebuilt including a new face plate. Mine wasn't bright either in the same places. The words Digital and Amplifier where not as bright as the two middle words. One day, not long after I got it, one of those blue jells in front of the meter fell down about a 1/4 inch, so I took it back and asked him if he could make those two words brighter while he had it a part. I watched him adjust everything behind the glass, but I don't know exactly what he did, but it is brighter now and looks fantastic. It's still not perfect, but it's a lot better than it was. Now that I have owned it a while, it doesn't bother me since I spend most of the time looking at the big blue meters.

Lol. On yours the bottom words do indeed look much more even, but your "MC7300" seems a bit dark (and it may just be this pic).

It would probably bother my OCD initially but eventually I'd probably just get used to however it is and enjoy the music.