Stereognat
Active Member
Buy McIntosh tubes. You won't regret it.
MC75 Reiussed, Did I Made the Right Chioce?
- Thread starter Seamaster
- Start date
Seamaster
Active Member
With MC75, I found the speaker placement is more finicky, because I can hear my left speaker was a few degrees off compare with the R speaker and also I had to move the floor lamp behind the speakers because it affected the sound too, with Cary, i did not notice that. MC75 sound like modern tube amps, great dynamics, excellent detail and instruments separation. The best part is their natrualness, vocal, and decay. They are very balanced amp, there is nothing sticks out.
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chuckworkb
Super Member
From personal experience I am not a fan of Gold Lion reissue power amp tubes. I had two fail and both times I had to have the amp repaired. Your Mileage May Very as they say
Seamaster
Active Member
This is a joke right?
nj pheonix
Lunatic Member
Mac never made tubes. They did label them and or had manufacturer label them for them. Whatever you decide on buy from a reputable dealer .
McIntosh does not manufacture tubes, they are just rebranded
Would love to hear a pair of those MC75's.I have the McIntosh C22 reissue Pre amp which came with marked/stenciled McIntosh USA tubes 12AX7A, made in China. They were not too bad, but I switched them for my vintage smooth plate Telefunken tubes. And what a difference! Cannot go back...
chuckworkb
Super Member
McIntosh is not the only company putting their brand on the tubes from China. If you want new production tubes, you are limited to probably a handful of manufacturers in the world with a large number of brands putting their names one all the same tubes in some cases.
damacman
Resident Psycho
Look at it like this ...
McIntosh tube amplifiers have been designed and engineered with the very tubes they're delivered with - rest assured. The specifications provided have been ascertained with these tubes installed. The included tubes were chosen for a reason.
Tube rolling has always been popular. I did lots of it when I owned vintage Mc tube amps. However, when you take a brand new McIntosh tube amplifier that meets published specs and begin swapping tubes, any difference you may hear is a result of altering the frequency response of what you started with - possibly resulting in the amplifier no longer meeting published specifications.
I say have fun but realize that large differences in perceived sound quality may be for the worse.
McIntosh tube amplifiers have been designed and engineered with the very tubes they're delivered with - rest assured. The specifications provided have been ascertained with these tubes installed. The included tubes were chosen for a reason.
Tube rolling has always been popular. I did lots of it when I owned vintage Mc tube amps. However, when you take a brand new McIntosh tube amplifier that meets published specs and begin swapping tubes, any difference you may hear is a result of altering the frequency response of what you started with - possibly resulting in the amplifier no longer meeting published specifications.
I say have fun but realize that large differences in perceived sound quality may be for the worse.
No joke, spend your money if you want to "Try" and chase a different sound out of new Mac tube amps. Most people find that it really doesn't improve SQ in rolling tubes in these new power amps. The supplied mac tubes are very good and made to mac specs and quality, you also have a 90 day warranty on them.
Are you reading some internet chatter thats saying they are bad tubes or something?
chuckworkb
Super Member
I'm pretty sure a while back Ron C of McIntosh fame had put Black Treasure KT88's in one of hs MC275 amps. 
The McIntosh tubes are fine, if you like what you hear keep them, if you get the urge to roll some tubes roll them. It's your amp do what you please. I will say that aesthetically speaking the McIntosh tubes do look great since all the lettering on the tubes is lined up to face front, something you will probably not get when you tube roll.
Anyway, has the person who started this thread gotten in some quality listening time in yet?Have you enjoyed your new amps while we all banter back and forth over tubes, and power cords, and whether gold or stainless steel is better. Let us know what you think since you've had them for several days now. Enjoy the music that's what we all buy this stuff for. Ring in the New Year with Auld Lang Syne playing through your speakers while you have a big smile on your face.
The McIntosh tubes are fine, if you like what you hear keep them, if you get the urge to roll some tubes roll them. It's your amp do what you please. I will say that aesthetically speaking the McIntosh tubes do look great since all the lettering on the tubes is lined up to face front, something you will probably not get when you tube roll. Anyway, has the person who started this thread gotten in some quality listening time in yet?Have you enjoyed your new amps while we all banter back and forth over tubes, and power cords, and whether gold or stainless steel is better. Let us know what you think since you've had them for several days now. Enjoy the music that's what we all buy this stuff for.
Ring in the New Year with Auld Lang Syne playing through your speakers while you have a big smile on your face.
Seamaster
Active Member
I'm pretty sure a while back Ron C of McIntosh fame had put Black Treasure KT88's in one of hs MC275 amps.
Anyway, has the person who started this thread gotten in some quality listening time in yet?Have you enjoyed your new amps while we all banter back and forth over tubes, and power cords, and whether gold or stainless steel is better. Let us know what you think since you've had them for several days now. Enjoy the music that's what we all buy this stuff for.
I have been smiling since I got them, in fact, my facial muscle is experiencing fatigue from smiling. I even called-in sick to stay home and listen to them today. I think MC75 is the end game for me, or......McIntosh makes new production MC240.....let's hope not. To me, I would like to bring MC75's vocal froward just a hair. When I calibrate my brain with their sound signature then I will roll some tubes and report back.
BTW my setup:
McIntosh D150
Dehavilland Ultraverve 3 with Mundrof Gold Sliver Oil caps (I am not sure a Mac pre can do better than this one, I have to find out, it does have wonderful synergy with MC75)
MC75
Tannoy Turnberry
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chuckworkb
Super Member
Seamaster
Active Member
I had those speakers about over 4 years (hard to remember), I had Martin Logan before the Tannoy. I personally owned Melody M880, Pass Lab X250, Sansui BA-F1, Cary 805C, Sony TA-N77ES (x2), Sony TA3200F, and MA6900 and some other less mentionable amps. New Tannoy speakers like mine only need 20 quality watt to sound great, they can take as much as 200 watt with no stress. I used to listen them with Sony TA-N77ES (but need a warm pre). In fact, if talking about bass alone, Sony TA-N77ES is better than MC75. I final goal is Tannoy Canterbury for speakers. I almost never had an amp that sound bad with Turnberry as long as the amp is not super bright. The lowest power amp I had was15 tube Watts. With MC75, I have miles of headroom, my pre is only at 40% volume in the living room.
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ClaytonD
Member
Nah, he doesn't need to spend that kind of money. His speakers doesn't even need 75 Watts, let alone double that! So, he's got plenty. I'd imagine using the entire 75 watts with his speaks would be ear bleeding judging by their sensitivity. He's fineOr two MC275 mono blocked....
Might I add that two 275's would be way over 10 grand. 