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McIntosh Amp Question

MX117.MC7150

MX117.MC7150

Listener
Which was the first McIntosh solid-state amp to be direct-coupled? The newest amp I've got the schematic for is the MC2125 and it is cap-coupled, so I am guessing the MC2155/MC2205/MC2555 are, as well (please correct me if I'm wrong). How about the MC7270/MC150 and newer solid-state amps? Still have caps in audio signal circuit?
 
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I have recapped several amps from the 2505 to the 300 and the input sections were all capacitor coupled. The last cap always seemed to be the input to the driver circuitry. I am not familiar with any amps beyond the 300.

Quite a few years ago I owned a JBL SA-600 with the famous direct coupled T-Circuit power amp (like a big op-amp). They advertised this design extensively. The funny thing was, the preamp circuitry was loaded with coupling caps.
 
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McIntosh amps are either transformer/autoformer coupled or direct coupled. This refers to the output section design. As far as capacitors in the audio path all models use these which in no way seem to be an issue with sound quality.

thanks,
Ron-C
 
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I don't know which McIntosh solid state amplifier model was the first to have direct coupled output, but I can say thay my two MC 7200 amps have direct coupled output, lacking the heavy autoformers. Nice sound from these. My other McIntosh amps all have the famous autoformers. - greybeard
 
Other than most of the receivers and integrateds the MC502 and MC2002 were the first amps to not have autoformers for budget considerations. The MC752 was based on the output stage of the MAC4100 so it never had an autoformer in it's design. All these amps preceeded the MC7200 which was the first amp of the Clarion design era.
 
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Should have been more specific........... am not interested in amps that do not have autoformers. Am wondering if any of the autoformer amps have direct-coupled circuit architecture up to the autoformers or they all cap-coupled to this day? Per ron-c's input, seems that they are cap-coupled. Thanks.
 
MC7200 was designed way before Clarion bought McIntosh. Clarion did not have any input to the design of McIntosh amps other than requesting full glass panels on the face of the amp in place of the half glass design. This was accomplished when the first water jet machine was installed.
MC7200 was designed to run very low impedance speakers so it is very overbuilt for 4 or 8 ohm use.

Thanks,
Ron Cornelius
 
Do remember DOB and GG talking up aspects of the MC7300 while in development but can remember no such thing for the radical changes in the MC7200 design.

With a price point so close to the MC7300 made it tough to inventory for so limited need.
 
MC7200 was designed to drive speakers that dipped to one ohm loads such as Infinity Kappas which it drove without problem. MC7200 uses 14, 250 watt output devices per channel so it is a bit of a brute.

Thanks,
Ron-C
 
The design difference between a MC7300 and MC7200 are interesting, being that I am currently wrapping up and listening to a recapped and refurbished Mc7300 I sold back in '90 or so.
 
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