Would Like To Know What Audiokarma Owners Think Of The Ma-230 Integrated Amplifier That Is In Spec. Have Owned The Unit Since (new) Just Had It Gone Over At Audio Classics With New 7591 (nos)westinghouse Output Tubes+ Tulfunken Tubes And Some Caps Changed In It.all I Can Say Is( Wow)what A Unbeleiveable Unit
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Mcintosh Ma-230 What Owners Think
- Thread starter RED1TOP
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wajobu
Boing Boom Tschak
Since new!--impressive. I'm sure it will last as long (again as much) as it did to start. I haven't heard an MA-230 before and I wonder if it has a similar circuit design to an MC-225...if so, I'm sure it sounds just wonderful.
http://www.roger-russell.com/amppre.htm#ma230
http://www.roger-russell.com/amppre.htm#ma230
Destructor
Super Member
The 230 was my first MAC unit and I was awed by it's performance, that being said a vintage Mac tube pre from that era will best the SS pre in the 230. I have bypassed the pre in my 230 and use as a stand alone tube amp with my restored/upgraded MX110. I may change it back to it's original configuration soon and restore it as it is all original except output tubes.
dewickt
Will fix about Anything
The MA230 is not the same as a MC225, it uses a different topology for driver, phase inverter, and transformer windings. I also have a 230 though in only fair/poor cosmetic condition it still sounds very good in all original condition. The 230 responds will to updates, both in the preamp, drivers, and power supply, when updated it is very sweet and musical.
I had a MA230 for five years back in the '70s, McIntosh's first integrated amp. It was a solid state preamp with a tube power amp. I bought it from the original owner, but it had a bad frying noise in the right channel, so he hadn't used it in years. I paid $250 for it.
A McIntosh clinic came to town about a month later, and a fine gentleman named Dave O'Brien repaired it with all new transistors and capacitors in the preamp for both channels, explaining to me that the old transistors from 1963 were not as quiet as the newer 1974 transistors he was installing. He also installed a complete set of new tubes, all at no charge. He never looked at a service manual or a schematic while he was working on the preamp, and I asked him about that. He told me he knew the MA230 like the back of his hand. When he was done with the repairs, the amp tested 20Hz to 20KHz flat at 30 watts per channel with .5% distoration. I got a graph from Dave that showed the performance of my MA230. He placed a silver label on the back of the chassis with his initials and the date, and I carried the amp home. It performed flawlessly.
Three years later the McIntosh clinic returned to town, so I carried the MA230 back down to the stereo store just to see how it was doing. Dave O'Brien was still doing the clinics. Although he didn't remember me, he immediately recognized his initials on the silver label he had put on the chassis. He smiled, and I could see he was proud of his work. He tested the MA230, and it was still in spec. He installed a new set of output tubes just for fun, I think, and a second silver label with his initials and date. Again, no charge. He gave me my new performance graph, and back home I went with my amp. Man, those were the good old days.
Two years later a friend offered me $500 for the MA230, so I sold it, took that money and $500 more, went to the McIntosh dealer and bought a brand new MAC1900 receiver.
It was amazing, I paid $250 for the MA230, it was repaired by McIntosh for free, including new tubes twice, I enjoyed it for five years, and sold it for a $250 profit. That was a sweet deal. Naturally, I have very fond memories of the MA230. I wish I had kept it. Dave O'Brien passed away in 2007, and I would like to be able to still see his initials on those two McIntosh service clinic stickers. Hind sight is always 20/20.
A McIntosh clinic came to town about a month later, and a fine gentleman named Dave O'Brien repaired it with all new transistors and capacitors in the preamp for both channels, explaining to me that the old transistors from 1963 were not as quiet as the newer 1974 transistors he was installing. He also installed a complete set of new tubes, all at no charge. He never looked at a service manual or a schematic while he was working on the preamp, and I asked him about that. He told me he knew the MA230 like the back of his hand. When he was done with the repairs, the amp tested 20Hz to 20KHz flat at 30 watts per channel with .5% distoration. I got a graph from Dave that showed the performance of my MA230. He placed a silver label on the back of the chassis with his initials and the date, and I carried the amp home. It performed flawlessly.
Three years later the McIntosh clinic returned to town, so I carried the MA230 back down to the stereo store just to see how it was doing. Dave O'Brien was still doing the clinics. Although he didn't remember me, he immediately recognized his initials on the silver label he had put on the chassis. He smiled, and I could see he was proud of his work. He tested the MA230, and it was still in spec. He installed a new set of output tubes just for fun, I think, and a second silver label with his initials and date. Again, no charge. He gave me my new performance graph, and back home I went with my amp. Man, those were the good old days.
Two years later a friend offered me $500 for the MA230, so I sold it, took that money and $500 more, went to the McIntosh dealer and bought a brand new MAC1900 receiver.
It was amazing, I paid $250 for the MA230, it was repaired by McIntosh for free, including new tubes twice, I enjoyed it for five years, and sold it for a $250 profit. That was a sweet deal. Naturally, I have very fond memories of the MA230. I wish I had kept it. Dave O'Brien passed away in 2007, and I would like to be able to still see his initials on those two McIntosh service clinic stickers. Hind sight is always 20/20.
Vintage Pete
Mixing classic & current
Looks like I have Dave's autograph too?
Dan,
You got me curious and so I pulled my Amplifier Clinic report dated August 2, 1976-for a clinic held in Binghamton, NY at that time. I didn't own any McIntosh at the time, but having grown up in the area, I was very often tuned into MAC's activities.
I had taken my Crown DC-300 Amplifier to the clinic (they would test any amplifier by any manufacturer) and sure enough, the report was initialed on the "tested by" line "D.O.B."
I wasn't given a McIntosh "performance certified" sticker for the amp, however. Perhaps they were out of them, or maybe more likely the stickers were only intended to adorn MAC Amps.
My DC-300 tested spendidly however, with a ruler flat line very near zero for both channels' distortion figures.
Pete
Dan,
You got me curious and so I pulled my Amplifier Clinic report dated August 2, 1976-for a clinic held in Binghamton, NY at that time. I didn't own any McIntosh at the time, but having grown up in the area, I was very often tuned into MAC's activities.
I had taken my Crown DC-300 Amplifier to the clinic (they would test any amplifier by any manufacturer) and sure enough, the report was initialed on the "tested by" line "D.O.B."
I wasn't given a McIntosh "performance certified" sticker for the amp, however. Perhaps they were out of them, or maybe more likely the stickers were only intended to adorn MAC Amps.
My DC-300 tested spendidly however, with a ruler flat line very near zero for both channels' distortion figures.
Pete
Destructor
Super Member
I paid 500 for mine in the 1990's. It has worked flawlessly but it is still 100% original except for RCA output tubes. My mod to a stand alone tube amp was simply a disconnect of the input to the 12AX7. Time to change it back and replace some critical components. I paired it with an MR67 which I often still use. The MA230 started me down the McIntosh road. I also also own a beautifull MX110 which I restored/upgraded, it's my best preamp. Eventually I want to get a 70's SS Mac.
audio-ed
Well-Known Member
I talked a friend of mine out of a ma-230 about 5 years ago. I knew it had an issue or two but I had to have it. After listening to it for the better part of a year I started looking for someone to repair it.Called audioclassics and they wanted close to $1000 to restore it .I had just found audiokarma and started looking for advice . That advice was send it to Terry DeWick.So I sent it to him and when it returned wow.He repaired just what needed to be repaired .He has since repaired my ma-6100 and i'm trying to decide what to send him next my mac 1700 for a tune up or my H.H. Scott 229b.Anyway the ma-230 is a keeper I'll never sell it.
Very cool. Yep, that's how he initialed the silver stickers, D.O.B. It's a small world, isn't it Pete. Audio Classics sells a 53 page book Dave wrote about the McIntosh Clinics. I might have to order it.
AudioClassics1
Super Member
That book is a great read! We were lucky enough to work with Dave while he was writing that book. He really had so many great stories....even more than what is in the book! We did get to spend quite a bit of time with him over the last few years of life. He lived and breathed McIntosh....and I am sure had blue blood in his veins! He was a great man & a great representative of McIntosh. He is missed.
toddbailey
Active Member
It's a great sounding amp. Wish it had a bit more power however.
I've had it a year and had to rebuild it a bit, new output trans, psu and bypass caps.
Now I'm having volume control noise issues, any one have a replacement source/part numbers?
Mac has none available..
I've had it a year and had to rebuild it a bit, new output trans, psu and bypass caps.
Now I'm having volume control noise issues, any one have a replacement source/part numbers?
Mac has none available..
If you scroll down to the bottom of this (or any AK page), you will see the links to AK Sponsors - of which DeWick Repairs is one.
You may also want to consider Audio Classics (Vestal NY) or the Audio Doctor (Phoenix AZ) depending on your location.
I would trust any of those three places to properly restore your MA230.
nj pheonix
Lunatic Member
I had one done over by Terry a bit ago. Really a nice piece. In fact I was surprised how good the early SS preamp section was. I have been slowly pairing down. I'm not unhappy with anything that's passed through recently. Terry is great to work with. When I dealt with him he had a 4 or 6 week backlog (maybe longer). I can't see you being unhappy with the outcome. They're really nice units
twiiii
Lunatic Member
MY FIRST MAC set up was a MR-67 and a MA 230. I had taken in my Scott integrated amp and the only way to get it to meet specs from 30 to 10,000 Hz was at half power. Davie O brien tested a MA 230 and it clipped 37 watts with 2% distortion according to my test result chart. It had .22 % distortion at 20,000 and .18 % at 20 hz worst channel new out of the Box. 2 years later the distortion had crept up to over .5 on one channel and Davie replaced all the tubes. The culprit was one of the drivers. I don't know why the 230 had such a poor signal to noise rating because I never heard any noise from my Stephens or Altec Coronado speakers and they were very efficient.
When I changed to Bozaks I stepped up to a 240 and C-22. Looking for a little warmer sound, which was the rage then. I had a chance to purchase my 230 back years down the road and regret not having done so. It would be the only Tube piece I would consider having again. Unless I was filthy rich. MC 3500's!!!!!!! Good Listening.
When I changed to Bozaks I stepped up to a 240 and C-22. Looking for a little warmer sound, which was the rage then. I had a chance to purchase my 230 back years down the road and regret not having done so. It would be the only Tube piece I would consider having again. Unless I was filthy rich. MC 3500's!!!!!!! Good Listening.
There is an MA230 on Ebay right now...with a steep price, $1750. He says its was recently "serviced" which could mean anything, like they put a new power cord on it. He says he bought it from Audio Classics. Would Audio Classics have restored this before they sold it?
I'm really tempted to make him an offer on it.
I'm really tempted to make him an offer on it.
I don't know if there is even a consensus of what a restoration of a MA230 consists of let alone what a reseller actually did.
I do not believe that AC regularly "restores" the units they resell but do have the reputation of repairing what might be faulty and do warranty their sold products.
I do not believe that AC regularly "restores" the units they resell but do have the reputation of repairing what might be faulty and do warranty their sold products.
