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Mcintosh mc 2500

georgedannyg

Well-Known Member
I’ve had a Mcintosh mc 2500 I’ve had for a while and never could figure out why it wouldn’t work and it is the submarine model well pulled out started looking at it again and found it has to different driver boards in it on is a 045-900 and the other driver board is a 046-071 The serial number is cs2679
 
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I do not know what a "submarine " model is but as for any repair there are basic steps that your local tech should go through starting at the power supply to sort out why yours is not functioning. Board numbers do not mean much other than making sure you use the correct schematic. Parts go obsolete and production stops so new boards numbers are equipped with replacements and any circuit mods to cause them to work the same as other boards.

I have had it confirmed that a MC2300 amp was/is used in US LA attack subs but I doubt any would ever show up in the cilviian market after these subs are decommissioned due to what they were used for.
 
I’ve had a Mcintosh mc 2500 I’ve had for a while and never could figure out why it wouldn’t work and it is the submarine model well pulled out started looking at it again and found it has to different driver boards in it on is a 045-900 and the other driver board is a 046-071 The serial number is cs2679
I bought it 13 years ago out of Virginia it is pretty rough
 
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I bought it 13 years ago out of Virginia it is pretty rough
It
I’ve had a Mcintosh mc 2500 I’ve had for a while and never could figure out why it wouldn’t work and it is the submarine model well pulled out started looking at it again and found it has to different driver boards in it on is a 045-900 and the other driver board is a 046-071 The serial number is cs2679
 
Unfortunately, it doesn't have audio autoformers. Rather, it has special autoformers with outputs suitable for modulating sonar, etc. In addition to an impedance mismatch, the amplifier may also have a limited bandwidth or one that simply isn't suited for listening to music - 50Hz to 50kHz for example. If you call McIntosh and provide the model number from the rear panel, they should be able to give you the specifics.

I recall a stack (like 20pcs) of these and similarly modified MC2600s being sold on eBay 20yrs ago ...
 
Where are the heat sinks? I don't doubt it is a commercial design but I doubt it was ever in a sub.
 
Someone has swapped meter bezels. I bought some aftermarket ones with same silver highlights. Sure does appear this amp was A kball queen missing heat sinks and all the transistors. What is still left underneath? Are the big silver caps gone too? It does not have the power guard overide switch.
 
I bought it 13 years ago out of Virginia it is pretty rough
All heat sinks are out of it testing the outputs and yes the big cans are still in there the meter bezels I put in cause the other ones were in were broke. I’ll star process of elimination I’ll rebuild the power supply and start from there when I bought it I was told it was out of a old submarine and the way the taps are on it and I even call terry dewick 3years ago and talk to him about it and he said that it was a submarine model so who know I’ve rebuilt my McIntosh mc 2300 and rebuilt my c28 just need to wrap my head around this one
 
All heat sinks are out of it testing the outputs and yes the big cans are still in there the meter bezels I put in cause the other ones were in were broke. I’ll star process of elimination I’ll rebuild the power supply and start from there when I bought it I was told it was out of a old submarine and the way the taps are on it and I even call terry dewick 3years ago and talk to him about it and he said that it was a submarine model so who know I’ve rebuilt my McIntosh mc 2300 and rebuilt my c28 just need to wrap my head around this one
I’ll contact Mcintosh and ask them about it is it even worth fixing haveing problems finding some of the transitor I appreciate your all of on it
 
I’ve had a Mcintosh mc 2500 I’ve had for a while and never could figure out why it wouldn’t work and it is the submarine model well pulled out started looking at it again and found it has to different driver boards in it on is a 045-900 and the other driver board is a 046-071 The serial number is cs2679
Just got off the phone from McIntosh talk to a lady in the service department. She ran the serial number and said it was shipped to a navel base back in the day and said she does not know if it’s capable of audio she said she will dig the the paper files and call me back she was a nice lady
 
While almost all of the original semi conductors are long out of production there are subs and subs for the subs radily available. Posted throughout this forum are replacements just search with the Mac part number from the schematic or the original number if you can decipher it from the device.

Your amp most likely served a pedestrian life in a lab running a shaker table or driving transducers researching accoustic noise supression 24/7 52 weeks of the year.

No Tom Clancy excitement but certainly a part of the serious scientific lab work behind the scenes.

When I spent a week at Crown years ago for IC training I befriended a fellow attendee who was trying to get a Crown amp approved for naval service. Invited into the far back service and prototype area there it sat.....burnt, miss shaped, but still functioning even as it was tore off the bulkhead after a missle strike.

They were trying to bulk it up to stay put so that it could continue to power the ships PA system even under the duress of a missle hit.

Only then would it be accepted into service.......an amp surviving it's own SEAL training so to speak.

Has anyone else read the naval tech paper evaluating tube amps for service from back in the 60s? I do not know if it is in the AKdatabase but has been posted in the tube forum.
 
While almost all of the original semi conductors are long out of production there are subs and subs for the subs radily available. Posted throughout this forum are replacements just search with the Mac part number from the schematic or the original number if you can decipher it from the device.

Your amp most likely served a pedestrian life in a lab running a shaker table or driving transducers researching accoustic noise supression 24/7 52 weeks of the year.

No Tom Clancy excitement but certainly a part of the serious scientific lab work behind the scenes.

When I spent a week at Crown years ago for IC training I befriended a fellow attendee who was trying to get a Crown amp approved for naval service. Invited into the far back service and prototype area there it sat.....burnt, miss shaped, but still functioning even as it was tore off the bulkhead after a missle strike.

They were trying to bulk it up to stay put so that it could continue to power the ships PA system even under the duress of a missle hit.

Only then would it be accepted into service.......an amp surviving it's own SEAL training so to speak.

Has anyone else read the naval tech paper evaluating tube amps for service from back in the 60s? I do not know if it is in the AKdatabase but has been posted in the tube forum.
Not trying to step on anyone toes when I bought it that’s what I was told and I bought it in north foke va my cousin in the nave and still is But anyway just saying what the lady from Mcintosh said when she gets back to me and tells me more I’ll let you all know would like to get her back up in running not only cause I’ve had it so long it has a history behind it would appreciate any help given some parts for the driver board are na my 2300 was eazier to fix than this amp. Have to say terry dewick talked me threw a lot of it he’s a great person and willing to help
 
A tech could test the transformers with a different functioning amp to check the actual frequency response.

I would guess that being one of the few US companies that can wind high performance transformers gives Mac a inside track for these specialty units.
 
Post some better close ups of the rear panel so that we can read the chart, etc. Keep in mind that the forum will compress the photos so close ups are better.
 
D89A1443-3685-4FB8-93B4-9CA9ABA716C1.jpeg
I’ve had a Mcintosh mc 2500 I’ve had for a while and never could figure out why it wouldn’t work and it is the submarine model well pulled out started looking at it again and found it has to different driver boards in it on is a 045-900 and the other driver board is a 046-071 The serial number is cs2679
 
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