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McIntosh MC 7200

Black.Audio.Co

Black.Audio.Co

Member
Hi Friends,

Need an opinion on a Mcintosh MC7200 amp. I am currently using a Sansui CA / BA 3000 set.

1. Will it be a good upgrade and will I be able to hear the difference?

2. I plan to use my Sansui CA 3000 as a preamp in the meanwhile till a good Mcintosh preamp is available. And Should I pair this with a McIntosh SS amp or any recommended tube amp?

3. Anybody have a user manual or service manual for this amp?

4. Anything negative about This amp apart from having no autoformers?

Thanks in advance for the help. Sorry for asking but the last thread for the MC 2300 was a dead end chase for me :( These units are rare here.

Best Regards

pics are of the actual unit
 

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Google Berner's Compendium for a manual on this unit.

I much prefer the McIntosh gear and the sound they produce, however, I've not compared the two units you listed directly.
 
Black.Audio.Co said:
Hi Friends,

Need an opinion on a Mcintosh MC7200 amp. I am currently using a Sansui CA / BA 3000 set.

1. Will it be a good upgrade and will I be able to hear the difference?

2. I plan to use my Sansui CA 3000 as a preamp in the meanwhile till a good Mcintosh preamp is available. And Should I pair this with a McIntosh SS amp or any recommended tube amp?

3. Anybody have a user manual or service manual for this amp?

4. Anything negative about This amp apart from having no autoformers?

Thanks in advance for the help. Sorry for asking but the last thread for the MC 2300 was a dead end chase for me :( These units are rare here.

Best Regards

pics are of the actual unit
Click to expand...
Here's an earlier related thread:
http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/mc7200-questions.511189/
 
You don't mention a budget for this amp and possible Mac preamp. Looking at your photos, the glass seems to have some disfigurations especially above the 'McIntosh' logo or is that just the photo itself? Are you really looking for an autoformer amp or did you just mention it in passing? These are some questions that would need answered.
 
Thanks for the Help,

I think there is some discolouration on the glass panel. I will see what to do with it or replace a new one if I decide to keep the amp long term.

And I have been looking for a McIntosh amp for quite a while. This one seems in good shape so I want to check it out. I understand from various threads that I read that McIntosh sounds the same with or without the autoformers. I may be wrong here but am going tomorrow to listen to it and I f i like it then I will pick it up.
 
I own a mc7200 and c35 preamp. I love the sound and the look. The condition of that face is not great. You will want to get a price on new glass and see how that impacts your budget. Or just live with it. I have a manual and could copy and send to you if you don't have any luck find one online. PM me if you need it.

I don't know if you will like it better then the Sansui. Very great unit as well. One thing nice about the mc7200 is it is one ohm stable so it is ideal for hard to drive speakers.
 
IIRC, you don't come across many McIntosh amps where you live. The MC7200 has quite a loyal following - go for it and good luck!
 
A friend of mine had a 7200 to drive 4 Mac ML-1c stacked as wanted a small foot print. Another drove stacked pairs of B&O 5700's. A friend of mine who loves Sansui and has multiple units to drive her many Bozaks has a 7200 to drive the woofers only in a bi amped system. She says if any thing the amp is so neutral that it never calls to itself. She has had learned to appreciate the amp. She likes electronics with a character so she can swap things around to get the balance she likes. All my friends have been happy with their 7200's. Especially when driving lower impedances as the amp operating below 4 ohms is truly amazing. 525 watts per channel at 2 ohms. It was the first Mac SS amp I personally felt brought Mcintosh into a new realm of sound reproduction. Sweet highs, tight bass and gorgeous midrange. Speakers that sounded a little muffled opened up. Woofers were faster with greater speed and more punch. Tweeters that could be a little irritating seemed to find new life. My speakers don't like amps with low damping factor. So other owners and I bi-amp allow ing the amplifier to have direct control of the woofers. Versions with passive crossovers compromising the sound. So a 7200 is really the first Mac amp that showed me my Crown amps that had replaced 275's,2100's 2200's were dated and inferior. 7300's couldn't do it 300's couldn't either. I use 207's now because I didn't have room for 6 or 7 7200's. They are quiet, with very low distortion, great power. But most importantly for me besides the great bass was the top frequencies from 7,000 hz on up. Some times Mac speakers could have a little edge with the ML series and the 7200 showed no such issue. They have a lot of current reserve so if your speakers have complex crossovers or are ported or have an acoustic labyrinth for the woofer, they will grab a hold of the woofer to give a more accurate transient response. TWI
 
Black.Audio.Co said:
Hi Friends,

Need an opinion on a Mcintosh MC7200 amp. I am currently using a Sansui CA / BA 3000 set.

1. Will it be a good upgrade and will I be able to hear the difference?

2. I plan to use my Sansui CA 3000 as a preamp in the meanwhile till a good Mcintosh preamp is available. And Should I pair this with a McIntosh SS amp or any recommended tube amp?

3. Anybody have a user manual or service manual for this amp?

4. Anything negative about This amp apart from having no autoformers?

Thanks in advance for the help. Sorry for asking but the last thread for the MC 2300 was a dead end chase for me :( These units are rare here.

Best Regards

pics are of the actual unit
Click to expand...
If you decide to buy the MC 7200, make darn sure it's up to snuff, mate.
 
Hi,
I have an MC 7200 with a c37 pre. i love this amp! It has been perfect for me. I replaced the front glass for around $120 from McIntosh. There is a wide and a narrow version of this amp. The McIntosh Compendium describes this. Look at MC7200 in the power amplifiers section. Congratulations on your purchase.
 
You can purchase a schematic from McIntosh parts which is only assessable via your local importer.
 
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