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McIntosh MC2100

Mc_Man said:
I have had a couple Marantz pieces and they seemed to sound alot thinner than my Mac.
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Wow, I would never consider any of my Marantz gear to sound thin! If the
McIntosh sounds fatter in the bottom end than what I have now, I'm really
going to love it. I appreciate all the comments and there were a number of
good points made. I went from a Technics receiver, to Yamaha, to Marantz.
I am now into mostly seperates, having purchased a couple of Marantz power
amps - 250 and 15. I really have liked a lot of what I've bought and heard.
That is the only way to find out if I like something and it seems like the more
I hear, the higher the prices are getting! It is a learning experience. Now, if
I could just afford some tubes! Cheers - Jon
 
BTW, the MC2100 is an excellent amp. It sounds great and it is overbuilt. You can't go wrong with it.
 
Skip the MC-2100 and get a Marantz 8B. That's a nice sounding amplifier.
If you want a Mac, get an MC-275 (new) or, say, a vintage pair of MC-30s or MC-60s. Or an MC-225. Those were all very good amplifiers.

The MC-2100 is early solid state, and sounds like it, autoformers notwithstanding -- IMNSHO. I cannot vouch for the MC-250, but it's quite similar in design AFAIK.
 
a mc 2100 can be bought for 400 $ and for that its a bargain overbuild ,good on low impendance speakers ect.....
a new mc 275 is about 4000 $ a marantz 8 b 2000 $
 
mhardy6647 said:
Skip the MC-2100 and get a Marantz 8B. That's a nice sounding amplifier.
If you want a Mac, get an MC-275 (new) or, say, a vintage pair of MC-30s or MC-60s. Or an MC-225. Those were all very good amplifiers.

The MC-2100 is early solid state, and sounds like it, autoformers notwithstanding -- IMNSHO. I cannot vouch for the MC-250, but it's quite similar in design AFAIK.
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The MC2100 and the MC250 are very similar designs and are voiced to have a tubish quality. They both can be found for under $500.

The Marantz 8B and the other McIntosh tube are wonderful, but cost 2 to 5 times more than the MC2100 and the MC250.
 
hers a pic of mine (got 2 for driving infinity kappa 9) autoformer with trifilar windings ! btw
 

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mhardy6647 said:
Skip the MC-2100 and get a Marantz 8B.
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I guess that's what I should have done, get the 8B instead of the MC275 (and follow it up witht he Marantz 7C pre instead of the C220). I wouldn't be so torn and twisted about the comparison then :D

The only problem is that the 8B amp is so butt-ugly (those Marantz designers didn't do so well with that tube amp IMHO). Whereas the MC275 (or the MC240, or the mono amps) are real pretty tube amps (and I like to look at pretty stereo gear when I listen to it). So down this road I travel...

...and oh!, Murray. I'm not really taking this all that seriously except where better to defend the virtue of Marantz gear than on a McIntosh forum??? :yes:
 
thisOne said:
<<snip>>where better to defend the virtue of Marantz gear than on a McIntosh forum??? :yes:
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Makes perfect sense to me. :D What makes even more sense, is this pic of Cora Schumacher.

Murray
 

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Drat, and I had just gotten my large spoon to stir the pot...now I have to pick it up off the floor. I dropped it looking at that enclosure.
 
mhardy6647 said:
Skip the MC-2100 and get a Marantz 8B. That's a nice sounding amplifier.
If you want a Mac, get an MC-275 (new) or, say, a vintage pair of MC-30s or MC-60s. Or an MC-225. Those were all very good amplifiers.

The MC-2100 is early solid state, and sounds like it, autoformers notwithstanding -- IMNSHO. I cannot vouch for the MC-250, but it's quite similar in design AFAIK.
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Hmm. Well, your comparisons are all tube amps and:

1. Everyone knows that solid state is superior to tube (yes, even early solid state).

2. Solid state devices need no "rolling" in order to sound the best.

3. Tube gear uses glass envelopes which can shatter and potentially harm pets and children, to say nothing about the increased fire hazard.

Should you require addtional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Murray
 
Yeah Murray, but if there's a Global Thermonuclear War, the tubes will still function, but those transistors will be fried!! :banana:

Stir the pot, vinegar, vinegar, stir the pot...
 
The Marantz 8B and the other McIntosh tube are wonderful, but cost 2 to 5 times more than the MC2100 and the MC250.
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Yup, that's about the size of it.


The only problem is that the 8B amp is so butt-ugly (those Marantz designers didn't do so well with that tube amp IMHO).
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Thought of as industrial design and not as fashion accessory... I'd have to disagree. Not that I'd turn down any of the vintage (or current) Mac tube amps, but the 8B is a beautiful, and beautiful sounding, piece of hardware. You want pretty and Marantz... pick up a pair of 9s. Not pocket change, though.

Marantz8B.jpg

Marantz8Bafter.jpg
 
mhardy6647 said:
You want pretty and Marantz... pick up a pair of 9s. Not pocket change, though.
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I agree about the 9s..., and although I do not doubt it's sound, the 8 looks like something I'd make in my garage (and I do love the Marantz brand). :yes:

Hence my foray to the MC land where the tube amps look pretty :thmbsp:
 
Having had both the Marantz 9s and MC275 decades ago when the (s had just ended production sad to say for me the 9s eclipsed the MC275.

As for the original question, comparing the MC250 or C2100 to a 250, provided the rest of the system is good enough to differentiate between them, I think you'll find the 250/2100 has somewhat more authority in the lower mids/upper bass and at first seem to have somewhat less detail. The 250 will sound faster and will have more air and somewhat less smearing on multiple classical instruments. While this sounds like the 250 should be better it may not be. It will depend on your individual sonic preference and training. With time on both, you probably will find the 250/2100 has what seems like better resolution and brings out the instrument resonances better and in the lower bass regions they seem better balanced rather than having bass emphasis.

Based on your musical tastes, I suspect you may like the 250 better but will find the beauty of the McIntosh units when listening to classical jazz over a period of time. The Mc 250 and 2105 (metered version of the 2100) I have I prefer on classical and jazz to my other amp while on what little rock I listen to my other amp is somewhat more exciting. I can not tell which is more accurate on rock as rock is electronic music and I have no point of true reference. This is why I always test using acoustical instruments as it does provide a point of reference.
 
I have owned both the Marantz 250 and several MC2100's. In fact my first MC2100 replaced a Marantz 250 driving Janszen Z-24 electrostatic spkers. My take is this - Marantz 250 open clean sound, MC2100 beefy warm with a solid mid and top. It literally kicked the s**t out of the Marantz 250 in that setup. Both were driven by a new Citation 17S preamp. BTW I sold the Marantz to a band buddy, and he drove a set of Electrovoice Eliminators for years with it.
I mixed sound for a local upstart movie house turned theater, and borrowed the set up for a Vocal group. The producer was very upset at the choice of speaker, but i told her that used with the Tascam 250 board and the Marantz 250 all would be fine. After the show she thanked me, and said she was amazed how good the sound was. The Marantz 250 is a great amp, and so is The McIntosh MC2100
Given the choice my vote goes to the MC2100.
Jim
 
Marantz 8/8b ugly and the MC275 beautiful? I guess beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Admittedly, I'd love to have the 8b in chrome.
 
wajobu said:
Yeah Murray, but if there's a Global Thermonuclear War, the tubes will still function, but those transistors will be fried!! :banana:

Stir the pot, vinegar, vinegar, stir the pot...
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That's a possibility perhaps, but you'll need to fire up that portable McGenerator in order to hear any tunes. Tube dac in your cdp?

Murray
 
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