straycat23
Active Member
I think these amps were made in the late 70's and 80's. Do they still have the early warm quality of the early solid state amps?
McIntosh MC2205
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Could you please be more specific?
captouch
Addicted Member
I would say generally yes, but not overly so. I found my 2120 (contemporary with the 2205) to add a very nice amount of warmth and fullness to the sound compared to the Forte Model 3 I was using previously. I later compared a 2255 to the 2120 ('81-'86 versus '76-'82) and thought the 2120 was marginally warmer.
straycat23
Active Member
I’ve been told that Mcintosh retained the warm tone of their tube amps with their early solid state amps. I found a McIntosh mc2205 locally and was wondering if these retained the warm tone quality of the early solid state amps.
straycat23
Active Member
Thank you for the reply. Very helpful. Does anyone know which case fits these amps?
I have one. I would say it's a warm sounding amp, lots of power. The 2105 / 2100 is more so. Not quite like tubes but along those lines. Certainly not harsh.
2205's were manufactured between 1975-1979. The 2100 were manufactured between 1967-77. I've read where McIntosh designed them to sound tube like.
captouch
Addicted Member
@willie-aspen answered your cabinet question.
I think you'll be quite happy with the 2205. Warm, but not overly so, blue meters, chrome chassis, very well built. Pretty easy to service as well. I'd grab it if the price is fair.
straycat23
Active Member
Is that true for both the MC2205 and the MC2100? Thanks
Could you please provide a link?
I'll look for it. I know it has been mentioned here.
I would agree with @62caddy. McIntosh's design philosphy has been centered around being true to the music, i.e., a faithful representation of what the artist intended you to hear. The amps have a very detailed mid-range, well controlled and responsive bass, a natural and lingering decay of the upper ranges and a wide soundstage.
As with any good amplifier, the quality of the source and surrounding equipment is readily apparent.
That amplifier was produced from 1975 - 1981 and I suspect that, if it wasn't completed by a former owner, that it will need some cleaning and repair. The L14, L21 & L54 cabinets will fit the MC2205.
As far as a sound "signature" I would agree that they are warm and detailed. Do they sound like their predecessors? I don't know. When you do an A/B comparison between the MC2205 and an earlier model you can let us know.
Bottom Line: You could do a lot worse than an MC2205. It is a quality piece of audio engineering.
As with any good amplifier, the quality of the source and surrounding equipment is readily apparent.
That amplifier was produced from 1975 - 1981 and I suspect that, if it wasn't completed by a former owner, that it will need some cleaning and repair. The L14, L21 & L54 cabinets will fit the MC2205.
As far as a sound "signature" I would agree that they are warm and detailed. Do they sound like their predecessors? I don't know. When you do an A/B comparison between the MC2205 and an earlier model you can let us know.
Bottom Line: You could do a lot worse than an MC2205. It is a quality piece of audio engineering.
kevzep
Its all about the Music
I have to agree with you there, I can't imagine the new amplifier designs using cutting edge engineering were going backwards and making their amps sound like old amps...
Hifly
New Member
My 2205 has an incredibly smooth sound. It still has detail, but yes things would trend towards the warmer side. I am very sensitive to piercing high frequencies and overly bright electronics. Maybe that's why I enjoy the sound of the 2205. The only draw back is that it transfers a bit of its warm/smooth signature onto everything,. Works well for most listening material, but masks some high end recordings a little. Lets just say it takes the edge off of things a bit. Overall its a heck of an amp. I am replacing it with a newer Mac amp that is due here later today. It will be interesting to see what improvements I will see with a 40 year newer amplifier, lol.
McIntosh's ultimate goal has always been to design its equipment with ruler-flat response, at all power levels within spec with low distortion. McIntosh provided graphs in the owner's manuals attesting to typical performance parameters of the device, the validity of which had been verified in countless independent tests conducted by various audio reviewers over the years.
Given this, it's puzzling to me where this alleged "warmth" (in effect coloration) is coming from which is something the company has steadfastly, and deliberately, designed its products not to do, nor do these aberrations show up in any test measurements that I'm aware of.
When using McIntosh, I experience neither "warmth" or "coolness" in the sound. Only sound I experience is whatever was originally intended, within the parameters of the recording, the speakers and the environment.
As always, YMMV.
Given this, it's puzzling to me where this alleged "warmth" (in effect coloration) is coming from which is something the company has steadfastly, and deliberately, designed its products not to do, nor do these aberrations show up in any test measurements that I'm aware of.
When using McIntosh, I experience neither "warmth" or "coolness" in the sound. Only sound I experience is whatever was originally intended, within the parameters of the recording, the speakers and the environment.
As always, YMMV.
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Now if I were to have written this, I would have labeled tone deaf and not a true audio aficionado. I agree 110% About the only thing what could remotely affect the sound "might" be the input and output impedance of the amp in relation to mating preamp and/or speakers.
I wish more would be done to counter these incessant myths about how "warm" McIntosh allegedly sounds.
20 - 20k +/- 1dB or less, is pretty self-explanatory.
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If you can not hear the difference between amps so be it........most don't care, like 90% and of the 10% of the population that might care 90 percent of them will put price as a greater consideration than sound quality. This is the reality of the specialty audio business and I would guess the same would apply to other specialty "tastes" whether coffee, wine and even beer.
After hosting a ABX demonstration I am convinced some, 1/3rd in this case, could hear a difference between two amps.
I have to believe that any number of times a prototype of the first transistor amp designs went home with a Mac engineer to compare with the MC60s or 275s that they had at home.
I seriously doubt they would approve of something that was way outside the norm that they had established with their tube designs.
If you have listened to as many amp designs as I have had to over the decades and try to find the subtle differences that set each one apart so the client can be educated if they so desire, you too might come to the conclusion that there might be something there that we do not yet know how to measure.
Do I think Mac engineers tried to build to a certain "sound" no this is not the Carver amp challenge, however I do believe that following their basic engineering principles caused them to build amplifiers that do have a sound characteristic that might well be different than their common competitors.
After hosting a ABX demonstration I am convinced some, 1/3rd in this case, could hear a difference between two amps.
I have to believe that any number of times a prototype of the first transistor amp designs went home with a Mac engineer to compare with the MC60s or 275s that they had at home.
I seriously doubt they would approve of something that was way outside the norm that they had established with their tube designs.
If you have listened to as many amp designs as I have had to over the decades and try to find the subtle differences that set each one apart so the client can be educated if they so desire, you too might come to the conclusion that there might be something there that we do not yet know how to measure.
Do I think Mac engineers tried to build to a certain "sound" no this is not the Carver amp challenge, however I do believe that following their basic engineering principles caused them to build amplifiers that do have a sound characteristic that might well be different than their common competitors.
