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McIntosh MC2255 amp and C29 pre amp - advice needed

J

jervz

Member
Hello, I'm interested in the value of a McIntosh MC 2255 amp and C29 preamp based on original single owner owns but I don't know if US$3500 or C$4500 (excluding shipping) is a good evaluation for this pair. Both of the units are working condition and still in factory condition. I'm not sure if these units requires recapping but these are already 40 years old units. They also don't come with the wooden cabinet.

What do you think on these pair or individual unit if you currently owned it or tried it before?

I'm also wondering if there are better options (amp or pre-amp) at this price point in the McIntosh line-up or other brands?

Appreciate your feedback. Thanks.
 
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$3,500 is reasonable - IF cosmetically excellent. Just recently an MC2255 w/cabinet sold for $3,800 on the auction site if that's any guide.

If never been serviced, chances are one or both may need to go on the bench sooner or later which might be a negotiating point.
 
There are always "better" choices, for more money. I think that $3,500 USD is pretty fair for that pair in good original working condition. Rust, badly degraded glass, and operating problems are a deduct. Perfect condition and excellent ORIGINAL glass is an adder, as are cabinets and CORRECT service. I'd prefer one in original working condition over one that was "deoxited" (will damage pots) or otherwise serviced by an unknown "Tech".

MC2255:
Fairly rare, but not terribly so. 3rd generation solid-state, good (318WPC) power and low distortion, a solid performer, more desirable as the "last chrome chassis" and having the countdown test-sequence. The next generation 7270 was pretty much the same amplifier but cost-thrifted to hit a lower selling price, MC7300 was the next step up IMO. The MC2255 is also the last generation designed "for continuous operation" from what people who know them well have written.
Two different schematics, the later one is now in our digital docs database and covers the S/N break to the newer schematic/circuit. Later ones had a combination philips/slot screw on the terminal strips.
Original glass is NLA from McIntosh, the glass they currently sell doesn't have the backlighted gold lettering on the McIntosh logo nor around the knobs/controls. Original glass does become available occasionally on the auction site, need to know what to look for. Original glass on these eventually becomes dark in the middle of "MC 2255 STEREO POWER AMPLIFIER" where foam is stuck to the back of the glass.
Shares cabinet with the 2105, 2205, pretty easy to find.

C29:
This is largely an improved / refined version of the C28 preamplifier. One big improvement IMO is the change from an on-off-volume pot to the C29's separate power switch/button.
Each generation of course becomes a little quieter, and a little better, so again this is a vintage piece and in good condition will perform well for its era. Nothing digital in this guy and there are fans of the C29. I haven't owned one. Look again at the condition of the chassis and glass, as well as proper function of all inputs and adjustments, including the PHONO inputs. I do not know if correct/original glass is available for this one but like the 2255, the cabinet is shared with several other models and is fairly easy to find.

Best of luck, condition condition condition.
 
@62caddy, the units are with first owner purchased in '84 with original box, receipts and brochures (except missing pre-amp box). It's in working condition, no scratches and chrome chassis is clean, no oxidation or pitting at the back.
I guess the former owner took care of it properly and his gears are away from the kids. It was serviced 20 yrs ago and no components were changed yet but the owner recommended it to be cleaned due to dust.

We've agreed at a lower price and close the deal as he is downsizing and moving to a smaller apartment. He will ship the amp and pre-amp via original McIntosh box, bolt on a plywood and with soft materials inside at my expense.

I'm very excited to have my first McIntosh gears and learn from this journey.
 
@SaturationPt, thanks for all the information, it give me some idea on the relevant milestones related to these amplifiers.. The original owner, who is in his 70's, said that the amp and pre-amp are still at factory specs purchased in 1984. I'm assuming it's still using the original glass and all light bulbs are still working. The guy is meticulous and brought his units for service to McIntosh labs 20 yrs ago.

May I know what do you mean by CORRECT service? I have other vintage gears (Sansui 9090 and Yamaha CR-1000) which I normally bring to a local technician who has a good reputation on vintage gears. There is no authorized service centre in our area and nearest service centre is 1000km away by land. What will be your recommendation to service or clean these units given the constraints I have? Thanks in advance.
 
jervz said:
@62caddy, the units are with first owner purchased in '84 with original box, receipts and brochures (except missing pre-amp box). It's in working condition, no scratches and chrome chassis is clean, no oxidation or pitting at the back.
I guess the former owner took care of it properly and his gears are away from the kids. It was serviced 20 yrs ago and no components were changed yet but the owner recommended it to be cleaned due to dust.
We've agreed at a lower price and close the deal as he is downsizing and moving to a smaller apartment. He will ship the amp and pre-amp via original McIntosh box, bolt on a plywood and with soft materials inside at my expense.
I'm very excited to have my first McIntosh gears and learn from this journey.
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Congratulations on your your first McIntosh, you've picked a couple of fine examples. Both of these units are solid performers and are both held in high regard. Purchasing vintage gear will always have it's risks, but from the description you've provided you couldn't ask for a better scenario. Keep us posted on your impressions and also, what speakers will you be using?
 
Service will be difficult given your location remote from authorized service, but not impossible.

If all works well, you might just be in fine shape. My comment is more regarding the typical “serviced” claim on the internet auction sites, which often means someone with no business being in there was fiddling around.

They are well built, but still it is a good idea to have someone look them over.

Congratulations, boxes and manuals are certainly a bonus (especially if the boxes’ serial numbers match the equipment).
 
Just as an FYI for OP - I’ve owned a MC2255 amplifier for approximately 3 years. I purchased from daughter of original owner. I’ve decided this will be my long term McIntosh solid state amplifier - so sent it to AudioClassics to ensure it performed to factory specifications and there were no issues which I needed to be concerned about. Other than cleaning (which resolved my left meter not functioning properly), only needed repairs were 2 bulbs.
 
jervz said:
@SaturationPt, thanks for all the information, it give me some idea on the relevant milestones related to these amplifiers.. The original owner, who is in his 70's, said that the amp and pre-amp are still at factory specs purchased in 1984. I'm assuming it's still using the original glass and all light bulbs are still working. The guy is meticulous and brought his units for service to McIntosh labs 20 yrs ago.

May I know what do you mean by CORRECT service? I have other vintage gears (Sansui 9090 and Yamaha CR-1000) which I normally bring to a local technician who has a good reputation on vintage gears. There is no authorized service centre in our area and nearest service centre is 1000km away by land. What will be your recommendation to service or clean these units given the constraints I have? Thanks in advance.
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I bought a 2255 from another AK member 2-3 years ago. Just a warning - keep an eye on the heat level of your heatsinks. One of mine was quite hot compared to the other and it turns out it's something that does happen on some of these units due to bias transistor that can go bad. If this happens to yours, the replacement part that was recommended and that I successfully used to resolve the issue is in this thread:

https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/mc-2255-issues-thread.842545/
 
sberger said:
Is $2200 for a restored by George Meyer 29 with cabinet a fair price?
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To me, you’re already good with your C22 and your SS pre (was it a 31V or 34?) if you still have it. The C22 is special because it’s tube and gives the uniqueness and sonic character of what tubes give you.

But I’d think your newer SS pre would surpass the C29 sonically. $2200 just seems like an awful lot for an older SS preamp that was surpassed technology wise and spec wise by subsequent units. I think if you wanted to go “all-in” and get a SS McIntosh pre to complement your C22, there are other models (C33, C40) that would be objectively better than a C29.

I just picked up a C27 that was gifted to me by a friend. I already have a C35. I definitely like aspects of the C27 (full glass face vs half glass on C35, volume knob vs push buttons on C35), but I expect the C35 is objectively better sounding (lower noise, more neutral, better specs, better implementation of variable loudness). The C27 has sentimental value based on how it came to me, and will be perfect for a secondary system (maybe all vintage). But I do think it has its limitations.

Also, I was able to recap it within a couple of hours (it was just 20-25 caps). And as far as # of caps, I think the C29 is not much different - a pretty easy re-cap. Which is just to say I don’t think it’s a complex restoration, so the value of it being restored by a well known tech is less (IMO) than if it were a full-featured pre that had a lot more complexity and expertise required.
 
captouch said:
To me, you’re already good with your C22 and your SS pre (was it a 31V or 34?) if you still have it. The C22 is special because it’s tube and gives the uniqueness and sonic character of what tubes give you.

But I’d think your newer SS pre would surpass the C29 sonically. $2200 just seems like an awful lot for an older SS preamp that was surpassed technology wise and spec wise by subsequent units. I think if you wanted to go “all-in” and get a SS McIntosh pre to complement your C22, there are other models (C33, C40) that would be objectively better than a C29.

I just picked up a C27 that was gifted to me by a friend. I already have a C35. I definitely like aspects of the C27 (full glass face vs half glass on C35, volume knob vs push buttons on C35), but I expect the C35 is objectively better sounding (lower noise, more neutral, better specs, better implementation of variable loudness). The C27 has sentimental value based on how it came to me, and will be perfect for a secondary system (maybe all vintage). But I do think it has its limitations.

Also, I was able to recap it within a couple of hours (it was just 20-25 caps). And as far as # of caps, I think the C29 is not much different - a pretty easy re-cap. Which is just to say I don’t think it’s a complex restoration, so the value of it being restored by a well known tech is less (IMO) than if it were a full-featured pre that had a lot more complexity and expertise required.
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Eric as usual you make great points and sense.

22 is gone as of today. 34 was used to trade for 22, so that's gone also. Restored 24 back in the lineup, and believe me when I say as much as I liked both of the past pre's, I'm not missing them tonight. The 24 sounds great.

That said, I'm always on the hunt to try new stuff. I do somewhat regret selling the 20 I had not long ago, as that, unlike the 22, brought more of a tube flavor to the party, which I really liked. I may still get another one. I've heard things about the 29 that pique my interest, and units that are already cleaned up by somebody who supposedly know what they're doing makes me even more interested. I'm not planning on pulling the trigger, at least not imminently.

Thanks for giving me good food for thought.
 
sberger said:
Eric as usual you make great points and sense.

22 is gone as of today. 34 was used to trade for 22, so that's gone also. Restored 24 back in the lineup, and believe me when I say as much as I liked both of the past pre's, I'm not missing them tonight. The 24 sounds great.

That said, I'm always on the hunt to try new stuff. I do somewhat regret selling the 20 I had not long ago, as that, unlike the 22, brought more of a tube flavor to the party, which I really liked. I may still get another one. I've heard things about the 29 that pique my interest, and units that are already cleaned up by somebody who supposedly know what they're doing makes me even more interested. I'm not planning on pulling the trigger, at least not imminently.

Thanks for giving me good food for thought.
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I really don’t think you can go too wrong with any McIntosh preamp. I’m sure the 24 is awesome which makes it no rush to find the next one to add to the stable - I totally get wanting to have more than one.

What I’ve been told, which I’m sure some will disagree with, but I’ll put it out there anyway- some have said that the newer the pre, the more precise/neutral they will be. I purposely tried to use non-judgmental adjectives, but some might say lean/cleaner. Or another way to say it is older preamps may be slightly warmer/fuller or more musical/euphonic. And since the design is established at the beginning of the production run, comparing the start of each model is probably the most meaningful.

I can say that I felt that was the case comparing amps: MC2120 (‘76-82) to MC2255 (‘81-86). So 1976 vs 1981 - only 5yrs. The 2120 was to my ears warmer and fuller sounding, even if marginally less precise. Both units were recapped btw.

I only bring that up in case you want different flavors of Mcintosh, you may not want to get something that’s too close in era to your C24 (‘64-‘68) (assuming the C24 is a keeper).

In my case, my C27 is ‘78-83 and my C35 is ‘89-92. So bigger difference: 1978 vs 1989. And really, the C27 was a minor update to C26 (first out in 1968), so it’s arguably 1968 vs 1989.

I haven’t done an A/B, but even without doing that, I think I can hear the differences in character between the two.

And not saying one is better than the other - only that they’re different.

But the thing that will make it easier for you is that the C24 is such an early pre that almost anything you get will likely sound a bit different- whether it’s earlier due to tubes or later, because almost any SS will be a fair bit later.
 
captouch said:
I really don’t think you can go too wrong with any McIntosh preamp. I’m sure the 24 is awesome which makes it no rush to find the next one to add to the stable - I totally get wanting to have more than one.

What I’ve been told, which I’m sure some will disagree with, but I’ll put it out there anyway- some have said that the newer the pre, the more precise/neutral they will be. I purposely tried to use non-judgmental adjectives, but some might say lean/cleaner. Or another way to say it is older preamps may be slightly warmer/fuller or more musical/euphonic. And since the design is established at the beginning of the production run, comparing the start of each model is probably the most meaningful.

I can say that I felt that was the case comparing amps: MC2120 (‘76-82) to MC2255 (‘81-86). So 1976 vs 1981 - only 5yrs. The 2120 was to my ears warmer and fuller sounding, even if marginally less precise. Both units were recapped btw.

I only bring that up in case you want different flavors of Mcintosh, you may not want to get something that’s too close in era to your C24 (‘64-‘68) (assuming the C24 is a keeper).

In my case, my C27 is ‘78-83 and my C35 is ‘89-92. So bigger difference: 1978 vs 1989. And really, the C27 was a minor update to C26 (first out in 1968), so it’s arguably 1968 vs 1989.

I haven’t done an A/B, but even without doing that, I think I can hear the differences in character between the two.

And not saying one is better than the other - only that they’re different.

But the thing that will make it easier for you is that the C24 is such an early pre that almost anything you get will likely sound a bit different- whether it’s earlier due to tubes or later, because almost any SS will be a fair bit later.
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I don't want more then one pre. At a time, that is. Like I said, I enjoy trying pieces new to me.

I've heard the same things about newer Mac pre's, which, besides the cost, is why I'll be staying away from them. I'm not big on lean/clean/neutral. I can appreciate those that want that. But I don't. Probably why I enjoy the MC2300 and 2105 so much. I use speakers that are better with more power so tube amps are not part of the conversation for me, but tube preamps are. But they should be able to add something that a SS pre doesn't, which is the main reason I moved on from the 22 I had. And why I might end up with another 20 at some point. The 24 brings more of that presentation that I like then the 22 did. But the 20 outdid them both.

Thanks again for your thoughts.
 
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I had an interesting experience with my fully restored C24 pre. I had my C26 in for a LeeStereonification, so while it was gone, I used my C24. At around a week before I got my C26 back from Ben, I had decided I was going to sell my Tangent RS8s because they sounded dull with uncontrolled bass. I had put the Tangents in that rotation because I had been neglecting them on the other system I had them on, and I wanted to hear how they sounded driven by the MC2205. So I get the C26 back, and the Tangents became a completely different speaker! The bass was clean, controlled, and solid. The highs were there and they were natural and clear. The mid was cleaner and more defined.

Just by changing from one preamp to another! Granted Ben is an expert and very meticulous in his work. That totally threw me for a loop. I continued using the Tangents for another 3 weeks before I brought back the Kef Concerto. And they sounded better than ever! The one funny thing is that I really didn't note that much difference when I switched the unrestored and optimized C26 to the fully restored C24. I don't think I swapped the speakers and the preamps at the same time, but It is possible.

It demonstrated to me that the preamp can do more than just add its own signature. It actually impacts the quality of the signal that gets to the power amp in ways I had never thought possible.
 
I can attest. I actually preferred it to my c28. I also have a c29 which I love and it’s paired to my mc2155.
 

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sberger said:
I haven't heard a 26 but my understanding is that it's a very nice preamp when restored properly.
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Mine sounded good before the work, but it was a little noisy, and I was hearing cross-talk. I also felt the Phono Preamp section could be improved. After @Leestereo had finished his magic on it, it sounds great! I don't see my living room system changing much more before I move into a seniors home. I am that happy with it. And anyone who has followed me on this site over the years will know how much gear I have gone through to get here. And it was a lot of fun to do too!
 
BilboBaggins said:
...It demonstrated to me that the preamp can do more than just add its own signature. It actually impacts the quality of the signal that gets to the power amp in ways I had never thought possible.
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IME, a preamplifier does have a greater impact on the final sound than a power amp (provided that it is powerful enough for the speakers used).
 
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