Luke Riddle
New Member
Hello, I'm looking at buying an MCS 3253 in the $250 range. Can anyone tell me if it's worth it and how does it rate next to the Technics and Marantz's of the day. Thanks.
MCS 3253 worth it?
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bobdod
Super Member
I think in today's market, this isn't a terrible value. The 3253 is certainly a more interesting and "featurefull" unit than most anything else with a silver face and in this price range. At 55Wpc, it's plenty for most applications, and all the meters are fun to look at. It's a reasonably well designed and built reciever. For $250 I would buy it all day long over a $300 20wpc entry level marantz. A Technics of similar power like an SA-5460 would probably be better, but likely harder to find at this price. Anything at this age is likely to need work, so factor that into the equation.
No way, less than $200.
MCS prices have definitely been going up, but they just don't have the brand recognition to command prices anywhere near the bigger names in vintage audio. The only sale I could find in the past year was one that languished on US Audio Mart for months before selling at $175.
MCS prices have definitely been going up, but they just don't have the brand recognition to command prices anywhere near the bigger names in vintage audio. The only sale I could find in the past year was one that languished on US Audio Mart for months before selling at $175.
bobdod
Super Member
I think this is a case of a rising tide lifting all ships. While MCS wasn't really a sought after brand, the vintage look is now in demand. Whether we like it or not, a mid level MCS reciever with a silver face and meters is in the $250 ballpark. It's not a screaming deal at that price, but it is not an unreasonable price at this point. Consider that an MCS 3125 is now a $1000 reciever, pre-restoration. A 3253 is no 3125, but then again, an SX-680 is no SX-1080 yet it still trades at over $200 easily. I'd rather have the 3253 than an SX-680...
goodolpg
Just an old fart trying to help.
I check 3125 pricing a couple times a week as I have two of them. I was flabbergasted seeing the recent completed sales prices.
bobdod
Super Member
The 3125 deserves it's improved desirability. After fully disassembling and restoring one, I can say without a doubt that this thing is incredibly well built. I run mine for 5 or 6 hours every single day and it barely gets warm. The fact that it is one of the best sounding (to me) pieces I own is the best part. My main listening space has two rigs. One for vinyl, and one for digital sources. I used to rotate equipment through the digital rig every once in a while, but ever since the 3125 went in, it's never left.
Luke Riddle
New Member
From what I've read, there are MCS units made in Japan and ones made in Taiwan. The Japanese ones have many of the same parts as and possibly even made by some of the big name companies out of Japan in that era.
bobdod
Super Member
That is my understanding as well. This was and still is pretty common. There were several companies in Japan that actually produced gear for the more known Japanese brands as well. MCS, being a "house brand" was entirely contact manufacturing based. Kind of like you going and hiring a builder to design and build a house to your specifications, versus buying a pre built home in a development.
