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Need opinions please

jeanmarie

jeanmarie

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
I am looking for general opinions on which you would rather keep and why.

A set of restored Mcintosh MC-75 mono blocks or a pair of Conrad Johnson LP 125A mono blocks. I will be using a pair of Dahlquist DQ 20 speakers and listen at low to moderate levels and listen to everything from classical to heavy rock. Any opinion is appreciated.
 
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jeanmarie said:
I am looking for general opinions on which you would rather keep and why.

A set of restored Mcintosh MC-75 mono blocks or a pair of Conrad Johnson LP 125A mono blocks. I will be using a pair of Dahlquist DQ 20 speakers and listen at low to moderate levels and listen to everything from classical to heavy rock. Any opinion is appreciated.
Click to expand...

I also listen to a broad range of music and with the speakers I have, I would keep the MC-75 pair. Though if both are paid for, I would just keep both.
 
Play each one for about a month to really get to know the sound of each amp. After that make a decision based on the one that sounds best to you.
Other things to consider is tube life and service availability. Mac's are known to be very easy on tubes, I have no idea about the CJ. Have they both been freshened up?
Lot's to consider, they are both high end collectible amps.
Seeing that the MC75 has been restored, it should be good to go for a few decades.

BillWojo
 
I had a CJ amp for about 20 years (a Premier 11), and never had one single problem with it, other than needing to replace tubes. The Premier 11 had a slightly laid back presentation with exquisite delicate detail, and with a sound stage about as wide as the Grand Canyon. It could also gut punch you with the right program material, but that was not its strong suit--it was more tailored for female/male solo vocals, jazz quartet, or chamber orchestra, I thought. Dianna Krall with her close miked sultry vocals really shined on my CJ amp, or any music where fine detail and precision would be noticed and appreciated. It was immensely enjoyable to listen to, but sometimes I really just wanted a little more forward presentation. The CJ gear holds its value very well, although maybe not quite as well as McIntosh gear. At least in the Premier line, there was not a single electrolytic capacitor in the high voltage power supply, so it is very low maintenance. I believe they have continued that philosphy with the newer LP line, and I believe the LP line is the replacement for the older Premier line.

I have not heard the MC75 so I cannot compare them.
 
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Just from a monetary point of view if the the Mac's will never go down in value if the they have good cosmetics , so in 20 years they will be worth more .

From an audio standpoint , there are amps that sound better than both of them for less than either of them if you sell them .
 
^^^^^^^^

If these amps are going up in value, then keep of them. As whether there are less expensive amps that sound better (that is a matter of opinion), that does not answer the question of which amp to keep.

OP, have both of these amps been renewed? Do you need to sell one of them?
 
Whichever pair presents the best sound with the speakers you've decided to use. I would try and then decide.
 
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