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New entry-level McIntosh mono and stereo amps on the way?

M

mcintoshmagic

Active Member
From the Munich High End Show: [LINK] [LINK]

There are only two buttons on the front glass, one on each side, and they appear to be the same round push button style as on the McAire. No red power button. Not sure what implications this has... perhaps that they are considered another "lifestyle" product? I can see that the one with two meters unsurprisingly says Stereo Amplifier on it but the mono one has a second line of text I can't make out. Anyone have any further information?
 
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“The MC152 and MC301 amplifiers are McIntosh’s first solid-state amps that leverage their renowned technology to offer lower-power options. Each amplifier features McIntosh’s iconic blue power meters and sleek black chassis, this time at a slim 130mm height.

Operating at 150 watts per channel, the MC152 is McIntosh’s smallest solid-state stereo amplifier to date; prior to its introduction, McIntosh’s smallest power amplifier, the MC302, operated at twice the power.

The MC152 is the perfect power amplifier for music lovers looking for McIntosh’s trademark craftsmanship, build and sound quality, without the colossal amount of power McIntosh is capable of. The MC301 amplifier is McIntosh’s smallest monoblock solid-state amplifier, operating at 300 watts”
 
Finally a new McIntosh amp that doesn't weigh a ton and isn't the size of a small fridge! I can't wait to hear more about these amps. Now if they'd only bring back the variable loudness control ..

-Matt
 
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It would appear both of these amplifiers are direct coupled. So, twiiii - it's time to upgrade . . .
 
Not to be picky but the statement re being the smallest ss amp to date at 150 watts is a bit if revisionist history or written by someone who has not researched the company. There was the MC250 and MC2505 each of 50 watts per channel and the MC2100 and MC2105 each at 105 watts per channel. There was also the slimline amp in the '70s that did not use the autoformers; not sure of the power but seemed to remember someone back then mentioning it was little more than the power amp section of the MA6100.
 
Brian said:
Not to be picky but the statement re being the smallest ss amp to date at 150 watts is a bit if revisionist history or written by someone who has not researched the company. There was the MC250 and MC2505 each of 50 watts per channel and the MC2100 and MC2105 each at 105 watts per channel. There was also the slimline amp in the '70s that did not use the autoformers; not sure of the power but seemed to remember someone back then mentioning it was little more than the power amp section of the MA6100.
Click to expand...

Yes it seems they aren't looking far enough back, or they are aiming at the current and younger customers who wouldn't know the history of McIntosh back that far....

Even so, the statement is not correct.....
 
MC752, MC754, MC2120, MC2125, MC502, MC7100, MC122 . . . all also smaller.

Only us NERDS here at AK know that though . . .
 
I wonder if this new design aesthetic is going to be on all new McIntosh models now or just the entry-level and "lifestyle" ones. I hope not. I really don't like the tiny round buttons like on the McAire. Always smudging up the glass as it's too small.

I used to have an MC754. Definitely smaller. Now a 75wpc amp (w/ autoformers) with a chassis like the MHA100 headphone amp would be something I'd buy.
 
Not sure Mc has ever offered a "slim-line" mono block (at least in the last 30 years or so). The closest would have to be a MC7100 bridged. :scratch2:

This is exciting news for sure….love it. :D

Ron C…….When and how much?
 
Indeed. Very nice and what McIntosh needs to attract more customers. But as correctly posted earlier, not their lowest output transistor amp, someone needs to study their history here. Even my sons know the history, and that is with Bjorn 5 years old, he loves his old MAC 1700 which has been his music source since he was 4 months old. And Erik has been a McIntosh lover since 4 years of age.
 
Brian said:
Not to be picky but the statement re being the smallest ss amp to date at 150 watts is a bit if revisionist history or written by someone who has not researched the company. There was the MC250 and MC2505 each of 50 watts per channel and the MC2100 and MC2105 each at 105 watts per channel. There was also the slimline amp in the '70s that did not use the autoformers; not sure of the power but seemed to remember someone back then mentioning it was little more than the power amp section of the MA6100.
Click to expand...

I was about to post about that myself - until I considered the literal meaning of "smallest" - as in the physical size of a McIntosh 150 wpc SS amplifier.

But even on that score, I believe there were still one or two that would qualify.

McIntosh could do with some more moderately powered amplifiers in their lineup - I think it was a good move.
 
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Definitely exciting to be bringing back slimline power amps and introducing slimline, lower powered monoblocks. We can't really tell whether those are autoformer amps since McIntosh may simply be housing them in closed chassis as they did back in the '90s which will further reduce cost.
Mac also appears to be reducing cost by removing the wonderful jeweled knobs, which is too bad; I love the knobs. Seems like my MC202 is coming back in style :D
 
Operating at 150 watts per channel, the MC152 is McIntosh’s smallest solid-state stereo amplifier to date; prior to its introduction, McIntosh’s smallest power amplifier, the MC302, operated at twice the power.

As it is a single sentence, the power rating is the qualifier to define the phrase "smallest solid state ..." To look at the statement as describing the physical size would require adding that as a qualifier such as physically the smallest solid-state ... or, change the , at the end of "channel" in the sentence to a ";" to denote a separate thought. Yeah, I know, Queen's English compared to today's journalism writing but, important important to convey precise thoughts or in this case meaning.

I always thought every student on the first day of freshman high school should be given a copy of the Oxford Unabridged Dictionary and forced to memorize the last section on proper grammar and formal writing. In law school I once challenged a T.A.'s grading on a paper who killed me on punctuation. The Oxford Dictionary on review at the appeal ended up adjusting my grade from a C- to A and a recommendation that the school discontinue using journalist majors as T.A.s for grading papers.
 
Operating at 150 watts per channel, the MC152 is McIntosh’s smallest solid-state stereo amplifier to date; prior to its introduction, McIntosh’s smallest power amplifier, the MC302, operated at twice the power.

As it is a single sentence, the power rating is the qualifier to define the phrase "smallest solid state ..." To look at the statement as describing the physical size would require adding that as a qualifier such as physically the smallest solid-state ... or, change the , at the end of "channel" in the sentence to a ";" to denote a separate thought. Yeah, I know, Queen's English compared to today's journalism writing but, important important to convey precise thoughts or in this case meaning.

I always thought every student on the first day of freshman high school should be given a copy of the Oxford Unabridged Dictionary and forced to memorize the last section on proper grammar and formal writing. In law school I once challenged a T.A.'s grading on a paper who killed me on punctuation. The Oxford Dictionary on review at the appeal ended up adjusting my grade from a C- to A and a recommendation that the school discontinue using journalist majors as T.A.s for grading papers.
 
So Ron C......It's probably a little early but do you have a delivery date and prices on these new slim line amps?

Mortis....I've always enjoyed your photo of your 202. :yes: :drool: btw...does your 202 have the autoformers? I'm thinking yes....:scratch2:

I'd be interested in the stereo verison....I think it's the chassis in the 12:00 position in the photo?
Now the question is...which pre do you use? D100? C220? C48? ....slim line if possible. :yes:

IMG_3595ss.jpg
 
Yes 'cisco, the 202 has the autoformers, that's one of the reasons I chose it.

I'd love to have a pair of those quad balanced MC301s; I just wish this new stuff still had those beautiful knobs. Then the monos would be perfect.
 
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