New or Used MC452 (PLEASE HELP ME PICK!)

[mepstein10]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions

 

[Yamaki]

Buy the used one. If it's not that old then it has low hours and as many here have said, they last a long time.

I purchased a pair of MC501's a few years ago, slightly used, for $5800 shipped from Florida so work on the price a bit.

 

[mepstein10]

Well looks decision's been made for me. The used one got sold while I was deliberating, so new one it is.

I spoke to my friend and I will put a deposit on the new one tomorrow and will be slowly paying it off next several months, since I won't need to pick it up until I move to my new place. So I guess this is the good in the bad. Overall can't complain how things turned out, I still got a good deal.

 

[kevzep]

Yeah seems like you cant wait too long to make a decision on these opportunities......They do get snapped up...
Good that your happy with the outcome, you will not be disappointed, I can promise you that...
The MC452 is a most excellent amplifier....I will never ever sell mine, that much I know...

You'll get the experience of opening a virgin 452 which is a exciting adventure!!

 

[Yamaki]

It's true you get a virgin but don't expect her to sing her best at first. A little break in time will be needed.

Good luck with the new amp!

 

[mepstein10]

It's true you get a virgin but don't expect her to sing her best at first. A little break in time will be needed.

Good luck with the new amp!

Thanks! Initial deposit put down on it Tuesday.

I know brand new it won't sound as good as a fully broken in piece, but it will still sound good brand new (I hope).

 

[kevzep]

Thanks! Initial deposit put down on it Tuesday.

I know brand new it won't sound as good as a fully broken in piece, but it will still sound good brand new (I hope).

They sound amazing out of the box, I don't actually subscribe to that theory, but I feel there was something more liquid and velvet about the sound of mine after a couple of days.....I listen to mine every day for quite a few hours and after a couple of days I can't remember the sound of it changing or improving after those initial couple days....

 

[Yamaki]

Thanks! Initial deposit put down on it Tuesday.

I know brand new it won't sound as good as a fully broken in piece, but it will still sound good brand new (I hope).

My MC501's sounded terrible at first. Thin, sorta boomy, no warmth at all. After some warm up time and hours on them and they really, really opened up.

Just don't get too impatient and discouraged with the MC452. It will open up and sound fantastic. It will also reveal poor source material's every fault and limitation.

 

[twiiii]

Way back when we had customers that didn't want their new Mac pieces touched or violated by human hands. In other words factory fresh. I can understand the thrill of opening your Christmas present you have worked so hard for. On the other hand we had a few each year that arrived with hidden damage.

With the build quality of Mcintosh now days and knowing the history of your friends 452, that's the one I would buy. Its broken in if that means anything and you know it works. The warranty is non transferable as I remember, but as long as the unit is well ventilated and you have good source of electricity and are not connecting the amp to duds as speakers you should be fine for the next 30 years or so. If you were considering a tube unit, I would say buy knew.

As far as the scratches, that's your call 1500 dollars a scratch is a steep price to pay. After you have to pack and unpack your system a few times with various moves and semi annual maintenance schedules, you'll have your own scratches to admire. So whats two more?

I bought my 206 pre-owned for a real savings site unseen. It had one noisy pot but has worked faithfully for the past 8 going on nine years. The first 207 was a demo unit and its still working like new. The second 207 was purchased pre-owned and I had to put ID tags on them to tell them apart without looking up the serial numbers. With changing the carpet, refinishing the hi fi cabinet and replacing bulbs in the 206 I'm always having to check to make sure which 207 is which. The sound identical. A pre-owned 861 failed after a few weeks and Audio Classics replaced it as parts weren't available at the time. The pre-owned C-34 crashed after 10 years, either way I would have had to pay for the repair. My preowned MAC-3 was dead on arrival, again audio classics took care of it and the unit is 9 years old to me with out a hick-up. My Demo MX 119 and MX 120's are still working like new. The New Demo 891 and virgin MP-100 have performed flawlessly except when there are smudgy finger prints on the disc.

 

[mepstein10]

Way back when we had customers that didn't want their new Mac pieces touched or violated by human hands. In other words factory fresh. I can understand the thrill of opening your Christmas present you have worked so hard for. On the other hand we had a few each year that arrived with hidden damage.

With the build quality of Mcintosh now days and knowing the history of your friends 452, that's the one I would buy. Its broken in if that means anything and you know it works. The warranty is non transferable as I remember, but as long as the unit is well ventilated and you have good source of electricity and are not connecting the amp to duds as speakers you should be fine for the next 30 years or so. If you were considering a tube unit, I would say buy knew.

As far as the scratches, that's your call 1500 dollars a scratch is a steep price to pay. After you have to pack and unpack your system a few times with various moves and semi annual maintenance schedules, you'll have your own scratches to admire. So whats two more?

I bought my 206 pre-owned for a real savings site unseen. It had one noisy pot but has worked faithfully for the past 8 going on nine years. The first 207 was a demo unit and its still working like new. The second 207 was purchased pre-owned and I had to put ID tags on them to tell them apart without looking up the serial numbers. With changing the carpet, refinishing the hi fi cabinet and replacing bulbs in the 206 I'm always having to check to make sure which 207 is which. The sound identical. A pre-owned 861 failed after a few weeks and Audio Classics replaced it as parts weren't available at the time. The pre-owned C-34 crashed after 10 years, either way I would have had to pay for the repair. My preowned MAC-3 was dead on arrival, again audio classics took care of it and the unit is 9 years old to me with out a hick-up. My Demo MX 119 and MX 120's are still working like new. The New Demo 891 and virgin MP-100 have performed flawlessly except when there are smudgy finger prints on the disc.

I waited too long, so ended up putting a deposit on a new one. Can't complain though. It's a great unit.

 

[kevzep]

My MC501's sounded terrible at first. Thin, sorta boomy, no warmth at all. After some warm up time and hours on them and they really, really opened up.

Just don't get too impatient and discouraged with the MC452. It will open up and sound fantastic. It will also reveal poor source material's every fault and limitation.

No such problems with the MC452 out of the box, they sound great straight away, and only may change slightly, at least that's what I found with my band new MC452....

 

[Yamaki]

No such problems with the MC452 out of the box, they sound great straight away, and only may change slightly, at least that's what I found with my band new MC452....

My 501's had been sitting in their boxes, out in the garage, for at least a week before I got them integrated into the system. I think they were cold. They certainly were grumpy!

 

[mepstein10]

My 501's had been sitting in their boxes, out in the garage, for at least a week before I got them integrated into the system. I think they were cold. They certainly were grumpy!

Mcintosh Unpacking instructions:

Step 1) Warm your Mac before a wood fire....

 

[Yamaki]

LOL...yeah, that would have worked. The grumpiness didn't last too long at all.