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Potential issue with a new C2700, does this look normal??

AuburnM5

AuburnM5

Member
I got a new C2700 about a month ago. Recently, an audible hum/hiss/static developed in the fronts. I went through the process of finding the source and it was the I have had an issue with the left balanced main out causing a hiss and hum static in both channels, The left balanced main out. When unplugged, no noise. When plugged in, noise in both channels. I tried the unbalanced output as well, and the same problem appeared.

I pulled ther 2700 out of the system all together and ran everything through the Anthem AVM 70 and it was amazingly silent. The dealer told me to swap the main out and main in tubes to see if that is the problem. I opened it up and what I saw made me stop.
  1. Several of what I assume capacitors are bent in all different directions,
  2. a white substance that is all over the back wall where the balanced inputs are..the best I can describe it has the way saline looks after it dries.
  3. A piece of black tape that was barely on holding one of the Axon cables in place when the other two are taped down with a white "mechanism"
I have attached several pics. I have never opened up a Mac product, s it supposed to look like this?

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That's kinda of scary. Especially since I have a new integrated on order.

Over the years, I have peaked into a few components (McIntosh, Kenwood, Carver) and have never seen anything similar to what you posted.

Did you purchase it new from an authorized dealer?

If so, take it back and have them send it for repair /replacement at their expense.
 
Bent/tipped capacitors are cosmetic issues. They were either not soldered in straight or were bent by physical contact after installation. You can gently bend them back straight if it bothers you, You definitely don’t want to repeatedly bend them back and forth as that’ll stress the component leads. But if they were either installed that way or installed straight and just bent over by force/contact, bending them back up straight will only be the 1st or 2nd flex/bend and that shouldn’t be an issue - just be gentle and bend back slowly without pulling or pushing on the component.

That being said, it’s just cosmetic, so leaving them as is since it’s all internal is fine too,

Don’t know what the white substance is, but you can always try to clean it off with a swab lightly dipped in alcohol. Make sure it dries before you power back up.

The tape and things fastening down the flat cables seem to be stress/strain relief, so a light pull/tub on the side has less of a chance of compromising the connection on the other side. Or just trying to keep things tidier. It would be nice if the black tape were replaced with the white thing used on the other cables. Not sure how the white thing is attached to the chassis - if adhesive, they could have used one where the black tape is. If there are holes in the chassis for the white thing to snap into or it otherwise requires chassis accommodations to use the white hold down, then they could have forgotten to make those chassis accommodations where the black tape is and all units may use the black tape.

In short, I don’t see anything there causing your issue or of concern. But since you have pics, send them on to McIntosh and ask them to be certain.
 
captouch said:
Bent/tipped capacitors are cosmetic issues. They were either not soldered in straight or were bent by physical contact after installation. You can gently bend them back straight if it bothers you, You definitely don’t want to repeatedly bend them back and forth as that’ll stress the component leads. But if they were either installed that way or installed straight and just bent over by force/contact, bending them back up straight will only be the 1st or 2nd flex/bend and that shouldn’t be an issue - just be gentle and bend back slowly without pulling or pushing on the component.

That being said, it’s just cosmetic, so leaving them as is since it’s all internal is fine too,
Click to expand...

This ^.

With that said, if this was my new $8,000 C2700, I wouldn't be pleased at all. Yes, this is under the hood cosmetics; however, the attention to detail isn't there. This is an expensive product that should not look like the inside of a cheap Sony receiver when the cover is removed - everything should be perfect, neat, and precise. Overall, based on the photos shared, it just look like a mass produced product that went flying down an assembly line. McIntosh, in my opinion, they did a half-ass job on this one.
 
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Was the box factory sealed when you received it? That white residue on the black surfaces looks like some liquid was spilled in there.

Larry
 
Well its not an Accuphase for sure. If you are that concerned call Steve at Audio Classics and trade your 2700 in on one of the top two Accuphase pre-amps. I wouldn't buy thentop of the line as you would need the top of the line phono pre-amp, too. The lower priced cousin has the option where you can add a phono input module. The issue is the Accuphase is all SS. But its quieter, has lower distortion, is better made and the resale value is even better than Macs. Of course its price is double + of a C-2700. Maybe you want a C12000 instead. Then you can choose between SS nd tube sound on the same chassis.
 
MACKIE1975 said:
Purely cosmetic.
Caps are through-hole component and hand soldered.
Click to expand...
I thought McIntosh had huge pick and place machines that populated the boards, then they were wave soldered? Could have sworn I saw it in a video somewhere. That would definitely explain the inconsistent alignment of the caps.

-Geoff
 
SomeGeoffGuy said:
I thought McIntosh had huge pick and place machines that populated the boards, then they were wave soldered? Could have sworn I saw it in a video somewhere. That would definitely explain the inconsistent alignment of the caps.

-Geoff
Click to expand...
I saw the same thing with components being "belt" fed and punched into the pcb. Wave soldering would make the most sense but don't know if that's how they do it.

Wave soldering the bottom of a pcb with plastic components on top.

 
VintageMac said:
Was the box factory sealed when you received it? That white residue on the black surfaces looks like some liquid was spilled in there.

Larry
Click to expand...

Yep. That's what I was wondering too and if it had anything to do with the noise it creates in the fronts.
 
Well, McIntosh is taking it back and sending a new one in it's place. They did say that those capacitors do get bent sometimes, but this was an unusual amount. I think the other thing that alarmed them was when the feet are attached, the back left one is about half an inch off the ground. I have no idea if it has to do with the white stuff, but my level shows the unit is bent which is causing that foot to not touch a level surface. Going through all of this almost makes me wish I kept the C2500 and just got an external DAC for the upgrade.
 
AuburnM5 said:
Well, McIntosh is taking it back and sending a new one in it's place. They did say that those capacitors do get bent sometimes, but this was an unusual amount. I think the other thing that alarmed them was when the feet are attached, the back left one is about half an inch off the ground. I have no idea if it has to do with the white stuff, but my level shows the unit is bent which is causing that foot to not touch a level surface. Going through all of this almost makes me wish I kept the C2500 and just got an external DAC for the upgrade.
Click to expand...

Any updates?
 
AuburnM5 said:
Well, McIntosh is taking it back and sending a new one in it's place. They did say that those capacitors do get bent sometimes, but this was an unusual amount. I think the other thing that alarmed them was when the feet are attached, the back left one is about half an inch off the ground. I have no idea if it has to do with the white stuff, but my level shows the unit is bent which is causing that foot to not touch a level surface. Going through all of this almost makes me wish I kept the C2500 and just got an external DAC for the upgrade.
Click to expand...
When you get the replacement.... Open it up and take some pictures.
 
Forgot to update this thread! I really didn't know what to expect when the dealer talked to Mac about it. They were apologetic but kind of dragged their feet on sending a replacement "due to supply issues." My dealer had me create a post on their facebook page with the details (but not submit) and send him the screen shot. He texted the rep that and it took about 90 minutes to ge a tracking number.

I have no idea why they were initially kind of slow to handle ity, but to McIntosh's credit, I did receive a nice note from a Mac employee with the replacement.
 
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