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Questions about new MC275 V

N

ntang

Active Member
I have a few questions as a first time McIntosh owner as well as Tube user:

1) The book says: The MC275 Chassis has nomenclature screened on it to
specify both the circuit location and Tube Type for each channel. Refer to figure 4. Note: It is extremely important to insert the Tubes in the
correct location.

Q: What does this actually mean especially for the big tubes...are they supposed to be inserted in a certain sequence? Could not find any markings on them to indicate that each of the 4 might be different. Just now I went and swapped the KT88's around in the 4 sockets and I no longer remember which one was originally in which socket from the dealer. How about for the smaller tubes? What's nomenclature?

2) What is the meaning of a matched pair or a matched quad as it pertains to KT88 tubes and MC275? Do I need to buy a matched quad of tubes if I want to buy 3rd party ones?

3)I noticed that some of my KT88 tubes in the MC275 shine brighter than others...is that normal? They also seem not to be of exactly the same height when fully seated in the socket.

4) There are markings on the chassis such as V1, V2 etc in front of the tube sockets...what are they really for?

Thanks. Apologies about the many questions.
 
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ntang said:
I have a few questions as a first time McIntosh owner as well as Tube user:

1) The book says: The MC275 Chassis has nomenclature screened on it to
specify both the circuit location and Tube Type for each channel. Refer to figure 4. Note: It is extremely important to insert the Tubes in the
correct location.
Click to expand...

That refers to the model of the tube, not to the individual tubes.

ntang said:
Q: What does this actually mean especially for the big tubes...are they supposed to be inserted in a certain sequence? Could not find any markings on them to indicate that each of the 4 might be different. Just now I went and swapped the KT88's around in the 4 sockets and I no longer remember which one was originally in which socket from the dealer. How about for the smaller tubes? What's nomenclature?
Click to expand...

The big tubes should be quad-matched which means you can put them in any one of the "big tube" sockets.

2) What is the meaning of a matched pair or a matched quad as it pertains to KT88 tubes and MC275? Do I need to buy a matched quad of tubes if I want to buy 3rd party ones?
Click to expand...

Ideally yes.

I'll let someone else have fun with the other Qs.

ForzaRoma
 
3)I noticed that some of my KT88 tubes in the MC275 shine brighter than others...is that normal? They also seem not to be of exactly the same height when fully seated in the socket.
Click to expand...
Yes and yes
4) There are markings on the chassis such as V1, V2 etc in front of the tube sockets...what are they really for?
Click to expand...
The position in the circuit of the amp.


Carl
 
Welcome Ntang :)

Nomenclature is just a fancy word for the printed words on the amp.

Don't worry there is no order for plugging in the tubes, just don't put the wrong type of tube in the socket. For example the 12AX7 tubes look almost exactly like the 12AT7 so be carefull not to put a 12AX7 tube in a socket labled for a 12AT7.

Matched tubes usually will sound better but McIntosh tube amps are forgiving in this area and will work well with tubes that are not matched. Given a choice get matched tubes but as I said it is not required. Also tubes last a long time in McIntosh amps, so you should not have to worry about new tubes for a few years.

Victor
 
Thank you all for your answers.

As far as the KT88's are concerned, can I assume that if any one of them is "bad" or stops working, the amp will not work altogether? Same goes for the smaller tubes?

I find the MC275 a little bass heavy for my taste but maybe cause its new. It's played maybe about 20 hrs by now.

/Nick
 
ntang said:
Thank you all for your answers.

As far as the KT88's are concerned, can I assume that if any one of them is "bad" or stops working, the amp will not work altogether? Same goes for the smaller tubes?

I find the MC275 a little bass heavy for my taste but maybe cause its new. It's played maybe about 20 hrs by now.

/Nick
Click to expand...

music through this amp is how music should sound. If it is bass heavy, then it is not the amp. Try adjusting speaker placement, or changing speakers, cabling, listening in a bigger room? or after all else fails - purchase an EQ
 
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