Different endcap finishes.
 

My MC302 and C47 have different finishes on the endcaps and top and bottom rails surrounding the glass faceplate.

The MC302 has brushed endcaps and rails and the C47 has matte finished endcaps and rails.

I originally purchased a C220 to go with my MC302 and it had the same brushed endcaps as the MC302 but when the C47 came out I traded the C220 in and got a C47. I assumed that the endcaps were the same but once I set it up I noticed that they were not.

It bugged me quite a bit at first but over the years I just learned to live with it. I've always wondered if it was possible to to change the endcaps on either the amp or the pre so that they match. If so is it difficult?

It’s very easy, just remove the two screws and the end caps come right off.

What about the black rails on the top and bottom of the glass. They are also a different finish.

Different endcap finishes.
 

That’s more difficult and involves removing cover parts before you gain access to all the screws that hold the rails in place. Keep in mind that the rails hold the glass so you have to be careful not to break it. There are also strings that will fall out of the notch that the glass rests in and they are difficult to correctly reinstall. Unless you’re handy, you might not want to attempt it.

It sounds like the C47 has the odd finish because every Mcintosh piece I’ve owned has had the brushed finish you describe that is found on your MC302. Maybe some other C47 owners can chime in on the finish of their units just to verify that it is typical of that model before you try taking it apart. Also, if it is typical of that model, then you’re not likely going to be able to replace the rails from another one because they’re often model specific. The end caps though could be replaced.

Interesting. So the current endcaps are brushed not matte? I wonder if it was just a one off for the C47. I also used to have a D150 and I think that might have also been matte but I can't remember. I just kind of assumed that since the C47 was newer they changed the finish.

In all candor; few people know as much as I regarding the manufacture, and finish of Mac aluminum end caps and handles. This has come from manufacturing aftermarket handles and rails for well over 10 years.

There are over a dozen variables; aluminum type ie: metallurgy, CNC machining, anodizing, brush finish techniques, final coatings etc.

So you’re saying that there are a lot of different finishes on different products? Weird you would think they would try and match them.

Ivan would definitely know. Not only has he been making the aftermarket end caps, he’s also owned a ton of Mcintosh pieces. Actually, more like several tons of Mcintosh pieces!

Interesting. I have an MC7104 and an MC202 stacked. They originally had different style end caps, but even if you replaced the older style caps on the 7104 with the newer style ones, you get surprised by the fact that the panel width is just slightly different, so stacked they are maybe 1/2" or so off. Cannot figure out why....seems goofy, looks funny. Probably no fix for that, right?

It's different because the two different style of end caps have different dimensions. The newer end caps are approximately 1/4" thicker than the older style end caps. When you remove the narrow end caps that came on the MC7104 and replace them with the newer style thicker end caps, you add approximately 1/4" to each side of the unit thus making the new overall width approximately 18" which is 1/2" wider than your MC202.

There is a way to remedy this and I did so with my MR7084 and an MA6450 I used to own. It's not a simple solution and you need to have access to a machinist.

First, you have to remove the top and bottom glass support rails from your MC7104 and trim each side by the increased thickness of the new end caps. Basically 1/4" off of each side. After the support rails are trimmed, the overall length should be the same as those found on your MC202. I would suggest you first buy replacement support rails and trim them instead so that you can keep the originals should you ever want to put the unit back to stock condition.

Next, you will notice a notch that is in each end cap that allows the end cap to slip over the glass when mounted. You will need to increase the depth of that notch by approximately 1/4" to allow for the end cap to slip over the glass since the glass will now be protruding further due to the cuts you made to the support rails.

Also, depending upon the design of the MC7104 chassis, you might have to trim off some of the inside corner of the end cap so that it can slip over the chassis frame. You will understand what I mean when you remove your existing end caps because there might be some of the internal supports right behind the glass. This trimming won't be visible when installed assuming you did it correctly.

I still have the end caps and top and bottom rails from my MA6450 that I did this to because I sold the MA6450. I'll take some photos later so that you get an idea as to what the trimmed end cap looks like. Keep in mind, none of the trimming I did to the end caps was visible when mounted, it looks 100% factory original.