Anyone buying new McIntosh gear?

[miner]

Josh, that timing is not right. You can always reach out to Mc directly and ask about your order. They will just need to know your dealer and date order was placed.

[jfray]

Yeah I’m thinking that also….. Thanks

[tubes2023]

Current Mac Tube Or Solid State Amps Are Not As Musical The Mc225,Mc30,60's,240 and 275 Tube
Solid State Mc2505, 2205 and the Mc230
All With New Parts

[McMan]

Congratulations Sailorman!

[sailorman]

Thank you. Today I wired up an hour meter and connected it to the 12 volt trigger on my MC275. Now I will be able to monitor how many hours are on my tubes.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by tubes2023

Current Mac Tube Or Solid State Amps Are Not As Musical The Mc225,Mc30,60's,240 and 275 Tube
Solid State Mc2505, 2205 and the Mc230
All With New Parts

tubes, there's a MC3500 at Audio Classics for 15K but apparently only one of them. I owned a MC225, MC240, MC275, and two MC75 mono's in their original condition, no new parts. They were and are wonderful amps.

When one compares the original MC3500 in superb condition to the new 3500, I think the important thing to remember is that the basic circuit is similar. This is not true for a 2301. I am sure that all the modern Mac tube amps contain transistors, whereas the vintage Mac amps don't. However, I'm not sure of the sonic difference this assumption makes. The original 3500 comes with a fan, has no balanced inputs, and the binding posts are greatly inferior to the current Mac binding posts. I don't like fans. The current 3500 does not require a fan and runs cool. The power is identical, about 500 watts.

As far as sonics are concerned, I have never heard an original 3500. The new 3500 is the best sounding amp I have heard. Before I said the original was more musical, I would have to connect it my XVX. The new 3500 does not sound romantic, rolled off, or recessed to correct the deficiencies of a speaker with a harsh mid, too bright highs, and lean bass. Many own speakers that posses to some degree one or all these qualities and desire in a tube amp to mitigate these deficiencies.

I hear what you are saying concerning the original Mac tube amps, but you must be careful about your definition of "more musical". Getting the midrange right (correctly balanced) is extremely difficult. An excellent non Mac tube amp will have a midrange "bloom" and rounder bass than a Mac tube amp. The vintage Mac tube amps may have more of this quality, I don't know.

However, I can absolutely say that the new 3500 has a big slice of the original Mac tube sound. The overall presentation is slightly less bright than today's Mac solid state and yet there is no penalty in terms of other sonic qualities. If you have ever heard Mac vintage tubes you know what I mean. I have never heard an amp with the pace, rhythm, and sense of raw power of the 3500. The soundstage is amazingly 3D and the detail and resolution are superior to my 1.25KW driving my XVX. The new 3500 is simply quicker than my 1.25KW's and cut from a different piece of sonic cloth which is the same piece I heard as a youth for many years.

Is the original more musical? I don't know. Both are superb. Are the original tube amps you listed more musical than their current counterparts? That's a tough question, because the current amps may have slightly more resolution and detail. I think with current Mac tube amps you get a large slice of the original Mac tube sound. I think I would go with the current models because of much better binding posts and balanced inputs. However, if you absolutely want the original Mac tube sound which IMO is the best on the planet, the original tube amps are the gold standard for the original Mac sound.

Best

Charles

p.s. I'm a roller skater at heart. I honestly feel I must have been born with a pair of skates on. However, my medical career and other responsibilities made it impossible to skate. Now I have installed my own rink. I love skate music. Loud. You have never heard Abba until you hear it through a 3500/XVX at 80% volume. It's incredible. Almost ever time I skate I learn something new.

[Fbgbill]

I am considering going to the C2700 in my system. Its not that I need it, I just want it. My C2600 is the oldest unit i own. It is worth more than what I paid for it several years ago.

[McMan]

Fbj, if you were to go with the c2700, what amp would you pair it with? I am thinking about the C53.

Does anyone have any experience running arc out of their tv via HDMI to the DA2 and comparing it to optical?

McIntosh states that it provided better sound and wondered about others' experiences.

[thughes]

I have my Sony 85" TV running HDMI to my C53 DA2 module. It's fine for making the TV a source for the C53. I have not tried the optical input. For the sake of convenience, the C53 and TV "talk" to each other. I don't think I would get that through optical.

[tubes2023]

Originally Posted by tubes2023

Current Mac Tube Or Solid State Amps Are Not As Musical The Mc225,Mc30,60's,240 and 275 Tube
Solid State Mc2505, 2205 and the Mc230
All With New Parts

Detail and Resolution Yes
List To These Artist
1 Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Only
2 Today And Now Coleman Hawkins Quartet
3 Ella Fitzgerald Clap Hands Here Comes Charlie
4 Mile Davis Kind Of Blue
At Night At 70db And Get Back To Me