Most Impressive Thing about MC462….

[Porsche993TT]

Originally Posted by miatadan

I did some reading of the owner’s manual of the Magnepan’s and it states Nominal 4 ohms, so I moved the taps back to the 4ohm tap.

What I am not sure about is why there seemed to be more highs from the 8 ohm tap but deeper bass from the 4 ohm ? If choosing the tap that matches the impedance will prevent over stressing the amplifier, I will now just leave it at 4 ohms.

Charles’s your explanation helpful and does explain why many years ago , the MC302 I had in the past , was over heating at the 8 ohm tap on the Magnepan’s.

When I worked at stereo shop, I sold McIntosh many years but I am not an engineer.

Dan

all speakers and amplifiers can handle 4 an 8 ohms. an amplifier should not be getting hotter at 8 ohms than it does at 4. the lower the ohms the more current and power the amplifier will produce, thats why you have better bass at 4 than 8, more current drive and control of the lower end.
if you have more "highs" at 8ohm than at 4 its more than likely because you have less bass and control at 8 ohms and the highs are more noticeable, etc

[Bob Bubeck]

For what it is worth, I have been driving my Yvettes with the 4 ohm taps ever since my MC462 arrived in 2019. This arrangement was arrived at using both my listening judgement and input by my dealer upon delivery. This was found (and continues) to be optimum with my system. Absolutely no thermal issues.

Happy listening.

Bob
__________________________________________________ __________________
Sources: Clearaudio Jubilee MC/Clearaudio Innovation Wood TT w/Universal Arm 9” and Professional Power 24V; McIntosh MCT500 CD/SACD transport; OPPO 205; NAD C446 Internet Tuner; Nakamichi 670ZX cassette deck. Electronics: McIntosh C2700 preamp w/DA2 and MC462 power amp. Speakers: Wilson Yvettes with Acoustic Diodes Headphones: McIntosh MHP 1000 Interconnects: Transparent SBL2 XLR GEN 6 balanced and SSC8 GEN 6 speaker cables; MCT - MCT500 -> C2700.Power cords: Transparent (on preamp, power amp and transport). Surge protected. Record and CD maintenance : Clearaudio Double Matrix Professional Sonic RCM; L’Art du Son CD treatment.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by miatadan

I did some reading of the owner’s manual of the Magnepan’s and it states Nominal 4 ohms, so I moved the taps back to the 4ohm tap.

What I am not sure about is why there seemed to be more highs from the 8 ohm tap but deeper bass from the 4 ohm ? If choosing the tap that matches the impedance will prevent over stressing the amplifier, I will now just leave it at 4 ohms.

Charles’s your explanation helpful and does explain why many years ago , the MC302 I had in the past , was over heating at the 8 ohm tap on the Magnepan’s.

When I worked at stereo shop, I sold McIntosh many years but I am not an engineer.

Dan

miatadan, the 462 will do a wonderful job on your speakers at the recommended tap. It's just a fact that the 611 will do a slightly better job using the recommended tap. Even though it may not get hot, the impedance mismatch will always be there. There will be many, most in fact, that will maintain that it is of no or minimal consequence, However, I think you are wise. I have always believed that SS amps should always be operating optimally and under stressed. Modern Mac amps have much larger power supplies and much more current, which is why, if you really want to, and you prefer the sound, the 8 ohm tap, with your current speakers would be OK, IMO. But not for me.

Tube amps on the other hand really don't care if they approach clipping. The sonics don't change. A 1502 can hit 150 watts and be not be stressed at all. However, the same cannot be said for a 611 hitting say 1,000 watts. For almost all music a 1502 is totally enough power for almost any speaker. Again, I want my SS amp to loaf. For a 611 this means less than 100 watts at recommended impedance, optimally.

[miatadan]

Charles, I will leave the MC462 on the 4 ohms tap.
I agree with what you said about tube amplifier’s but the only tube amplifier I would like from McIntosh is the MC3500 MK2’s as I like the classic design, and I want the meters ….
As far as my SS amp, I can say it gets to loaf all the time as average watts I am using is between 4.5 watts and 45 watt peaks.

Dan

[matias1979]

Originally Posted by Charles

My belief is that when the 8 ohm tap is preferred it is a sign that you need a larger Mac amp. Charles

I agree with Carlos. if you need to connect to 8 its because you need more watts. I have a Sophia 2 + mc452 and I tried

8 = more highs from the 8 ohm tap + mid-high , i feel not control in the woofer.

4 = deeper bass + controlled. I feel more control in everything