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  #21  
Old 04-20-2019, 07:24 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by torxx View Post
The new amp was night and day improvement in holographic type sound. Better in every possible way. the difference probably would not be that pronounced for you, but, would be a good step up in sound if I had to guess?
When I upgraded (not sure it was an upgrade) from an MC2255 to the MC300 (1995) the sound was about the same. However, when I upgraded from the MC300 to McIntosh's first 'balanced' amp, the MC500 (1998) it was a very big step up in sound. Am guessing the step up from the MC300 to any of the modern McIntosh amps (501s, 601s, 452, 462, etc.) would be an even bigger improvement. IIRC, the MC300 is generally regarded as the last of the 'old sound' McIntosh amps, with the warmer, somewhat rolled-off and less detailed sound compared to their amps since then.
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Last edited by Formerly YB-2; 04-20-2019 at 07:38 AM. Reason: Dates
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  #22  
Old 04-20-2019, 10:40 AM
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Sorry for not getting on here earlier. I used an MX136 (later upgraded to MX151) in stereo in addition to 5.1. When I added the MC2500 it brought the sound to a new level with musicality, soundstage and clarity. At the heart of the MX136 was a C46. Many here have been delighted with the tube/ss combination of the C2x00 and MC4x2.

Have you made any decisions/purchases yet?
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  #23  
Old 05-04-2019, 07:29 PM
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So I will be ordering a C2500 from AC this weekend. I can't contain my excitement! Any suggestions when I take delivery and hook it up? I've never owned a tube preamp. Also, I would really like to update my MC300 to a "newer" generation amp. Someone suggested a look at the 352. I'm sure I can't go wrong with any.
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Last edited by Thebenz; 05-04-2019 at 07:32 PM. Reason: forgot something
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  #24  
Old 05-05-2019, 12:26 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thebenz View Post
So I will be ordering a C2500 from AC this weekend. I can't contain my excitement! Any suggestions when I take delivery and hook it up? I've never owned a tube preamp. Also, I would really like to update my MC300 to a "newer" generation amp. Someone suggested a look at the 352. I'm sure I can't go wrong with any.
Personally, I’ve never been much of a fan of the MC352 ... MC452 if you can swing it ...
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  #25  
Old 05-05-2019, 05:35 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thebenz View Post
So I will be ordering a C2500 from AC this weekend. I can't contain my excitement! Any suggestions when I take delivery and hook it up? I've never owned a tube preamp. Also, I would really like to update my MC300 to a "newer" generation amp. Someone suggested a look at the 352. I'm sure I can't go wrong with any.


Congratulations on the C2500! If it arrives with the stock McIntosh tubes, I’d swap them out for Gold Lion gold pin tubes. You’re going to love it.
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  #26  
Old 05-05-2019, 08:19 AM
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Congrats on the C2500! You’ll love it! I second the Gold Lion swap out. Very easy to do and you’ll see a nice improvement.

Your MC 300 is a bit of an odd duck in the McIntosh lineup because it is a direct coupled amplifier - no output autoformers.

I would audition one of the quad balanced McIntosh power amplifiers.
The MC 402 and MC 452 are good choices in used gear and generally available.
Tom
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  #27  
Old 05-05-2019, 12:53 PM
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MC300 certainly has autoformers ...
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  #28  
Old 05-05-2019, 01:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by damacman View Post
MC300 certainly has autoformers ...
I owned one, and it did have Autoformers. Manual below; page 13.

http://sportsbil.com/mcintosh/Amps/MC-300/MC300_own.pdf
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MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES
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MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES

Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES
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  #29  
Old 05-05-2019, 01:15 PM
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Should I get the LED upgrade before they ship? Is this just a cosmetic upgrade of sorts for looks or do people get them for longevity?

I do lean towards the 402, i'm not sure the 452 is in my budget unless they give me a good deal on my mc300.

Ok the gold lions I will have to be educated on. Is there only one type that will work or are there dozens of different tubes that work?
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Last edited by Thebenz; 05-05-2019 at 01:20 PM. Reason: forgot question
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  #30  
Old 05-05-2019, 01:20 PM
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Definitely get the LED upgrade.
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MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES
CAPE COD

MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES

Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES
Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES
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