Any MC205 Users Here?

[Yamaki]

I currently run my center and rear surround speakers on a pair of Emotiva amps. They do the job but my experience with upgrading from Emotiva to McIntosh leads me to believe this would be a stellar upgrade.

So are there any MC205 users here? Do you use the amplifier for all your channels or does it provide power to center, rear or both? I'm just curious how you like it. The published specs appear to match up quite well with my Vienna Acoustics Maestro center channels (yes, I said "channels" as I have two of them - more on that later) and the Waltz rear surrounds. Both units will handle 200W @ 4 ohms very easily but I suspect they will never see that sort of power.

Now...about that 2 center channel issue. I have a large room so have two Maestro's in the room, slightly pointed outwards to give a bit wider dispersion to dialogue. It may sound odd to do this but I'm here to tell you it works quite well and sounds much better than having just one speaker in play.

The Emotiva amplifier that powers the center channels is a UPA-1 which is configured as a mono-channel amp but has two outputs. Power is rated at 350W @ 4 ohms and it has no problem driving the two speakers.

Since the MC205 only has one output for the center channel I'd have to get a special WW splitter cable made up. My only real concern is dipping into that MC205 to feed those two speakers simultaneously from one output.

I don't suppose any of you MC205 owners out there have a similar setup or would you have the same concern?

I know...I know...I could go with two MC252's, MC302's or even MC452's, right? Don't start with me...

Anyway, I'd love to hear from any members who have some insight into this particular issue.

Thanks in advance for your input.

[scirica]

Michael:

I started my living room system with an MX121 and the MC205. I was extremely happy with the performance with the five channels dedicated to a typical 5.1 system. I then added the C2500 preamp and a Bryston 14Bsst2 to power the main left and right channels. In that configuration the MC205 now powers the center and two surrounds, leaving two channels I use to power an additional zone. The MC205 is very versatile and I would recommend it to anyone considering a multichannel amp.

[Yamaki]

As a side note, and an example of my anxious approach to upgrades which leads me to rush through placing new gear into play, I recently upgraded my MX119 pre-amp/processor for a MX135 unit. It was a long, sad story finally getting the MX135 to work but that's a different story in another section of the form.

Anyway...as I pondered this upgrade for the center and rear channels via a MC205 today, I suddenly realized that I had purchased the MX135 for it's full complement of balanced connections, In and OUT!!! I hadn't upgraded from an unbalanced RCA connection to the center channel amp when I put the MX135 in place. doh!

I went through my spare WW cable cache and found a WW Eclipse 7 and have rectified that deplorable situation.

[Yamaki]

Originally Posted by scirica

Michael:

I started my living room system with an MX121 and the MC205. I was extremely happy with the performance with the five channels dedicated to a typical 5.1 system. I then added the C2500 preamp and a Bryston 14Bsst2 to power the main left and right channels. In that configuration the MC205 now powers the center and two surrounds, leaving two channels I use to power an additional zone. The MC205 is very versatile and I would recommend it to anyone considering a multichannel amp.

Thank you!

[tutomac]

I love mine. Just installed Ivan Handles on it I dont use the center channel though. I use it to power my 4 surround channels...



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[Yamaki]

Thanks, Hector.

How do you like it and what speakers does it drive?

[Masterlu]

I use one in Florida (just 2 channels) for my rear back surrounds HT3 speakers. It's a great multi-Channel amp.

[Levitator]

Hi Yamaki

I use a MC205 to drive my centre and 2 rear speakers along with a MC452 to drive the two fronts and have been doing so for about 2yrs now. The centre speaker is a B&W HTM2 and rears B&W 805D'2 - I am very happy with the synergy and there is plenty of power for these speakers. One thing I did experience initially was transformer hum which while not overly intrusive on the listening experience, did exist. McIntosh happily replaced the amplifier and I no longer have this issue.

I'm not familiar with your speakers but believe you would be very happy with this amplifier...

[PMCH]

Michael, I may be the only one here that didn't like my MC205. I purchased it new from Audio Classics, brought it home and hooked it up (heavy). It sounded great while it was playing on my HT connected to my MX136 but when it wasn't playing I heard a slight buzzing out of the rear left corner the unit. I brought it back to exchange for another unit but tried this one out in the store. It had the same buzzing sound. Since I was at the store I tried the MX8207 and it was dead quiet so I had them load a new MX8207 in my car along with a partial refund since the MX8207 costs less. I have had it now for about a year and it has played perfectly and it is dead quiet. I thought I wanted the meters on the MC205 but I really like the less bright LED meters on the MC8207 in my dark HT room. The MC8207 also has all balanced inputs.

[scirica]

Handles for MC205?? [emoji7]