Your favorite Mac multichannel amp?

[70sMac]

Mac board..... I just wrote to a friend and asked him the same question, so I thought that I'd ask the same thing here: What's your favorite McIntosh multichannel amplifier?

To clarify a bit more, by "multichannel," I mean anything with three channels or more of amplification on board (and no limits on available power).

[Logan Nolag]

I had the MC7205 for a while. I like it a lot because it has a subwoofer input which allows you to monitor the subwoofer level with one of the meters. Also there is a switch which allows you to switch the meters between front and center and rear and sub monitoring. I only got rid of it because it was having problems with the triggers and the meters were misscalibrated.

[RaceCarDriver]

MC303 by far. Nothing else comes close.

[Logan Nolag]

Originally Posted by RaceCarDriver

MC303 by far. Nothing else comes close.

MC303 is basically just a 3 channel version of the MC302. It has autoformers etc. so yes The 303 is definitely the best multichannel amp for sure but the 303 is an outlier and not really a normal multichannel amp at all.

[HiFiHippie]

I recently added a MC257 7 channel amplifier to my system. This is the first multichannel amplifier from McIntosh I have owned, that being said I am really happy with it’s performance. I am using it in a Dolby Atmos system running my left and right rear channels and 4 object based ceiling speakers. I also really enjoy the look of the large panel meter.

[RaceCarDriver]

Originally Posted by Logan Nolag

MC303 is basically just a 3 channel version of the MC302. It has autoformers etc. so yes The 303 is definitely the best multichannel amp for sure but the 303 is an outlier and not really a normal multichannel amp at all.

The 303 has the highest output transistors of all the McIntosh amps, the same
transformer as the 1200 watt monos and capable of over 1000 watts a channel if you keep it cool and put it on a dedicated 20 amp outlet. It’s a beast. A normal multichannel amp it is not.

I hope McIntosh keeps it around and updates it.

[1KW]

I have had a MC207 for around 10 years, still going strong.

[Audiophilehi]

Originally Posted by 1KW

I have had a MC207 for around 10 years, still going strong.

I have my MC 207 for almost 8 years and is bulletproof. It’s the only multi channel amp for McIntosh I’ve ever owned so I can’t really compare against the others.

I have owned the MC452 and absolutely loved it. The MC452 did sound better than my MC207 in a 2 channel setup so I would have to say that the 3 channel MC303 would sound better than the MC207.

If I had to make a change from my MC207 I would definitely go with the MC303 for the L,R,C and an MC452/462 for the rears.

[Levitator]

Ive still got my MC 205 waiting for my home theatre to be set up - I did have some hum issues with the first one I got which was replaced by my dealer and no issues since. Not as good as my MC 452 which will be used for fronts but still a solid amp for home theatre duties...