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McIntosh Audio A Tradition of Excellence |
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#1
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To bi-amp or not, that is the question
Hi AA!
Was chatting with Ivan about my setup and we started down a path on bi-amping my Cantons. The specific scenario we were going through was to connect the monoblock MC2301's to the highs and mids (I love tube sound) and then to add a MC452 or MC462 to the lows. Trying to get a sense of what to expect if I went this direction and if the potential gains would be noticeable. This would be a passive bi-amp scenario as I still would like the speaker crossovers to do their thing. The Cantons have physically separated crossovers and would have no issues with the extra "umph" doing this would bring. the connections would run from the C1100 to MC2301 left and right. Then from each MC2301 via Balanced XLR to a single MC452 (or 462). Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated. |
#2
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Quote:
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#3
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What happens when the gain doesn't match?
The only gain setting is on the C1100. |
#4
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The manual for my 2301's seems to indicate that it's no problem to bi-amp with a different McIntosh Amp.
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#5
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Only if the two have identical gain. Since the only gain control is on the preamp, it cannot compensate for a difference in the two amps.
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#6
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Thank you. I can find the gain on the MC462 but not the 2301... any ideas where to find that?
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#7
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The Berners site is a good place to look for Mc specs.
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#8
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From the MC 2301 Owner's Manual:
Ei=3.4 Vrms (balanced input) for 300 Watts into 8 Ohms. Eo=SQRT(P*R) Eo=48.99 Vrms Gain in dB=20*Log10(Eo/Ei) Gain in dB=20*Log10(48.99/3.4) Gain in dB=23.17 dB From the MC 462 Owner's Manual 4.2 Vrms (balanced input) for 450 Watts into 8 ohms Eo=60 Vrms Gain=23 dB Close enough! Now what's confusing is the gain spec in the 462 manual shows the following: Voltage Gain 29dB, 8 Ohms 26dB, 4 Ohms 23dB, 2 Ohms But they don't state if the gain is measured from the balanced or unbalanced input. If you do the math you'll find it is measured from the unbalanced input. I calculated gain from the balanced input, so my calculations are correct. McIntosh should specify which input they use to measure gain. Either way, if you are consistent in the use of balanced/unbalanced inputs and output transformer taps the gain of these amplifiers is the same. Happy Bi-amping! Tom
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Main System: Amati Futura Mains Amati Homage VOX Center, Proac Response 1sc Rears, Three MC2301's for L,C,R MC 602 for the rears C 1100, MX 151, MCD 1100, MR 80 Nottingham Dais with Wave Mechanic Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation SurfacePro 3, RPi 4, ROON, WW Starlight Platinum USB, Schiit Yggdrasil, Benchmark DAC3 HGC MX 151, OppO BDP-95, JVC RS-500 DILA projector, 106" diagonal Stewart Luxus Screenwall Deluxe with Studiotek 130 G3 material. Lake House: Ohm F, MC 275V, C2300, MR 77, Rega P3 OnDeck: McIntosh MAC 4300v Last edited by W9TR; 05-18-2019 at 06:06 PM. |
#9
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No. It is not in the product spec nor in the user's manual. Shameful behavior.
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#10
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You will have some additional gain control by using the different output taps on your Amps if needed.
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Ivan FLORIDA 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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