McIntosh MC75 MkIII Amplifier Review

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Charles

Dan, I couldn't agree more with you. Out of respect for the Dag or ARC folks driving Wilsons I always defer and respectfully state that they are Macs superior, but in my heart I know better. Mac has a house sound both tube and SS that you can fall in love with. "Liguid gold to my ears" is hard to improve upon and that is what I hear also. May you enjoy these absolutely beautiful amps forever! IMO, they are the BEST.

Charles.......Yes, like you I respect a number of audio manufacturers who are producing remarkable audio components. I have been tempted on more than one occasion to move from McIntosh but my dedication to their amplifiers and preamplifiers keeps me in the fold. My first McIntosh amplifiers were a pair of MC30 mono tube amplifiers I purchased in 1968. Since that time I have had McIntosh in my home in one system or another. I have owned my share of other preamplifiers, power amplifiers, and integrated amplifiers, but McIntosh has been present in my homes through all these years. With more than seven decades of water under my bridge I suspect McIntosh will continue to be present in my home to my final day. For me it is the sound of music.

Through the years two friends who owned McIntosh gear were lured to other audio manufacturer's gear in their quests to "improve" their sound systems. I saw many different preamps and amps come and go through their sound systems, Conrad-Johnson, Audio Research, Balanced Audio Technology, Pass Labs, Parasound, and others, then the coup de gras happened, a return to McIntosh. Both have said to me that returning to McIntosh was like coming home after a long journey. I can't help but think of all the money they spent chasing a sound they already had. I can't really criticize their actions based on money because I have also allowed an enormous amount of money pass through my hands, although to my credit it was primarily spent on McIntosh components. At any rate, I encourage everyone to audition McIntosh products, especially their preamplifiers and power amplifiers. With 70 years of expertise building these products, McIntosh has fine tuned the notion of high-end to an art. Even at their current price points their audio components still represent remarkable bang for the buck, especially standing shoulder to shoulder with other high-end manufacturers whose amps and preamps range in price two to three times more. Liquid gold to my ears perfectly describes what McIntosh has provided me for many decades. The old axiom is true, "If it ain't broke don't fix it."

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Marmarosa

Dan,

A week ago I purchased a C500T. Now, I was thinking about a MC275, (beautiful, mythical, available, not so expensive)...........

And today, I find your post......... Do you really want to kill me ?

Congratulations for your 75´s !!!

Jose.......No, I'm not trying to kill you, but thanks for the laugh. .

Sounds to me like you have a good plan. The McIntosh C500T is a wonderful tube preamplifier that will sound amazing with the MC275. I hope you are looking at the newest MC275 Mk VI because it has been upgraded by McIntosh design and engineering to address the low frequency range control. It is the MC275 to own, plus it provides Sentry Monitor to protect the amp from power tube failures, and Power Control that allows the amp to be turned on and off from the preamp. You won't be disappointed. If you must, you can always move to the MC75's at a future date.

[For The Love of Music]

Originally Posted by tweet

Dan,

Nice move. I bought a pair of McIntosh power control cables for my MC75s when I had them in the rack for the same reason. They are very nice looking IMO and give the business end of the amps an elegant, high quality appearance. Enjoy.

I did not even think twice and bought those when I owned McIntosh, and still use both of them serving trigger duty on my current monos.

Better solid weighted termination.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by For The Love of Music

I did not even think twice and bought those when I owned McIntosh, and still use both of them serving trigger duty on my current monos.

Better solid weighted termination.

Ed.......These are the first McIntosh cables I ever bought. They certainly look good in the photos, and I am confident McIntosh quality will be reflected in the cables. I have my fingers crossed they will arrive Wednesday. They're going to look so much nicer than the low-end control cables I'm currently using.

[80B]

Dan,
Great review (as always), and I enjoyed reading through the whole thread tonight. Glad to hear you are getting, if not as much as from your studio system, a great amount of pleasure from your living room system.

And hey, who knows, those Mc trigger wires may be a nanosecond faster than the ones you have today!

Enjoy in good health.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by 80B

Dan,
Great review (as always), and I enjoyed reading through the whole thread tonight. Glad to hear you are getting, if not as much as from your studio system, a great amount of pleasure from your living room system.

And hey, who knows, those Mc trigger wires may be a nanosecond faster than the ones you have today!

Enjoy in good health.

Paul.......Thank you. I have been having so much fun with the living room sound system that I have sort of been ignoring the studio sound system. One system isn't really better than the other, just slightly different spices in the final results. The newness of the MC75's and the tweaking I have been doing with them will reach a turning point, then the studio system will be back in regular rotation. Both sound systems are exceptional.

[RaceCarDriver]

I think you need a C1100 to compliment those 75s!

[Marmarosa]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Jose.......No, I'm not trying to kill you, but thanks for the laugh. .

Sounds to me like you have a good plan. The McIntosh C500T is a wonderful tube preamplifier that will sound amazing with the MC275. I hope you are looking at the newest MC275 Mk VI because it has been upgraded by McIntosh design and engineering to address the low frequency range control. It is the MC275 to own, plus it provides Sentry Monitor to protect the amp from power tube failures, and Power Control that allows the amp to be turned on and off from the preamp. You won't be disappointed. If you must, you can always move to the MC75's at a future date.

Yes, Dan,

I am looking for a brand new Mk VI to move my Dynaudio Contour 1.8 MK II (you know, only 86db). My dealer is sure the 275 will move this loudspeakers without problems. I´m quite sure too. Today I'm using an integrated tube amplifier, Unison Research P70, with the C500T. Sounds loud and clear....

But, with your permission, I insist; your 75´s photos are killing me.....

Chema.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Marmarosa

Yes, Dan,

I am looking for a brand new Mk VI to move my Dynaudio Contour 1.8 MK II (you know, only 86db). My dealer is sure the 275 will move this loudspeakers without problems. I´m quite sure too. Today I'm using an integrated tube amplifier, Unison Research P70, with the C500T. Sounds loud and clear....

But, with your permission, I insist; your 75´s photos are killing me.....

Chema.......Pardon me for not using your proper nickname. It's been so long since we last chatted I forgot.

The Unison Research P70 integrated amp (70 watts per channel) is very close in power to the McIntosh MC275 Mk VI power amplifier, so if you are satisfied with the volume and dynamics of it powering your Dyn's then you will be happy with the MC275. Actually, the MC275 bench tests show the amp is able to deliver 90 watts per channel. Since McIntosh states that their power specifications are minimum results, it is typical for McIntosh power amplifiers to produce higher output than advertised specs. The McIntosh C500T and the MC275 will be a perfect match and should make your Dynaudio Contour 1.8 MK II speakers sing beautifully.

[Marmarosa]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Chema.......Pardon me for not using your proper nickname. It's been so long since we last chatted I forgot.

The Unison Research P70 integrated amp (70 watts per channel) is very close in power to the McIntosh MC275 Mk VI power amplifier, so if you are satisfied with the volume and dynamics of it powering your Dyn's then you will be happy with the MC275. Actually, the MC275 bench tests show the amp is able to deliver 90 watts per channel. Since McIntosh states that their power specifications are minimum results, it is typical for McIntosh power amplifiers to produce higher output than advertised specs. The McIntosh C500T and the MC275 will be a perfect match and should make your Dynaudio Contour 1.8 MK II speakers sing beautifully.

Thank`s again, Dan

And please don´t worry, Chema or José are the same name here.