McIntosh MC75 MkIII amplifiers in the house

[prepress]

Originally Posted by jdandy

My McIntosh MC75 MkIII amplifiers finally arrived about 1:30 PM. It was like seeing Santa Claus come up the driveway. Happy days. Huge grin. Two big burly guys carried the amps upstairs, packed the MC452, and were gone in less than 30 minutes. It did not take long for me to have the shipping cartons opened and the MC75 amplifiers displaying their charms. These are beautiful amplifiers, built like a Sherman tank, typical McIntosh attention to detail. Both amplifiers are in absolute mint condition, not a blemish or a scratch to be found anywhere. I couldn't be happier.











It took me about an hour to get both amplifiers installed after retubing them with Gold Lion KT-88 and ECC83/12AX7, and Siemens ECC801S/12AT7 tubes. John suggested I install them stock and then incrementally change tubes, add Wireworld Silver Electra power cables, and then add the Furutech Flux 50's. My enthusiasm overruled that idea as soon as I had them out of their cartons. Both MC75's are sporting the full enchillada. I couldn't hold myself back. I installed the two MC75's sideways in the rack, one in front of the other. There are two Cooler Guys fans installed on the back of the rack to pull warm air out of the rack cavity so the amps should have a long and healthy lifespan. In the future I may try orienting the amps 90 degrees so that the power cords and Flux 50's go directly out the back of the rack. It was a tight squeeze to get the Flux 50's and the Wireworld Silver Electra power cable installed as they presently sit. I do like looking at the tubes, but this arrangement obscures viewing the second amplifier. Time will determine what installation angle I eventually settle on.








The sound, goodness gracious, the sound. The system has been playing for two hours now and I am already thoroughly bonded with the MC75's. The sound is delicious, flowing, liquid gold to my ears, and the new tubes aren't broken in yet. No complaints with what I am hearing, only a big smile. The MC75's are wonderful. I should have bought a pair two years ago before McIntosh ended production. Being late to the party is still very cool. Color me starstruck.

You sound like me once my 501s broke in. Good you're enjoying them.

By the way, is that Salamander walnut or cherry? It's a perfect compliment for the gear.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by prepress

You sound like me once my 501s broke in. Good you're enjoying them.

By the way, is that Salamander walnut or cherry? It's a perfect compliment for the gear.

Charles.......That color is Salamander's Cherry.

[prepress]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Charles.......That color is Salamander's Cherry.

Ok, it looked like cherry in one photo but in another, with the light reflecting off the rack, it looked as if it could be walnut. Thanks. It's a nice look. I'm thinking about new racks and if I go there, they would be Salamanders.

Congratulations on the MC75s. Plenty of great listening ahead for you, it sounds like.

[jdandy]

Charles.......Yes, the Salamander rack is a dark cherry color, especially when compared to my PMC speakers which are a light cherry color. I also use the side panels that can be ordered with the rack. I keep the back open for ventilation. I also have casters on the rack so that I can pull it away from the wall when necessary for cable management.

[V7Sport73]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Gentlemen.......I am still parked in the sweet spot on the living room couch, still smiling, pleased as punch at the sound. First impressions are they sound very much like the MC2301’s in the studio. The lowest octaves are more solid and robust than I remember the MC275 stereo tube amp sounding. Dynamic are punchier, too. So far I am extremely pleased with what I am hearing. I'm not experiencing the slightest tinge of regret over trading the MC452. These two MC75 mono tube amps are keepers.

I have owned a lot of tube amps throughout the years. The MC75's are among the best sounding amps you can buy. They have more than enough power to drive just about any speaker and sound absolutely fabulous. I like them better than the McIntosh MC2301's or the MC275's. It does a great job throughout the frequency range at any volume level. It does sound even better with a set of Gold Loins. Great purchase.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by V7Sport73

I have owned a lot of tube amps throughout the years. The MC75's are among the best sounding amps you can buy. They have more than enough power to drive just about any speaker and sound absolutely fabulous. I like them better than the McIntosh MC2301's or the MC275's. It does a great job throughout the frequency range at any volume level. It does sound even better with a set of Gold Loins. Great purchase.

V7Sport73.......Like you, I have also owned quite a few tube power amplifiers and tube preamplifiers through the years. I agree the MC75 is a serious contender in the tube amp arena. My pair are quite responsive to tube rolling. I am presently running Gold Lion KT88's and Siemens ECC801S (12AT7) driver tubes. They sound fabulous, but I would not put the MC75's performance above the MC2301 tube power amplifiers, which I also own and use with another sound system in a dedicated room. The MC2301's are also sensitive to tube rolling. In my MC2301's I have the Gold Lion KT88 power tubes and Siemens E81CC triple mica 12AT7 driver tubes. I have rolled in a number of other 12AT7 driver tubes from JJ, Gold Lion, McIntosh branded chinese tubes, and two versions of Siemens. The driver tubes make quite the difference in the MC2301's sound. The combination of power tubes and driver tubes I have in place now do a marvelous job of revealing the full audio spectrum without exaggerating any part of the frequency spectrum. The MC2301's are in a class of their own.

Yesterday I spent three hours listening to the MC75's in the living room system, then spent another three hours listening to the MC2301's in the studio sound system. I wanted to refresh my mind as to how they compare, albeit in different systems with different sources and speakers. None the less, both system's power amplifiers fully present an amazing performance. The MC75's are definitely in the same ballpark as the MC2301's, output power not withstanding. Both amplifiers deliver robust bass, smooth detailed midrange, and crystal clear top end. Both are also dead quiet. I love both of these power amplifiers equally. If I had to live with only one of my sound systems, I have five, I could easily live with the MC75's or the MC2301's without remorse.