McIntosh MC2000 MINT, Sinatra Estate

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by JBT

Everyone has opinions Dan.

McIntosh MC2000 raised a mighty splash when it cannonballed into Sam Tellig's wading pool. In ST's detailed musings on this gold-plated hunk o' stereo amp in the November '99 Stereophile, you'll learn that the MC2000 was designed by Sidney Corderman, McIntosh co-founder and designer of the legendary MC275. Sidney was coaxed out of retirement to commemorate the firm's 50th anniversary with this design. ST, obviously inspired, did a fine job of describing the philosophy behind the MC2000, and its build, special transformers, and circuitry. He also heaped glowing praise on its sound.

Jim.......You may have misunderstood my comments. I wasn't disparaging the MC2000. I am well aware of the amp's designer, who he is, and his contributions at McIntosh through the years. I read and re-read Jonathan Scull's Stereophile review on several occasions through the years, including when it was first published some 17 years ago. I remember Sam Tellig's reviews, too. No doubt the MC2000 is a fine limited edition, limited production commemorative amplifier conceived and developed by Sidney Corderman in celebration of McIntosh's 50th anniversary. For a collector, the knowledge of the MC2000's previous owner will perhaps convey special bragging rights, but the point I was making is the MC2000 will sound the same as Joe Schmoe's MC2000 and everyone else's who owns one despite who may have been its previous owner. It's an amplifier. The celebrity status of who owned it before someone else doesn't make it magically perform better.

I found it amusing in a rather absurd way that the auction house, as prestigious as they claim to be, would ever consider selling this "treasured" amplifier without providing the protection of factory shipping cartons, including the protective foamed packaging that secures the tubes for shipping. Making a comment in their ad that there are no boxes for this special amplifier at $15,000, like a buyer is just supposed to accept that and be happy, seems beneath their perceived image. That's all I was trying to say. No slam on the MC2000 amplifier at all.

http://akdatabase.org/AKview/albums/...%20Review2.PDF

[JWJW]

Originally Posted by jdandy

I'd rather have a pair of MC2301 tube power amps. Oh wait, I have a pair of MC2301's.

[JBT]

I suspect Jason Preston deals more with artwork, coin stamp collections, Furs and other clothing that collectors are interested in. If I needed an Amp I would consider paying the original price for MC2000 simply because it used to belong to Sinatra Jr. Make a good conversation piece. Sort of like a good bottle of Macallan 30yr Fine Oak Scotch which sells for 3+ thousand.

[JT3]

Suspect this will be picked up, not shipped. Sinatra Jr or not (I'm in the "yes" camp) the mc2000 deserves hand delivery. They should find/list a picture inside the home.