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McIntosh Audio A Tradition of Excellence |
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#1
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I seem to find the happiness I seek
The first posts I made (MC 275 club page 35) described a comparison of MC 275's with an ARC VT 100 II, with a nod to paired MC 275's. This may irritate some 275ers, but I have new amplification that is better. I am using a restored Mac 1700 to run the bass modules on VSA VR 4 jr.'s and a Mac 1500 on the mid/treble. The sound is really something special. I never felt the 275's to give the bass oomph I like, despite their overall excellence. The 1700 has been rebuilt with new electronics throughout and gives a bass performance that is terrific in that it has power, great detail, and correct timbre, especially noticeable in jazz with a lot of string bass. The tone color is especially right in all sorts of music. It meets my definition of good bass sound:
Warm but not muddy, Deep but not thuddy. The 1500 has not been restored electronically but looks new; indeed it is the only piece of equipment I have ever had in truly collector condition. Tube complement is terrific too: 4 Sylvania 7591s, Westinghouse and Telefunken drivers. The 1500 brings out an extended and sweet treble in a very real sounding sound-stage, with excellent (but not absurd and unreal) imaging, while the 1700 matches it in every way, with interaction between the two so good there is no disconnect in the sound quality or character (which one might expect in two amps from the same manufacturer and vintage.) I use the 1700 alone when listening to FM, TV, or movies by using the jumpers on the VR 4s. An ARC SP 8 drives the 1500 via the usual outputs, while the line out drives the 1700. The 1700 volume control makes for a handy tone control for the bass on bass-shy material, especially classical recordings. My hi-output Benz glider gives plenty of gain for the 1700 using the line out connection. The MC 275s are terrific, but in a system that can be easily bi-amped like mine, the flexibility in amping is really a plus. I couldn't be more pleased. |
#2
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LowIQ.......Very interesting. That is the first time I have ever heard of someone using two vintage MAC receivers to bi-amp speakers.
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A |
#3
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Quote:
You should give the headphone out a try. |
#4
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Quote:
A question for you as a long time Mac contributor: would a rebuild of the 1500 with perhaps a bypass of the preamp section damage its value? It really is in collectible shape, but I can't help but think it would sound even better with such a bypass. I plan on doing the same with the 1700, but it's not in such high condition. Thanks for your advice. |
#5
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I plan on getting h-phones this fall and look forward to hearing them as you suggest. Personally, I think these vintage Mac receivers with tube tuners are really under-rated. They sound terrific after the circuits are refreshed.
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#6
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I agree, they are musical.The tuner does a good job of grabing signals too.
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#7
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Nothing like a "fresh" (as in new/modern) set of caps to transform the sound of vintage gear. Probably get around to recapping my MA6850 at some point.
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Glenn... Clearaudio SM Pro Focal Bathys JLA 10" Dominion Kuzma Stabi S w/MC & MM Magnepan 1,7i McIntosh MA8950 Oppo 203 Roon Nucleus Rose Hifi RS150B Shunyata Gemini-4 Sony ST-A6B, TA-F6B & PS-X75 Sorane SA1.2 & TA-1L Stillpoints LP1v2 WW Pt, Au & Ag |
#8
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I have to ask... why did you pick the name LowIQ ?
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#9
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Just a passing fancy.
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#10
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I would aim higher. Like UltraHighIQ
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