McIntosh MC-302 amp for 1.6's

RE: McIntosh MC-302 amp for 1.6's, posted on April 10, 2015 at 09:33:59
fin1bxn@msn.com Audiophile Posts: 2215 Location: new jersey Joined: November 15, 2005	I have had many amps with my 3.6's and IIIa's. Two were McIntosh. MC2205 and MC2270 or 2720.....Anyway. I like the Mc sound and it drove the speakers fine. But I would take a Bryston with a Tube preamp (I like Audible illusions as a match for the Bryston) over the Mc Of course I ended up with Pass Labs and Manley for tubes...

RE: McIntosh MC-302 amp for 1.6's, posted on April 10, 2015 at 13:07:53

macmagman
Audiophile

Posts: 501
Location: NW Indiana
Joined: October 17, 2010

I was using a MC352 with my 3As and it just did not have the power to drive them, I am in a large room and like to listen at high levels. The sound was good but I went into thermo shut down a couple times which I had never done with other speakers. I am a huge fan of McIntosh but the amps I feel are not a good match with Maggies. Now with that said if you are in a smaller room and don't push too hard it my be fine.

My next move was a pair of Bryston 7bst's when I went to them the first thing I noticed is that I lost that nice warm Mc sound, I did fix it with a C2200 tube pre-amp. I then went to the Sanders Magtch amp to now I am actively bi-amping with 2 of Rogers amps for my 20.1's. In my opinion These are the best amps I had found with Maggies.

RE: McIntosh MC-302 amp for 1.6's, posted on April 16, 2015 at 09:50:01
sferraro963 Audiophile Posts: 13 Location: Western New York Joined: April 16, 2015	Check out Van Alstine Fet Valve 400R or 600R. Made the change from Bryston and couldn't be happier. Hand built in Minnesota Frank is the owner and most of the time answers the phone and takes orders personally. Great guy and loves to talk audio. Don't think you can do better for Maggies without spending a lot more.

RE: McIntosh MC-302 amp for 1.6's, posted on April 16, 2015 at 15:46:59
Satie Audiophile Posts: 5426 Joined: July 6, 2002	They have similar power ratings and the Bryston is tonally thinner and brighter. Bot the way to go. I think you could benefit from a 5-600 WPC amp but at that point you are reaching the limits of the speaker and you may just want to integrate a pair of powered subs to take the power requirement off the 1.6 and the macs instead of spending big money to get more power while retaining refined SQ.

RE: Very happy with MC352 as a reference amplifier. nt, posted on April 18, 2015 at 22:42:11
BigguyinATL Manufacturer Posts: 3475 Joined: April 10, 2002	. "The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat" - Confucius

RE: McIntosh MC-302 amp for 1.6's, posted on April 25, 2015 at 14:38:38
dromney Audiophile Posts: 244 Location: Dallas Joined: September 9, 2010	I have a Mac MC402 amp paired with a C220 tube preamp hooked up to my 20.1s. They drive them pretty effortlessly to levels louder than I can listen to. Never overheated, never shut down. Only get barely warm after a long session. My experience is that they drive the Maggies very nicely.

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McIntosh MC-302 amp for 1.6's

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