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24.11.175.62
McIntosh Fans:I am looking to buy a vintage McIntosh integrated amplifier.
I've narrowed my choice to either a MA-6100 or MA-6200.
I notice the MA-6200 runs about $400 than the MA-6100 on Ebay and elsewhere.
My question: is the performance of the MA-6200 worth the extra $400 or so difference in price over the MA-6100?
Many thanks for your guidance.
PS: The McIntosh will be used with Spendor 2/3 speakers.
Follow Ups:
I have both the MA 6100 and 6200. I like em both. The 6100 has a smoother volume pot. The 6200 feels like it has more *presence*. I haven't noticed any roll off of any highs. I use the phono on the 6100 and have always been very happy. The 6200 is in the basement powering the KEF 105s. The 6100 has part-time duty in the family room powering Klipsch Belles.One great thing about Mac gear is if you are patient you can buy for slightly under the market on Ebay, try it out, and then resell what you don't like or need. I try to only buy local so there is no risk on shipping. A 6100 or 6200 in a clean oak cabinet are visually stunning.
I really repsect Brian and Airtime, but IMHO the 6100 or 6200 are fine pieces and are very wife friendly, will give you great sound and you won't lose money on them if you buy and decide to resell.
Peace,
TommyK
I've owned a Mac 6100 integrated since new. It's been totally reliable, and sounds quite nice with easy speakers like your Spendors. The inputs will handle your needs.That said, if I were doing it today, I'd take the advice you've gotten to go with a 2100/2105 and a separate preamp. The preamp in the 6100 is nothing special and definitely rolls off the highs and sweetens things overmuch. For a number of years, I took advantage of the pre-out/amp-in connectors to use a different preamp with mine and use the 6100 only as an amplifier. The Mac amp in this unit is quite nice.
These days I use it only for background music, and it continues to be reliable, however, I'm considering sending it to Terry DeWick for overall cleaning, checking components vs. specs, and so forth. If I were to sell it, I'd only get about $400 for it, and it's worth more than that to me for the role it fills.
Hope this helps!
Frank
Funny thing about the 6100, I owned 1 for about 10 years, is that when used as an integrated it is not as good as either the preamp or the power amp when used with another unit. The power amp is a really good unit and mating it with an outboard preamp is decent enough to use as a main amp. Also, coupling the preamp with a decent amp likewise shows it is a good preamp. When I needed it sometimes, I'd run my C28 into the power amp and 6100 preamp into my MC250. Just seems that the design team missed something. Possibly an impedance mismatch or power supply limitation. Still, as an integrated amp it is quite good but the pricing is such that a 2100 can be had either with a C26 or if lucky a C28 for the same about or a bit more. I usually suggest a nice C26 or 2 8 with the MC2505 as the alternative. I cases these are sure pretty and not much more. I've never experienced any reliabiltiy issues with either the 5100 or 6100 but I don't push my equipment.
... if you want to go for a vintage unit. Then get a Mac tech guy go through it for approx $110 and you will have a wonderful sounding unit.(I have both the 5100 and 6100 and slightly prefer the 5100's warm sound. But the 6100 does have the pre-out/main-in.)
Have not looked deeply into the pricing but for the price of a 6200 have you considered a C26 and 2100?
Thank you for your response, Brian.Looks like a near mint MA-6200 would cost between $1,300 and $1,500, if purchased from a dealer.
The Mac 2100 amp and Mac 26 pre-amp would cost between $1,400-$1,500 (combined), if purchased from a dealer; plus an extra set of interconnects.
So, you are right, the cost is roughly the same.
Leaving aside the "looks" of the 2200, which I'm not certain I like, how do you think the 2200 amp/26 pre-amp would sound compared to the MA-6200 ?
In a word far better. I use the metered version of the 2100 and many Mc lovers find the 2100 and 2105 to be amongst the best. I've had it for about 6 years and the prior main amp was the baby brother MC250. The 6100 is based on the 26 preamp and while not the TOTL is very competent preamp and better than many. It is getting the notice it deserves more recently having been ivershadowed by the great C28. I am not a lover of the Mc integrated amps as they were more responses to market pressures than for the sound. As for the looks of the 2100, personal taste but seeing a btight chrome and black chassis and cage on the shelf actually is as prety and maybe more so than the glass and meters. I actually would have preferred the 2100 but the 2105 was local and had been completely gone through.
You mean you don't like those big blue meters on the 2105. I know the 2100 and 2105 are the same except for the cosmetics. But WOW do I like the looks of those two big blue meters twiching side by side.And the looks of having the 2105 racked over the C-26 - Audio now becomes almost Art like in it's appearance.
I have to learn how to post some pics. One day I have to post my setup. I have the McIntosh on one side, the Fully modded Dynacos on the other and the Marantz 18 on the top.
Soon I will be adding / testing some new speakers. I'm working out a system using the Peerless composite material 10" woofer, Seas CA or LC15RLY 5.5" midbass (I may consider an Accuton ceramic midbass if cash allows $300 each) and a Seas 27TDFC ($30 each) fabric dome tweeter. Peerless is one of the sister companies of the Swedish companies aka, Seas / Scan-Speak / Vifa / Peerless.
Life is good!
The 2105 is beautiful but I find the 250/2100 layout is more flexible. I can leave it on 24/7 and have it behind a speaker if I do not have the space on the shelf which frequently I do not. I like the looks of meters but they have little practical use in my systems. If they did, I'd prefer the MPI-4 over them anyway.
Brian:I'm starting to rethink. The Mac 2100 or MC 2105 may be the way to go, an option also recommended by another inmate on this post, but one final question:
The 26 pre-amp: can it handle all three of my source components: CD player, turntable (with a separate phono preamp), and tuner?
It can handle all three. It has a built in phono preamp so you do not need an external.
Thanks for your feedback, Brian.
Brian:Note my error in my previous posting:
I mean the Mac 2100 amp, not the 2200; these numbers are confusing.
DSC
IMHO I would go with the 6200. The 5100 and 6100 were essentially McIntosh's first attempt at commercial integrated amps. Due to market pressures at the time they were rushed into production before some major problems could be worked out. So the later model were better and more dependable. One major problem was if the impedance load dipped on your speakers the amp would self destruct. How do I know? I've done it a FEW times (long repair history here).McIntosh gear in general is some of the best available. But even McIntosh has it's problems. From experience I will make this one suggestion and do with it as you will. I would not buy any McIntosh unless it was checked out and restored by a certified tech. Pay the extra money and go to Audio Classics or contact DeWickie (sp?) to either buy from or have a piece restored after you buy it.
McIntosh usually is something you will keep forever. So do it right.
charles
Thank you for your response.I've been reading about the MA-5100, 6100, and 6200 all morning on the internet.
I have uncovered some past concern with the MA-5100 and impedence drops, while others say they love the amp, even better than the MA-6100.
My Spendor 2/3's operate at a fairly flat 8 ohms and are easy to drive. I am currently driving them with a 35 watt push-pull integrated amplifier and seldom turn the volume knob past 8:00 pm to achieve ear-crushing sound.
Do you still think I should worry about impedence problems with the MA-5100 or MA-6100 amplifiers using these speakers?
Secondly, is there anything that can be modified in the MA-5100 or MA-6100 that can solve the impedence problem?
Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.
No the problem always starts with a power zener diode going to the filter caps, if memory serves me correct. From there the preamp section usually gets cooked a little. It will first start with over heating then distortion, then - repairs.I'm not saying anything negative about the sound of teh x100's. I've had a few and they actually sound fantastic. My point is reliability. Very particular units and most definetly ALL are in need of restoration.
I still would go with the 6200.
My suggestion. Buy a 2105 or 2100 from Audio classics. Buy a kenwood c2 preamp for $50 to hold you over. Save your money and then buy a C-26 preamp from Audio classics for about $500-600. Go for it!!!
charles
Thank you, Charles.I am beginning to think you are right; same advice I'm getting from another inmate on this post.
My only concern is the C-26 preamp (or the C-28 for that matter). Can it handle all three of my source components: CD player, turntable (with a separate phono preamp), and tuner. I'm going to find out.
I like your idea about using the Kenwood preamp until I save up for the C26 or C28, assuming they have the three RCA input plugs that I require.
As a proud owner of the 2105 and C-26 yes it can handle those inputs. The C-26 and 28 are VERY similar. The only difference was the phono board. The 28 did have a slightly better one. But how much so?????? After 30 years I'm sure the sublties have faded out a bit. As for digital sources the 26 handles them better than my other systems.The 2105 / c-26 system sits side by side with my fully modded tube setup. I've been through a ton of gear and heard it all. And these two setups are about as good as audio can get without getting into audio nirvosa and hysterics spending crazy sums of money on hype.
As for speakers I build my own. Ok yes I amp crazy! If you want any detail pics let me know. But IMHO if you can skip the integrated amp skip it. McIntosh really didn't do a good integrated.
If you talk to Audio Classics ask for Frank Gow. Heck of a nice guy and his father was one of the founders of McIntosh. So it's in the blood and doesn't do the hard sell. A weath of info and he knows the amp sells itself.
I would consider the McIntosh almost as an investment. I bought this amp here for one third the cost. And it just keeps going up in price.
charles
Thank you for your guidance, Charles.
Hi,With the MA 6100 the last units had an impedance switch which also improved reliability and allowed full rated wattage into all loads. These were only made 1978-1979. The same applies to the MAC 1900 receiver also. I have owned both. Late versions. I still use the late version MAC 1900 as my main receiver.
Vintageperson
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