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New Mac gear(to me).

23.116.46.61
Posted on June 14, 2017 at 21:53:55
sberger
Audiophile

Posts: 3433
Location: no. california
Joined: October 25, 2002
Contributor
  Since: April 3, 2008



A couple weeks ago I acquired a McIntosh MX110, early "M" series. Well, liked it so much decided pick up an MC250 from Audio Classics. Came in yesterday, and today they are making some of the most beautiful music while driving my also recent Klipsch Cornwall II's. I think I'm done, finally, for now. Well, at least until a pair of Dynaco MKIII"s, which are currently in restoration purgatory with a local tech make their way back.


 

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RE: New Mac gear(to me). , posted on June 15, 2017 at 03:12:53
Uncle Mike
 Nice

 

RE: New Mac gear(to me). , posted on June 15, 2017 at 06:12:27
JonM
Audiophile

Posts: 292
Joined: December 29, 2000
 Gotta love the dust cover on your AR turntable. Is it hinged? (I assume not, but I've seen ones that cover the entire table like that that were hinged to a base in the back.)

And FWIW, I did business with Audio Classics over 20 years ago, even visited their shop in Binghamton. I was always happy with their quality and service. Glad to hear they are still kicking.

 

RE: New Mac gear(to me). , posted on June 15, 2017 at 06:21:47
sberger
Audiophile

Posts: 3433
Location: no. california
Joined: October 25, 2002
Contributor
  Since: April 3, 2008
 No it's not hinged. In fact, it's a cover for a Elac 50H table that I no longer have. Works beautifully for the XA.

My first time purchasing from Audio Classics and they were excellent to deal with.

 

RE: New Mac gear(to me). , posted on June 15, 2017 at 06:44:39
spindoctor
Audiophile

Posts: 1661
Location: Virginia
Joined: December 31, 2002
 Very nice. I also have an mx 110 and it really is an outstanding piece of equipment. If you ever need it serviced you can send it to Richard Modaferri at AudioClassics and add his upgrades. I did this and am quite happy with the results. Enjoy the music.
Sim

 

Very nice, posted on June 15, 2017 at 07:38:37
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 I always liked Mac's vintage stuff. It had class! And those speakers are a perfect match.

Audio Classics, those guys are great. Honest, reliable and will help you if a shipper trashes "their" stereo. Which did happen once. They double boxed, insulated and even had the stereo bolted to a wooden plate to fit into the box. It was only by gorilla strength and massive pressure that the shipper could willfully have broken this stereo. But Audio Classics was there every step of the way with no hesitation. Great guys and well worth the extra expense.

Enjoy your stereo.

Also what is that digital unit in the right hand corner?

 

RE: Very nice, posted on June 15, 2017 at 08:42:27
sberger
Audiophile

Posts: 3433
Location: no. california
Joined: October 25, 2002
Contributor
  Since: April 3, 2008
 Thanks for the comments. Yup finding out quickly how well the 250 matches up with the Cornwalls.

That's a Squeezebox Touch. Gets heavy use in my house.

 

RE: New Mac gear(to me). , posted on June 16, 2017 at 06:23:26
geoff
Audiophile

Posts: 3499
Joined: April 5, 2000
Contributor
  Since: September 10, 2003
 Cool. I would like to hear your system.

 

Sweet, what kind, posted on June 16, 2017 at 09:35:21
Dingojazz
Audiophile

Posts: 1045
Location: Sonoran Desert
Joined: January 3, 2005
 of resto are you doing with the Mk IIIs? Staying 'original' or updated boards? Nice amps which can be great with careful part selection. Should be an interesting A/B with the Mac.

K

 

RE: Sweet, what kind, posted on June 16, 2017 at 09:43:29
sberger
Audiophile

Posts: 3433
Location: no. california
Joined: October 25, 2002
Contributor
  Since: April 3, 2008
 Actually, they were restored by the previous owner. Here's what he did:

Got rid of the 5AR4 rectifier for solid bass with snubbed diodes
Put two computer grade Mallory Electrolytics in series to eliminate the ubiquitous problem of the MKIIIs self-destructing as their turn on surge in stock form over shot the filter capacitor voltage maximum by 20%!
Regulated B+ with series pass device
DC filaments
Regulated screens
Regulated grid bias
Adjustable bias level and balance
Teflon power tube sockets
5 way binding posts
1% and 5% resistors in critical areas
Frako and Jensen electrolytics for bias and screen supplies
Aselco film and foil coupling caps

Unfortunately, in shipping them to me in California from Eastern Canada, they took a beating(they also weren't packaged properly...he didn't remove the tubes for one) and so when I plugged one of them in, it blew fuses. Brought them to a well known local tech here in the Bay Area, where they have been since early April, with promises that they will get fixed. Not sure why it's been so difficult for the tech, who is considered quite good, to repair these, other then his explanation that without a schematic he's having difficulty figuring out exactly what the previous owner did(yes, I have given him the bullet points that I printed above). But 3 weeks ago he said he could fix it, and it would "only be about another week"...I plan on giving him until second week in July before contacting him again, when it will be 3 months since he got them. He is very busy with a long waiting list, but if I can't get some definitive answers I'll just take them back and figure out my next move.

Anyway, you asked.

 

Well, they say , posted on June 16, 2017 at 10:05:02
Dingojazz
Audiophile

Posts: 1045
Location: Sonoran Desert
Joined: January 3, 2005
 patience is a virtue, though not always my strong point.
If you're not in too deep, and/or if you decide to take a different direction, there're great kits that will easily drop in, including VTAs octal versions for 6SN7 drivers, -a personal fave.
Good luck!

K.

 

RE: Well, they say , posted on June 16, 2017 at 12:23:07
sberger
Audiophile

Posts: 3433
Location: no. california
Joined: October 25, 2002
Contributor
  Since: April 3, 2008
 Oh I'm plenty patient, which is why I'm leaving him alone. I have a great system in place right now, with no desire to change anything. It's really more of my consumer advocate/customer service side that would like folks to be a little more service oriented. Send an email or call if what you told me turns out not to be true. Just a simple update. But I also understand in this business, particularly when one is dealing with folks that don't necessarily come from that background and have plenty of business(maybe overwhelmingly so) to go around, one has to be tolerant. Which I am.

If they don't get fixed, I'll sell them as is and be done with them. The original seller already refunded me a fair amount, so I won't be taking a bath. But I hope they get brought up to speed because I'd love to hear them with my Cornwalls.

 

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