Tube DIY Asylum Do It Yourself (DIY) paradise for tube and SET project builders.

---

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] Thread: [ Display  All  Email ] [ Tube DIY Asylum ]

---

[ Alert Moderator ]

---

Review - Mike Samra's mod of McIntosh MC225

Posted by Bob Mc (A) on May 25, 2008 at 08:12:36

Background: I bought an MC225 on ebay which came in fairly original shape except for some new caps. The sound was turbid but tonally rich. I thought of it as all tone and no structure. I have another MC225, also in fairly original condition but with Xicon caps. It has much better detail and resolution with a beautiful, seductive tone that, although probably not the last word in accuracy, locks me into the music very easily without any fatigue. I decided to take Mike up on his offer to re-do the turbid-sounding amp hoping I could at least get the amp up to the quality of the Xicon MC225.

Mike uses Jim McShane’s power supply and has worked with Jim to adapt it to the McIntosh. For those of you who know Mike and Jim’s work I’m sure there’s no suspense about the results. Mike worked a miracle. The McSamra (or MikeIntosh) MC225 is leagues ahead of the Xicon MC225. I don’t know how close it sounds to an original MC225 but given how it sounds I don’t really care. All I know is that it has given me some of the most exciting, emotionally involving listening I’ve ever had. I’m sure Mike can answer any technical questions. Being an electronics idiot, I’ll just describe the subjective results.

Musical preferences & system: I listen mostly to classical chamber and solo music. I have a Sony SCD777 connected to Promitheus DAC, an Aurieges L pre and Gallo 3.1 speakers. I use Auditorium 23 ics and speaker cable. I've been without vinyl since the 80s and don't see myself returning or moving to High Def because I've got way too much money in cds.

Listening notes: There is much greater clarity and resolution than with the other 225. There's definitely greater bottom-end extension, which is also tighter and more articulate. There is also more extension at top end. I can hear upper harmonics that I’ve never heard. The midrange is a touch less romantic but is better structured and balanced with the rest of the spectrum. Instrumental attack and timbre are nicely presented and integrated. Very nice resolution - separation of instruments is better defined but in a very organic relationship. I’m not as discerning a listener as most on this site but the description I come back to is the liquidity and ease of the sound. It just seems right. The dimensionality of the sound is better characterized. There is greater atmosphere to the sound – the performance space is better defined. The soundstage is wider and deeper, the background quieter. The notes stay longer – the attack comes a little earlier, the decay lasts a little longer – giving me just a little longer moment of musical pleasure in a world that can sometimes seem too sparing of pleasures.

Final note: I also listen to a Pilot AA-260 (restored by Burgess) and a Citation II (with McShane power supply). These are lovely amps, enhanced by two tremendously talented artists and technicians. I’ve enjoyed going back and forth between them depending on what slant I want to hear in the music. From the results I've heard Mike is certainly worthy of being in their company. His 225 is a great blend of the Pilot and Citation’s strengths. I wouldn’t part with any of these amps but for now it’s going to be hard to convince myself to swap out the 225.

Bob

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Sonic Craft

---

[ Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]

---

[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]

---