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I have a chance to buy a fully functional MC225 Mac amp...everything has been checked out to spec...no rust..etc for $795.....I have never had a tube amp, only Aragon stuff, 4004, 24K...should I jump into tubes and is this a good deal? Will I regret going from 200 wpc to 25wpc? I don't play music that loud. I would, for now, have to run it through my sstate aragon 24k pre-amp, but, I do have a chance of inheriting another mc225 and a Mac pre amp....so I would eventually have 2 plus the tube preamp and as I understand it, bridge it to mono for 50 watts?
Thanks for any advice!Ssam
Follow Ups:
Thanks to everyone who posted....WOW is all I can say...this 225 has blown me away with it's natural, open sound. I think going from Solid state for over 15 years to tubes is a shock. Much more real and smooth! I am now wondering if having another 225 and bi amping would be nirvana? hmmmm ...I think I have been bitten by the tube bug!!! lolssam
I run 2-275s and can't say enough good things about McIntosh equipment. But, as to the 225s bridged to mono - I can't help wondering if you would be just as well served by a pair of Dynaco MKIIIs. I also have a pair of those and if not for the need for more power, would probably still be quite happy using them. I'd likely part with both of my mono blocks for the same money and I suspect so would others. More power less dollars. Also, people seem to be a little more tolerant to updates in this kind of gear.Just my opinion though.
I must qualify my response my saying my first grandchild was born today, and I'm on my second martini (Bombay Sapphire - two p's?... typing is hard enough). I say unequivably, "go for it". If it doesn't work out, you can work thru the bs later.Mr. To You Twoeffindawgz
$795 is a decent price for a McIntosh 225, and now that Electro-Harmonix makes a 7591, that problem (scarce tubes) is solved. I have a fondness for Mac gear, and I owned a 225. On the plus side, it is a beautiful amp cosmetically, produces far more than its' rated power, and has a full-power frequency response of 15-65,000 cycles. It is gentle on tubes. The most important quality is that it will retain its' value and if it turns out to be a mismatch in your system you will get 90-110+% of your investment back. On the downside, it will need new coupling caps, power supply caps, and a hexfred-based power supply to sound its best; these mods sometimes scare off collectors. Also, $795 is a chunk of change for what it delivers; the 225 has nice soundstaging, great bass, and tremendous dynamics, but it has two major sonic flaws-- the treble is a bit cold and grainy, making string instruments a bit edgy, and to get decent sound it must be played at or near its' maximum power output. I'm not sure why, but when I tried my McIntosh MC60s, the 225, etc. on an Altec VOT horn system (104 db/1watt) the sound was dreadful--flat and cold. On my Quad ESL 63s, which are even less forgiving of any sonic flaws in the amp, the 60s sounded FANTASTIC! The Quads are 86db/1watt, so I realized (after trying them on 84db Magnepans) that they must have good current flow for decent sound. But, it is a cool little amp, and despite owning much Mac tube gear in the past, I still drool when a nice one comes around. I'd go for it and sell it if its' sonics fall short. Chris
How much power is not the issue, assuming that you mate the amplifier with an appropriate pair of speakers. The MC225 is a very good amp and puts out some nice clean power. I think you are well on your way to developing a very nice system.
I've had 'em all and I think for the vintage Units the MC-225's are the best of the lot.
US$795 if the lettering is there and it's a tidy unmolested Amp is very fair buying.
Go for it!
Eric
Tokyo*
Dear Sonorasam,IMO, the Mc225 is the best amp they ever made . . .period! It is supposed to be very nice with the BBC LS3/5As at 16ohm/25w max input. However, many others on this site have expressed reservations about bridging two stereo 225s for monoblks as the sound seemingly deteriorates, so really do not know what an extra 225 will buy you?
YMMV,
Byzen
** Nowdays, $800 is a fair price for one in pristine condition!
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