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McIntosh MC2105
McIntosh MC2105
MSRP: $ 800.00

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Rating
Reviewed by:

fde

(AudioPhile)

Review Date
November 22, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.50 of 5, 2.00 votes

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Review 1 of 11

Price Paid:  $1200.00

Summary:
very very good, in any style of music.
sound opened, very to detail, very clean low frequency, very fluid medium, very precise treble, one of the best amplifier, than I have to listen

Strengths:
very good reserve of power on all louspeaker. very solid constuction, very musical….

Weaknesses:
none.....very heavy

Similar Products Used:
other mcintosh, krell, accuphase,mark levinson, citation 16, phase linear, musical fidelity, quad.......


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Rating
Reviewed by:

muziekfreak

(Audio Enthusiast)

Review Date
April 12, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

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Review 2 of 11

Price Paid:  $750.00 from secondhand

Summary:
Well what can is say, its a very strange amp! Not only because of the retro looks (It's from like 1969) Ik love the looks after a few days of adjusting to it offcourse.

The sound is tricky, we tested it with Infinity QE speakers. Did not work, harsh sounding no control at the high regions. And no low frequenty respons. With The Driade 103mkII (Topmodel of that brand a true legend) The same thing happend. LOTS of detail in the high and mid range. Yet again no low frequenty respons. Reallt annoying fact!!

Seen the fact i own a Dynaco st80 tube amp, And a audiolab m480 amp. Put them on those speakers and the ROCK ! With the MC2105 nothing ! Then gentlemen i had my last hope. The gigant Magnepan MG1 out of the 70'. Modified with supertweeters. Iff this is'nt gonna work then i trow away the MCintosh for sure.

We did it put the Mcintosh c26 pre-amp and the Mcintosh mc2105 onto the magnepans. As source we used a dual 503-1 turntable and a modified Sony xa50es cdplayer. Till our suprise ! THE ROCKED!!

FINALLY !! IT WORKS! i was so thrilled at that moment. Because you buy something and it does'nt work with the easy speakers. But with de magnepan the amp suddenly whas alive and kicking. What a dynamics and very good solid low region all of a sudden. We used Direct master vinyl of Norah jones,sara k,diana Krall..and stuff. Really nice the best sound i have right now ! And believe me folks, i had ALOT OF STUFF before is bought my mcintosh.

Now i'm very happy with my mcintosh set-up just bought meself a Mc1900 receiver that i want to use a tuner. It does'nt fit nicely with the c26 and mc2105..but who cares it works like a charm.

Strengths:
Musical sound, that ive never heard before. Solid build heavy, autoformers..just a nice solid amp that can last for years an years to come.

Weaknesses:
CRITICAL ! Specially what kind of speakers...
My tip is dont put this amp onto speakers that have 94db of senstivity. Just put on a speaker that is about 83db or something. So that youre sure that must put in the amps power into that speakers.

Dont try this amp on infinty classics, unless youre a kappa 9 owner or something.

Similar Products Used:
To much to right down....


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Rating
Reviewed by:

r111111x

(Audio Enthusiast)

Review Date
April 4, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
1.67 of 5, 6.00 votes

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Review 3 of 11

Price Paid:  $1300.00 from Videotron (Canada)

Summary:
We people, most of us think that GOD will come from the sky while we are forgetting that HE is here within us in our every day life and steps. We just have to search and identify HIM. I spent the last 20 years accumulating audio gears of all sorts and prices. Vintage to modern and just realise that what I have been running after is just there and it is just a matter of identifying him. Yes “him” because the MC2105 amplifier sounds just like the sweet voice of your most desired woman inviting you for the first time in her bed covered with silk bed sheet. A very experienced electronic engineer told me one day that audio gears of nowadays are just build to attract mainly by appearance, than the sweat, love and passion most audio designer put in the project of elaborating decent and close to natural sounding audio gears over the first half of the 20th century. Well I agree with him in the common sense that I have spent over a year income on audio gears and surprisingly delighted by some even never reviewed because they were ignored, or because they are not from High street famous names. Have a Baldwin type AD organ quad 6L6 vintage tone cabinet amplifier driven by a decent preamp and compare its sound reproduction with an aluminium face plated 3 figure worth modern amplifier and post your listening feelings. It’s until 8 weeks ago, I got a call from(now) a good friend in Canada. H e desperately wanted my HH SCOOT Stereomaster 380 unsold on Ebay and offered me a trade deal. A McIntosh MC2105 and MX113 preamp serviced to new. I will pass the details of our arrangement. Six weeks later, I went to collect them at Heathrow cargo (UK). US$600 shipping plus £120 duty charge. It’s becoming too expensive. I am a passionate of speakers and have a collection of 26 pairs form Rogers LS3/5a to TDL Reference Monitors and KEF reference 107. It took me few minutes to connect the MC2105 to the LS3/5a and my faithful Micromega Stage 2 and started with classical records on a Thorens TD 124 II and Hadcock GE 242 Tonearm and Ortofon cartridge. The best existing bookshelf speaker or monitor can never reproduce a better low frequency spectrum than a lower quality cabinet with a 12 “ bass driver. But there I come back to my assumption of the beginning : We spend our life looking for GOD in the sky with HE is within us. I have spent a fortune over twenty years while the MC2105 was just there it’s just a matter of pocket. Then my poor children have to suffer to help me bring heavy KEF 107 and TDL reference monitor and other brand speakers from the loft. MC2105 is the one of , if not the best sounding solid state amplifier I ever listen. I AM JUST WONDERING WHAT CAME ACROSS MCINTOSH INGINEER’S MIND WHEN THE ARE DESIGNING SUCH INCREDIBLE, Powerful, Sexy sounding ,Attractive and mostly the final marathon stop for who knows what it sounds like. The beginning of the answer to this question is What came to GOD’s mind when HE took HIS pencil and stated drawing that most desired woman and her voice inviting you to the silk bed? I am grateful to McIntosh Labs If you come across any, even over $1200, buy it. Who will regret it ?

Strengths:
All, Sound stage, sweetness,power, respect of the true source reproduction,Surprisingly valve like sounding,High quality components, Build to last for last, emotional and moving midrange, ease, to use, Deserves respect from audio community

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
lot of money


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Rating
Reviewed by:

SoundMavin

(AudioPhile)

Review Date
November 26, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 4.00 votes

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Review 4 of 11

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Inherited

Summary:
One of the most musical amplifiers I've come across. You get a lot for your money at it's current market value.

Strengths:
Vast sound stage, tube like musicality

Weaknesses:
Weight

Similar Products Used:
I've never owned anything in the same league. Just Rotel and Jolida equipement.


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Rating
Reviewed by:
zoran
(Audio Enthusiast)

Review Date
October 20, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 3.00 votes

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Review 5 of 11

Price Paid:  $600.00 from EBAY

Summary:
I HAVE TO GIVE THIS AMP 5 STAR.IT IS MOST INCREDIABLE AMP.USE IT WITH MCINTOSH MX110 TUBE PREAMP THAN YOU WILL HEAR SOUND

Strengths:
ALL AROUND.

Weaknesses:
NONE

Similar Products Used:
NOTHING CAN TOUCH THIS BEAST


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