McIntosh MC275 Amplifiers

McIntosh MC275 Amplifiers 

DESCRIPTION

75w x2 Channels

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-10 of 22  
[Jun 30, 2022]
ampva301


Strength:

This amp is smooth, warm, passionate, lush, transparent, somewhat detailed, quiet, dramatic, and stunning. | Killeen Drywall Contractors

Weakness:

As a regular user, I am unaware of any technical concerns, but I am pleased with the performance thus far.

Purchased:
New  
OVERALL
RATING
5
[Feb 07, 2022]
Jelai Ande


Strength:

Smoooooooooth and sexy... If you're looking for that LUSH tube sound look no further. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Basement Waterproofing Services near

Weakness:

Sound stage depth is a bit exaggerated. Nothing to whine about though.

OVERALL
RATING
5
[Jan 19, 2022]
heuved


Strength:

MC275 M6 is just audiophile heaven and man, those looks ! Timeless classic. Combine this just like me with the wonderful full analog C22 MK5. Top notch

Weakness:

none none and again, none. oh yes, maybe one thing... friends will be jealous as hell.

Price Paid:
8750 EUR
Purchased:
New  
Model Year:
2022
OVERALL
RATING
5
[Sep 05, 2004]
drawtheline77
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

SOUND,quality, and yes Price...it is quite reasonable

Weakness:

are you kidding ?? ok maybe a little hard to handle, but how many times are you going to move it...this one is a keeper!!

What can you say that hasn't been said...simply a great amp, very musical...which means it makes you want to listen to music...a tube amp with OOOMPH !! most hi end ss amps sound overly bright after listening to this except mac ss amps...I have 252 and have heard the 501s in my home...all share that great Mac character...open lush and musical...this one is a bargain...even the folks at Mac say that....this is the Dino Ferrari of amps...not the fastest not the top of the line etc...but o so sweet...well done MAC !!

Similar Products Used:

mac 252 mac 501s.vtl.audio research,linn,naim

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Mar 19, 1999]
Pete

I have a mc-275, c-22(both original) and mr-71. All are great sonically and cosmetically.. I love the sound..it cost a pretty penny, but hey..who cares.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
[Feb 09, 2001]
Duane
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Texture and presence of the music. Very 'real' sounding to me.

Weakness:

Big classical music seemed to strain single amp. with my speakers. Going to two (no, I don't sell the stuff) in bridged mono. really made a huge difference.

System: (pretty wacky, but I can't seem to get rid of anything!)

2 - MC275's (bridged mono)driving Mid's and Sub's
1 - Mark Levinson 331 driving tweeters
1 - Mark Levinson 39 (bal. into 331, s.e. into Mac's)
2 - B&W Silver Signatures
2 - REL Strata III's

Needless to say I have spent some time (and $$) getting to this set up... I tried several - ok, everyway you can imagine - ways to use all of my gear. Contrary to most advice, the best sound ended up with the Mac's driving the Mid's of the 2-way Silver Sig's and the sub's. When hooking up the solid state ML amp. to the Mid's or the sub's the texture (and some of the 'life' just went away from the music. Also to my surprise, using the variable gain on the Mac's allowed a pretty darn good blend of Mid's to High's.

My biggest problem now, it is NOT so much fun going to the audio stores now - not much sounds interesting to my ears compared to the Mac based set up.

My guess is, most people who don't think that tubes can sound good (especially at the extremes) might be surprised by how good this amp is.

Man, this is a FUN hobby!

Similar Products Used:

Owned Linn, and Mark Levinson. Listened to a lot of other stuff, too much to list.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Feb 01, 2000]
David
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

This is a old design tube amp with lots of power yet clean and accurate sound.

Weakness:

NOS KT88s are expensive, especially GEC goldlion tubes.

I have had this amp for just over a year. It drives my ProAc Response 2.5 with authority and precision. The sound is accurate and detailed. There is enough power from this tube amp to give you good bass. Very good with balanced interconnects to my Audio Research LS25. Using the NOS GEC Goldlion KT88s simply transforms this amp to another level. All the different musical instruments just seemed to have popped out in front of you and is like live!
I am very happy with my combination of equipment.
Highly recommended.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Aug 25, 1997]
mk
an Audio Enthusiast

oh-kay. Why are there no Mcintosh reviews? Just a tantalizing question.
This thing cost me $3500, the second cost $3200. They're both obviously the commemorative issue versions. Anyway, I have had this thing for several months and I love it. It's not the best amp in the world, but man, you'll love it if you get one. I just got another one and using 'em as monos, man that really blows yer socks off. I could hear analog-esque (not analog at all, I am an avid LP listener) from a CD. It seems that my using balanced cables helped,, but not enough. Maybe because I used Synergistic Research RCA Interconnects and used some $200 balanced cables.

Although there might've been a little discrepancy in extreme ranges, the smooth and clear sound of this amp is great. The power is not lacking either, considering I have two, and am using Tannoy 615's.

If you can find one of these, buy it!!!

Associated Equipment:

McIntosh C-22 (re-issue) Preamp & C-35 Preamp

Audiolab 8000CD CD-Player

Tannoy 615 Loudspeakers

MIT Terminator 2 Bi-wire Spkr Cable

Tributaries RCA Interconnects

Monster Cable Studio Balanced Interconnects

Mcintosh MR 73 Tuner

Pioneer RT-1020L Reel to reel Tape Deck

An old Rotel Turntable that I wasted too much money on with tonearms and cartridges.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
[Feb 08, 2001]
Bill
Audiophile

Strength:

Most of the strengths of SETs with the bonus of more drive and power.

Weakness:

It's not manufactured any more!

If anyone at McIntosh is reading this, then please bring this beauty back! I want another to give to my children!

This is from a design that was used BEFORE all those manufacturers got crazy and overly-fastidious in making equipment.

Too many words have been written about this amp in audio language (detail, dynamic, warm, liquid, etc.) for me to say anything meaningful about this beauty. So, I will use an anology.

Back in the 60s (when the original MC 275 was in its heyday), bodybuilders lifted weights to achieve overall proportion and a generally fit and strong look. Then someone had a bright idea. If big arms are good, then bigger arms are even better, and while we're at it, why not bigger EVERYTHING. Isn't THAT the point of bodybuilding anyway?

So, what do we have now? A bunch of drugged-out mutants who fetishize size and have taken it to ludicrous extremes. But what of the overall picture? What of proportion and beauty?

It's the same with hi-fi. If detail is good, then ultra high detail is better. If bass authority is good, then make the bass so tight that real bass sounds boomy in comparision. Hence the modern Krells and Jeff Rowlands. Try living with them for a year, and see if your love for music does not become severely tested.

The McIntosh MC 275 harks back to the days when audio engineers made something and asked, 'Is that pleasant? Do I feel the music instead of the sound?' They got the BIG PICTURE right and did not agonise over little details and took them to insane extremes.

THe MC 275 is an amp for those who love music.

Similar Products Used:

Too many to name, but just before this, a Pass Aleph 3.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Feb 08, 2001]
Bill
Audiophile

Strength:

Most of the strengths of SETs with the bonus of more drive and power.

Weakness:

It's not manufactured any more!

If anyone at McIntosh is reading this, then please bring this beauty back! I want another to give to my children!

This is from a design that was used BEFORE all those manufacturers got crazy and overly-fastidious in making equipment.

Too many words have been written about this amp in audio language (detail, dynamic, warm, liquid, etc.) for me to say anything meaningful about this beauty. So, I will use an anology.

Back in the 60s (when the original MC 275 was in its heyday), bodybuilders lifted weights to achieve overall proportion and a generally fit and strong look. Then someone had a bright idea. If big arms are good, then bigger arms are even better, and while we're at it, why not bigger EVERYTHING. Isn't THAT the point of bodybuilding anyway?

So, what do we have now? A bunch of drugged-out mutants who fetishize size and have taken it to ludicrous extremes. But what of the overall picture? What of proportion and beauty?

It's the same with hi-fi. If detail is good, then ultra high detail is better. If bass authority is good, then make the bass so tight that real bass sounds boomy in comparision. Hence the modern Krells and Jeff Rowlands. Try living with them for a year, and see if your love for music does not become severely tested.

The McIntosh MC 275 harks back to the days when audio engineers made something and asked, 'Is that pleasant? Do I feel the music instead of the sound?' They got the BIG PICTURE right and did not agonise over little details and took them to insane extremes.

THe MC 275 is an amp for those who love music.

Similar Products Used:

Too many to name, but just before this, a Pass Aleph 3.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 1-10 of 22  

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