This is a smooth, warm, passionate, lush, transparant, reasonably detailed, quiet, dynamic(!) and beautiful amp.

It's not as detailed as most modern solid state amps.

Off the bat, I want to say this is a very personal and subjective opinion. My sound will not be for everyone. Conversely, I've heard lots of other systems (especially SET amps with horns, which I still don't 'get') and thought 'Huh?', even as the owners of those systems were jumping up and down in excitement.

My 2 MC275s are the most important piece of audio equipment I own. I run them in a vertical bi-amp configuration to my new Martin Logan Odyssey speakers. They are a match made in heaven. The new Logans sound almost as dynamic with these amps as most dynamic driver speakers, while blowing them away in terms of transparancy, quickness, resolution, naturalness and openesss. In the past, I've always like ML speakers, but I thought they lacked oomph when it came to rock, my main musical staple. The new generation take a back seat to none!

From an audiophile point of view, if you wish to pick it apart, you'll have no problems. But as an overall sound, in terms of MUSICALITY, it has few peers. Again and again, you'll read this about the MC275. That's because, when all is said and done, all that matters is the music. And this amp really lets the music shine through.

My system (NOT to be upgraded for a few years at least)

1. SME 20 with SME V tonearm (Having worked in a few hi-fi shops before, I've pretty much heard them all. This is without peer. If you REALLY tried to listen, MAYBE an SME 30 or Rockport is better. But only sometimes. And on some records)

2. Koetsu Rosewood Signature (smooth, sweet, romantic. A gem. Not detailed like a Van Den Hul, but conversely not as 'zingy')

3. McIntosh MC 22, re-issue (Mac's only tube pre-amp. Still stands up well against anything on the market.)

4. Lyra Arion Transformer (a passive transformer that provides 26dB of gain and adds no sound of it's own.)

5. 2 MC 275s.

6. Martin Logan Odyssey (Here it is: seamless integration of woofer and electrostat panels at moderate to high volumes. OK, at lower volumes, you can still hear the seperation. But rarely, and only on some records. Blew the B&W 802s away.)

7. Nordost Blue Heaven throughout (Can't really tell, don't really care. Fit my budget. Cables are a scam)

8. A 5000 record collection!

Similar Products Used:

Audio Research VT 100, lots and lots of solid state amps.

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

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

The local store runs these bridged in mono-block on a set of B&W Nautlis 802's. WOW... Do yourself a favor and listen to TOOL's extended version of "PUSH!T" found on the Salival CD/DVD set. The immersion factor is incredible.
Duke Ellington's Live at Newport is another that will have you dancing in the demo room. hoohaa

Having B&W N803's, with the notoriously rude impedance curve, I was questioning if a tube would give me the low end drive I get from solid state gear... I no longer question. These Mac's kick some serious pancreas!

(Buttnuggets turn off the stupid censoring, we're all adults here.. any positive review of a BOSE product is manyfold times more offensive than the occasional expletive)

Colored sound? Hell yes!!! I've got to get tubes in my system. Too bad this little set is so fricking expensive. Maybe the new Cary SLP-2002 pre-amp would be a good start...

Similar Products Used:

NONE

Appearance.(Those who know nothing about audio stare at it!)
Sound..I was afraid the bass would be soft like many tube amps, this has more USEABLE bass than anything I have ever heard!!

Price.You get what you pay for though. And it feels heavier than it is, which is alot!!

This is my first attempt at high end audio. I have matched it with a MX110 preamp and really old EMI speakers from the 60's. Even these sound glorious!!! Bass is unbelivable in clairity and presence without being anoying. Highs are crystal clear. Read any adjative into it. If you want the best, this is the amp. Mine is the Gordon Gow reissue. Its stunning to look at, sounds even better. I could go on for a while, but I think I will end it here and go play som music!!

Similar Products Used:

none, this is a class by itself.....

Re-Issue...stainless chassis never will rust. Full compliment of the McIntosh branded Svetlana built tubes. KT-88 output tubes.
Also, you can use balanced interconnects to the pre-amp, which in this case is a re-issue McIntosh C22.
I like the fact that it's "Made in USA", too.

none. This is a McIntosh MC275 review!

EVERYONE that hears my system is blown away.
I see folks review ONE component and tell about it. Well, you listen to a system, not one part.
Everything interacts.
What I have put together is very musical, very accurate.....the guys are playing for you...right in the room! A 180 degree soundstage and sometimes more, depending on the recording. I have heard systems costing up to twice as much that don't sound better.

Here's that I have and it sounds great together:

McIntosh MC275 tube amp
McIntosh C22 tube pre-amp
Tributaries interconnects
Biwired 12 guage speaker wire
Rega Planet 2000
Music Hall MMF-7 turntable
McIntosh MR71 FM tube tuner with the Richard Modaffari Mod from AudioClassics (WELL,WELL worth the price!)
Paradigm Reference Studio 100s Version II

Like I said, it's a system..........all the parts work together!

Deep, solid bass. A midrange to die for. Cymbals that take a year to decay...well not exactly a year, but they sound REAL.

I used to be a solid state guy. No more. Tubes are the way to go. And the famous McIntosh Unity-Coupled circuit presents the music correctly. And isn't that what you want to hear?

Similar Products Used:

Major upgrading from Carver, Parasound, Adcom,Thorens & Sony equipment.

This weekend I hooked up my MC275 with its matching tuner/preamp the MX110 and the sound was increadible. I was playing it through a pair of Bose 901s. I was in a room with poor acoustics and the set up still rocked. I went up from the basement to the second story of my house to have my Father come down and listen and the sound was great even from up there. I would say it is definitely worth it if you have a chance to pick up any of this equitment I would do it in a heartbeat. If you have any questions feel free to email. And to answer your first question I'm not interested in selling, sorry.

Midrange

none

warmth, clarity, easy to listen to for a long time, musical,good looks,plenty of power, build like a tank are just some of the adjectives I can attach to the macintosh 275....

What can I say that hasn't already been said about this amp?
Number one: the MC275 Commemorative sounds great! The highs are not rolled-off like they are in other tube amps. There is a lot of sparkle in the treble without the spittiness and analytical quality you hear from most solis-state devices. At the same time, there is an abundance of output power. I am currently using a pair of Paradigm Studio 100s with 88dB sensitivity. Even at loud volume levels, I have yet to clip the Mac. Bass extension is deep and exemplary if you match it with the right pre-amp. The ideal match I found was a tubed conrad-johnson PV10A. With pre-amps that are on the weightier side (like a McIntosh C22), bass from the MC275 can be thicker and just a tiny bit sluggish. So when setting this amp up in your system, do experiment with different pre-amps. Also, it is worth your time to experiment with using different impedances. Just because your speakers have a nominal impedance of 4 ohms, don't be afraid to try the 8 ohm taps. You might be pleasantly surprised with the difference in sound you hear from the 4 ohm taps.

What separates the MC275 from any other amp (tube or SS) are the unity-coupled, bi-filar wound transformers. These things are costly to manufacture and do weigh heavily. No doubt, the transformers are a large part of the reason why new MC275s retailed for $4000 (including a full set of tubes) when they were re-issued in 1993. But when you listen to the end result sonically, you will find that the price is justified. This is not hype, folks. If they are still available, go to a Mac dealer or a friend who has one and listen for yourself.

Number two: The MC275 looks handsome with the chrome top chassis, 3 large transformer covers, and of course, the old-English calligraphy nameplate. One look and people (even those with only a casual knowledge) will know that this amp is special. The chassis is built like a tank and is made with the idea that it will offer long-term operating reliability and durability. I have heard of people finding 30 year old MC275s, MC240s, and MC30s that were neglected, dusty, rusty, and even dinged up. But when they were plugged in with tubes that were in operational condition, the amp will still produce beautiful music. Of course, at the price that the Commemorative is sold at, it is highly unlikely you will find these particulat amps carelessly handled and neglected. My MC275 will probably outlive me!

Are there any negatives? Well, the amp is heavy, close to 70 lbs. While that is not a lot in terms of sheer weight, it is difficult for one person to carry around and handle as there are no handles. When I try to set down the amp, I always end up pinching my fingers. Moreover, most of the weight is concentrated on the transformer side, making it very easy to drop if you are not careful! Finally, there is no on/off switch. This amp was made to be plugged into a pre-amp that offers AC outlets, like a C-22. But many contemporary pre-amps don't have them these days. So the lack of a power switch on the MC275 is a bit of an incovienience.

But these nits are a small hassle to endure with what the MC275 offers when it comes to its sonic benefits. If you hear of one of these amps being offered for sale, at least check it out. This might turn out to be the last 2-channel stereo amp you will ever buy. Like the Marantz 8B and the Dynaco ST-70, the MC275 is destined to become a classic.

I bought my MC275 exactly 3 years ago. My unit was built in 1968.Well, what can I say?
This is it. The best power amplifier ever made.
Nothing can touch it.
It works beautifuly, makes real music, is reliable and looks great, what more could you ask?

Five stars? give it six!!!

I am keeping it forever!

N S

This is an amp for people with a passion for sweet sounds.

Not nessesarily a weakness, but it's not a modern sounding amp, i.e, it's not as solid, detailed, wide and focused as a Krell or new Audio Research.

I don't own these amps, but I heard them extensively at the showroom (not here in Singapore). The system was a Sony XA 7 ES, McIntosh C 42 pre, Sonus Faber Amatis. This is a really old design and for someone used to amps like modern Krells, Audio Research or Chords, the sound might come as quite a shock. For those who say that God is in the details, I say they'll need to listen to a MC 275. It's definitely NOT as detailed as a solid state amp, or as focused, but it's got the big picture right. In fact, overall, for my tastes, it's the best amp I've ever heard. While the sum of the parts were not state-of-the-art by any means, the overall presentation of the music was perfect. This dawned on me as I got lost in the music and just forgot about soundstage, outlines, holographic imaging etc. that hi-fi mags harp about endlessly.

Don't misunderstand this to mean that it's slow, muffled, distorted or syrupy. It's none of these. But suddenly, a modern amp sounds brittle and fatigueing next to this. Single-ended amps using 300Bs offer the some of lushness and warmth as these amps, but they don't provide adequate power to drive any real world speakers save for some hopelessly coloured or hopelessly expensive horns.

The MC 275, on the other hand, pumps out a useful 75 watts. Having said that, I don't see these working well with the new B&W Nautilus 800 series speakers or many American speakers that require power or have punishing loads. What I think would be a perfect match for these are Proacs (not the Futures) and the new Quad ESLs.

Add all I've said to the fact that it is a classic that, unlike most modern hi-fi, will keep its value and grow ever more desirable, and what you have is an absolute bargain and an amp you'll never be tempted to upgrade from.

Similar Products Used:

Audio Research VTM 120s, Acurus A 250.

i was looking for an amp for my N805 B&Ws. tried the krell intergated. liked it but loved the mac. search over. for those of you who try a mac with autoformers, make sure you use the right tap. thats usually the nominal impedance of your speaker and if that is between taps, use the next lowest tap. i also found the balanced inputs sounded a little better. the difference between the commerative edition and the reissue is the commerative chassis is in chrome and subject to corrosion depending on the environment its in. the reissue is in a mirror finished polished stainless steel. it looks like chrome and will not rust.