I have an Mc240 the little brother of the 275, it's the 1962 model, and I'm happy with it, I see no reason to upgrade it. I got it in 1975, there was a McIntosh dealer in town, they had a workshop and clinic, they updated the caps and tubes. McIntosh used to have these clinics every so often and they were free.
@@willyodell7802yep, to be quite honest and frank, it's getting tiring and irritation with so many people using the click bait tactic that it should be akin to false advertising. It is, after all, basically the same thing: more clicks more money.
A member of our radio club often brought home a large cardboard box that originally contained a very expensive set, full of odds and ends he would pick up at club meetings etc. His wife got use to this and ignored it. However, on the odd occasion, the writing on the box did match the contents, he just calmly walked past her with an expensive brand new amateur/ham radio and she never cottoned on.
1965, I was a flunky at a high end HiFi store in New Orleans: Lonigan's House of Sound. He sold Mcintosh, Marantz, Bozak, Crown, all the big names. My favorite was the Electro Voice Patrician in the corner-it shook the walls.
My hobby was finding, restoring & flipping equipment back in the 70's. I once came across a single Patrician in a thrift store for about $75. I loaded into my Ford van, hooked it up the the Ford stereo and sold it the next day out of the back of my van for a good profit. (I can't remember how much). I also once got a huge JBL Hartsfield corner horn speaker at another thrift store for $75 and sold that one for $2,000. That money came just in time for a vet bill in the same amount for our cat! Oh well.
I love your Hi Fi history videos. I wish I had a audio secret to share but my wife often insists that I buy a new piece of gear if I really want it. Maybe that's why we have been married for 44 years. My oldest tube radio is a 1936 Silvertone Model 4585 that belonged to my grandparents. I put tung oil on, replaced the front glowing eye tube and grill cloth. Other than that it's all original and sounds great.
Even when McIntosh started delving into solid state amps, they kept the same basic layout with the MC 250 and MC 2100 transistor amps. The output transformers were switched to autoformers for the solid state driven outputs, and this kept the look almost identical to the none hi-fi nut. Now Mac has even preamps, integrated amps,and a double MC 275 with similar layouts. Why mess with a good thing?
Fun video! Thanks for covering the MC275 Gordon Gow Commemorative Edition. In the mid 90’s (when they were $4000 each) I actually bought a pair, a matched pair with consecutive serial numbers. I used them wired as 150 watts into 2 ohms monoblocks driving just the electrostatic panels on my Martin-Logan Quest speakers. A Krell KST-100 was used to drive the 12” woofers. Talk about scale and impact with tube liquidity and solid state bass slam! Of course all that stuff had to be sold to pay for (part) of my wedding and honeymoon.. A few observations on the MC275 Gordon Gow edition: It was the only modern MC275 where McIntosh actually commissioned special KT88’s to be built by Richardson in LaFox, Illinois for use in that model. Later ones all use Russian KT88’s. The input level controls were extremely useful as I was able to perfectly balance the woofers and ‘stat panels since the Macs and the Krell had slightly different sensitivities. And that MC275 was a true balanced amplifier, never touted by Mac, but obvious in the schematic. Turns out the first tube, the 12AX7 in the shield, each of the twin triode section serve as the phase inverter for each channel. When the balanced connection is used, that tube is totally bypassed and the positive and negative legs of the balanced signal get their own separate path through the tubes all the way to the output transformer. That’s why there’s 11 tubes in a Mac MC275 rather than the usual 7 tubes like in comparable KT88 amps of the time, such as the Conrad Johnson Premier 11A (BTW, an excellent amp, too!). Also interesting is the MC275 runs rather cool for a tube amplifier of its size. Mac always ran their output tubes very conservatively for long life and consistent performance. Though the driver tubes, 12BH7’s in the earlier Mac’s, and 12AZ7’s or 12AT7’s in the later ones, were run very hard, and usually needed to be replaced long before the output tubes. But those tubes were, and still are, cheap compared to KT88s that’s for sure. Even today you can still buy a NOS 12AZ7 for just a couple few bucks. They were common in TVs and a gazillion were made 😆. The MC275 actually put out noticeably less heat than my Krell, though to be fair, that KST-100 was biased up to 50 watts in pure class A before it slid into class AB up to its 100 watt into 8 ohm rating. Cheers?
@@LennyFlorentine Thanks! I actually kept one of those MC275’s and it’s only on its 2nd set of KT88s. But maybe the 4th set of 12AZ7 drivers. How about a video “The Mac Everyone Forgot?” highlighting the short-lived MR66 FM/AM “Stereo “ tuner. An unusual unit with a mono FM section (basically from the MR65) and an all-out AM section with a separate tuning dial for that brief time broadcasters did stereo with one channel on FM and the other on their sister AM station. Variable bandwidth/selectivity on that AM section, using more tubes than the FM section 😳. Provisions were made for an external Mac FM stereo decoder, which today cost more than the MR66.
I passed up a pair of MC75 "laboratory amplifiers" for free back in the day. I know, I know, that was one of the dumber things I've done, but in my defense I had a fair amount of gear already, not enough space for what I already had, and my home designed and built amp sounded better. And I had no clue how valuable they were to become!
I'm still running 3 of the 4 original Gold Lions on my first-gen MC-275 (the glass on the 4th shattered one day (dunno why) and I had to replace it with one of a small stash of spares). It's the Energizer bunny of tube amps.
I used to work at a McIntosh dealership in Florida. Been to the factory in Binghampton (wow!). We would have on-site clinics where a McIntosh factory tech would repair/tune up customer's equipment at no charge. I don't know if they do that anymore, but it was pretty great when they did.
@@mikehermesmeglio Tuner alignment, replace burnt out bulbs, things like that. It was almost 40 years ago. I can't remember all the details. If something didn't meet spec they would take steps to correct that to the degree possible during the clinic.
@@6StringPassion. Wow, I would have loved to have been able to attend one of these on-site clinics! Thanks for sharing this with us. In my opinion, McIntosh really does have to be one of the greatest Hi-Fi equipment manufacturers of all time. The simple transparency of performing customer's equipment tune up services and repairs is something that I have never heard of any consumer grade audio equipment manufacturer doing. Fred
@@6StringPassion. I used to help run the clinics at Barnett Brothers in Philadelphia during the 70s. I did the distortion plots for amplifiers, the Macs always met their specs. I lusted after an MC275 but as a poor student had to make do with Dynaco Stereo 70.
As a poor retiree with better taste than budget, I had to go modern when my old system components eventually died. I replaced my old Technics turntable with an Audio-Technica direct drive unit. When my old amp and CD player bit the dust, I replaced them with a Cambridge Audio ARX-100, a matching CD player, and an iFi Zen 2 DAC. I've got Klipsch speakers and can make some noise. As I can't work on my own stuff and paying to have it done is out of my price range, I was aiming for something I could jam into my golden years.
I can't afford either one, but I have to believe that McIntosh has been taking the same approach to their products as Porsche has taken (and was essentially forced to take) for the 911. Once a design becomes an icon, you must be *very* careful about messing with it. A huge number of customers/fans will revolt if you change things too much. As it should be. 🙂
My thoughts exactly. I am however a bit disturbed about your claims of subterfuge on the part of both McIntosh, and the people who buy them. That alone disqualifies this video of any credibility. I suggest future viewers should don their tin-foil hats when watching these videos
In 1987, the husband of the ambassador to Bulgaria during the Kennedy administration walked into our store with a pair of MC 275s to sell. I rebuilt both of them and they sounded better than any other tube amp that I've heard. We didn't know that they were selling for thousands of dollars in Japan so I think we sold them for $400.00 dollars each.
This video discusses the cosmetic differences between the version of the MC275, however there are three internal arrangements I've seen. The first version is all hand-wired, with the mode switch. The second version has a vertically-mounted printed circuit board, with leads to the tube sockets. The latest version I've seen has a large circuit board, with the tube sockets directly attached. Right now I'm working on a Gow commemorative version, one of the KT88s shorted and burned an area of the PCBA. At first, McIntosh said they have the board and at a surprisingly low price, now they say it's NLA. Hard to say how it will turn out.
Just curious. How many people knew... Back in the seventies and eighties you could connect your fm antenna to the tv cable and get tons of crystal clear fm channels.
I know this because when I was 16, my parents moved from a suburban neighborhood to the outskirts where the reception was not optimal. We finally got cable 5 years later, when I was almost out of the house, and the cable guy asked if I wanted a cable to my receiver for FM, and I said, " Well, yes, of course."
I used to machine some parts for McIntosh. Just some simple stainless steel standoffs and screws. They were ridiculous on the tolerance of such a parts that didn’t need it. I did things for MRI machines that were not so tight on tolerance. No wonder they are ridiculously priced. Trouble is they were cheap on paying our shop for their high tolerance parts. They want to claim high quality when they sell their product but want to pay low quality prices for stuff they outsource. I’d build my own power amp before I would pay their outrageous prices.
Meh I agree but once guys get them selves into situations like marriage and they are stuck it's just easier to sneak stuff than deal with al the bs and arguing. Women can be crazy and it's just not worth the headache. Unless you set those boundaries before and she knows you dont gaf what she thinks and will do what you want with your money most guys haven't set those boundaries or been that guy.
I am quite used to sneaking stuff in. Whether it be a piece of guitar gear or hi-fi, it's a challenge I'm up for. My favorite was acquiring a beautiful teak subwoofer that is 24×24 square and 18 inches high and hiding it in plain sight for over a month before the wife noticed. Actually she noticed something else that I moved. The key is never use household money to finance your toys. A side hustle is the way or be willing to sell old toys to get new ones.😊
MCINTOSH HAD NO BIG SECRET. I have heard you say that McIntosh isn't really a favorite of yours. This video makes a quiet point of proving that to some extent, but be that what it may. Several excellent companies with high quality products in the 50's and 60's did the same as McIntosh continuing with a production run that would last well over a decade. Look at Collins Radio Company that produced their famous "Collins S-Line" (radio equipment) from the late 50's through the mid 70's. Not only all quite identical but using vacuum tubes into the 70's when most other manufactures had gone solid state. The RL Drake company is another example. All of these companies knew they had a winner and so did the people purchasing them. The McIntosh MC75 Mono Block amps are legendary. When they brought them back for special promotions in 2000 why would they decide to drastically change them. McIntosh's intentions I guarantee you had nothing to do with your speculative thoughts in this video. A lot of the HiFi equipment you sell is really not considered High End Audio which can run into thousands and thousands of dollars and then some. McIntosh is barely at the beginning of the really elite equipment. I own a near mint Kenwood Eleven GX Monster Receiver and it sounds great next to my MC75 Mono Blocks into a pair of Kilpsch tower speakers. So I do believe some of the best sounding HiFi was produced during the late 60's and 70's from companies like Kenwood and Pioneer. I do enjoy your videos and have purchased a few receivers from Just Audio. Carry on Mate
I've heard the secrets to tube sound is in the output transformers....and while bogen is known mostly for pa amps their HiFi output transformers are very good....
I actually do the opposite...I buy cheaper hifi and "clean and flip" about 20 items a year. When I flip, I give her the cash. That way there is a completely honest relationship and when I buy "for me" items...it's not a problem. And she doesn't need to track my spending and she's coming along for the next flip.
There were actually a few significant changes electronically that should be noted, namely the change from terminal board/point to point to point to point/pcb hybrid and eventually almost full pcb design in the current model.
You really missed the point. If you want to do a service to your channel, take an original, turn it upside-down, and show the guts of a point-to-point wired Mac compared to PCB and slide-on connectors they use today. I thought THAT was your "Secret". The amps as time went on became cheaper to manufacture. An early MC275 is a far cry better built than anything made since. What a letdown.
Commenting a year later! I've got a pair of MC30's with a MX110, Gordon Gow MC275 with its matching C22 preamp, MC2000 with matching C2200 preamp with gold trim. The C2200 came out later and you had to provide the serial number of the MC2000 to be able to order the preamp.
It's all in the tubes, and there are plenty of super high-grade tube basic amps out there not to mention hybrids. McIntosh will last several lifetimes, but technology has a nasty little way of improving things, sometimes.
Back in the 70's when I was a college student, I lived in a dorm. Guy down hallway had Phase Linear 750 amp, Phase Linear pre-amp, high end speakers that could handle the power, and odds and ends. When he turned volume up just half way, you could feel vibrations in the concrete floor and walls. He got a few reminders from the RA to keep it under Magnitude 7 on earthquake scale.
One of the biggest hifi secrets in my opinion is the b&w cdm NT series (mostly the 7's and the 9's). Why? They come very very close to the 804 Nautilus speakers. More neutral sounding also. But same details. I've listened the 7' nt's back to back with 804n's on a vintage accuphase setup iff you want to know.
Apart from the yet mentioned change from PTP wiring to at least two different versions of PCB's, there's some much more important design change *imho*: The first output transformers featured trifilarly wound primary windings (plate, cathode, and driver/cathode follower bootstrap), while later versions had bifilarly windings. Do you know when this modification was done?
I had a MC275 with the LEDs and I was able to have the board modified and the LEDs became BLUE.....ahhhh much nicer, I also found I like the sound better when used with a transistor pre-amp. Present day, I have two MC75 60 anniversary additions that I fell sound even better!!!
Nothing about newer Mc gear drives me nuts as much as those stupid LEDs. You want tube-status LEDs? Fine, line 'em up on the chassis somewhere, but don't drown the soothing orange glow of the filaments in Borg-like green! :P
I've never been a fan of McIntosh, but that said I just bought the C-55 pre-amp, and a pair of MC-451 power amps. These are driving a pair of B&W 801-D3. The way they approached the dual mono tube & solid state outputs is extremely well done. The C-55 is blah, blah other than the dual outputs for bi-amping. The MC-451 not only sound good but they look incredible. People seeing these for the first time are blown away.
I was hoping for some product discussion, but the deceptive headline, unfairly implying that McIntosh prefers some level of customer deception when marketing product set the tone for this waste of time that actually devolved for the worse, to be about faulty relationships, not hi fi amplification. if you can't be honest about money, the relationship has more troubles than just buying hi fi .
I was a salesman at Western Sound a McIntosh dealer then after University I worked at a well financed hi fi store for 12 year from 1973 to 1985 after which I went on the road as a full time musician.
Astronomy guys do the same thing. Wives just keep Count of the number of cases going out to the vehicle for an observing/imaging session not what telescope/equipment is in the cases!
Easier to get a solid state amp which you say is your "summer" or "warm weather" amp, and set the "cold weather" tube amp aside for a few months. Then the swap can happen over the summer at your leisure. Diabolical, I know.
Interesting info, but you didn't say a word about the sound quality differences among these different versions of this amp :) Is there a GENUINE consensus among McIntosh owners which MC275 is the best sounding?
I think the most important design alteration during the years was in the output transformers: Originally with trifilarly wound primary windings, McIntosh decided to simplify to just bifilar ones. How did this impact the amp's performance?
Nice video and a lot of "truth" into it. Sometimes what the s.o. doesn't know, especially if listening to music via Alexa speakers, is a blessing to keep peace and harmony at home.
I don't like the sound of most McIntosh amps but the MC275 sounds special and is on my " If I won the lottery" shortlist. It sounds just as good as it looks.
when i was a teen buying sansui integrateds at good will my mom got on my case for buying the same darn thing just heavier! said it was a total waste of time, then 1 day i put the space au317 and some big cerwin vega speakers in the living room, came home from school the next day to find both the dogs out on the porch and we are the champions slamming out the front door while mom knitted on the couch..guess she figured it out haha!
Bro the grinch part had me dying 😝. love the video so entertaining just what I needed when I get home from a long days of work. A little story behind it make it’s so much better too. Wife smh .. who needs one of those 😂 I’ll take two MC’s instead please!! Thank u
I have been sneaking guns past my wife and into my safe for 35 years. Handguns were easy I would just unbox them in the gun store parking lot and wear it into the house. Riffles on the other hand took some planning lol
Those octal (tube) sockets were designed to connect the companion pre-amp which was sold along with the amps. Dynaco did the same thing with the legendary Stereo 70. It was just a cable with a very awkward looking connector that looked like the bottom pins of a tube that plugged right in and made all the connections.
MC give you this beautiful mid-range rich sound but never even once gave me a small illusion of real life musical event. I suspect this is due to the weakness in their preamp sections. Audio research’s preamps are vastly superior than MC especially in Macro and micro dynamics.
They can't. Even if they could output an exact amplified analog of the input signal under complex loading, they can't produce enough power for a full bandwidth spl of real life musical events.
I think once you find a design that makes sense and works awesome, there's sometimes no real need to change it too much. I have a 1972 Steinway full -size grand piano Model B that is really identical to the ones made today with the exception of the added "Steinway" lettering on the front right side. Don't break the design it if it's not broken.
Agreed. If I could afford tube equipment and were willing to pay for it, the last thing I'd want would be that tacky ornament attracting attention away from it.
I'm a little late cause I just recently found your channel. You said you wanted some hi Fi stories. When I was young I had gotten a Nikko receiver from somewhere. Can't remember where or what model it was. It would power on but no sound. I had the top off with some speakers hooked up just messing around with it trying to get sound. Using a screwdriver I began tapping around on stuff inside. Suddenly it kicked in full blast and scared the hell out of me. Worked great for a long time after that
I own the mc60 mono blocks With complete upgrades new 5% Filter caps new resistors new cans. THESE ARE THE BEST SOUNDING With the altec lansing mono tube 1568 amp With a mixer an a luxman tube cl mk2 preamp upgraded with caps cans etc ..This is the system i,m using . All natural sound with the peerless transformers altec uses From the early 50s.
I actually asked my wife for her blessing to buy my MA5200. What! You asked permission? Yep, I said that this was my early adulthood dream (80s). Kind of like the young guy that says, I’ll own this or that someday. She gave me the thumbs-up emoji. Here’s the funny part. She knows that whether thumbs up, or down from her, carries no weight if I’ve already decided that I’m going to buy it. I don’t recommend that any married man, ask for permission. It's far easier to just buy what you want, and catch some shit, versus asking permission, to be told no. You catch a little hell, but you have the new gear.
You didn't answer the most interesting question. What does this amp, the earliest edition of which sold for $450 in 1961, cost today? I'll guess $20,000 or maybe $25,000 but I could be off by a lot.
I just looked on Google and it's really hard to know what a new one costs. There were a bunch listed at $6,500, but most of them didn't mention if they were new or used. Then there were some listed as "clones" for $1,600; whatever these things were inside, I'm surprised McIntosh doesn't sue them for trademark infringement. There was also a suggestion that the new version from McIntosh has green LEDs under the tubes for some reason, so I have to wonder if anyone paying thousands for a tube amp wants that kind of glitz. The green just make the tubes look like the fakes they put on Chinese toy "tube" devices.
@@pcno2832 I think the current flavor of MC-275 runs somewhere in the $6000-7000 range. The "clones" are generally Chinese, and as many manufacturers around the world have found, the government of China doesn't give a rip about intellectual property. The stupid green LEDs are "tube life status indicators" that are supposed to warn you when a tube is reaching the end of its life. I hate 'em. :D
Yes I have to play those games too with the wife. I have six speakers rotating them out ever six months. She thinks I write reviews for you tubers. Might run in to a problem when they deliver my Wilson Audio master Chronosonic Magnum speakers. That will take 2 people and 2 days to set up. Oh the sh@t I have to deal with.
Trade in, not me I just got whatever I wanted and compared them side by side. I now have enough McIntosh equipment to put one in every room in the house including the closets. 😁
@@tommywingate2220 It's probably just me. The money was in effort fixing all that flood damaged stuff. I ain't got the money it takes to have all this stuff. Sweet equity if you will. I was fortunate enough to get the damaged goods. Most of it was going to the dump, I intervened.
@@phonebackup8132 good for you that’s awesome. My comment was intended for the person who was reminded why he was annoyed by people with money. His attitude is a real virus. I don’t know why so many are upset with those of us who have accumulated wealth. I said us but I’m not wealthy at all but I am commited to this hobby.
when the wrx sti first came here my manager got one, I compliment him on the bbs wheels he said look closer dummy, I hadn't seen a sti outside of gran turismo in 2004 ,so I didn't think we could get them, I also had a coworker that went from a black 392 to a black hellcat, same thing, omg to see a hellcat stand on it in 2015 ,my poor 95 suburban was at a standstill
I am not sure and can not prove this one. But back in 1999 I purchased a set of Totem Acoustic Forest Speakers. Fairport Sound works in Rochester NY. The main driver at that time so I was told and even shown. Was the Legendary Dynaudio 6.5 Driver with 3" voice coil. Those speakers sound awesome. But last year I was talking with someone who sells Totems and I was informed that was not the case but a china knockoff modified by Totem. Which would mean when the forest was released, I believe in 1998 I purchased mine in 1999, they even put the Dynaudio logo on the driver because I was shown the internals. Again I can prove it, it was way long ago. Let me know if anyone out there is aware of this. I only had those for a couple years and parted ways with em. This is my story. ether-way they sounded great.
That’s funny but I’m sure true. I really enjoy listening to your stories and advice about stereo equipment. You keep going young man I’m sure you have a great future at what your are doing ! Good Luck ! At least you can tell your wife you just brought home from the shop !
Such bull! So why doesn’t McIntosh want you to know this? Most people who buy expensive toys like McIntosh don’t need to hide it from anyone. They have the money and they spend it any way they want. If you really have to hide money from your spouse to buy an expensive toy, you either need to step up your game and make more money, or get another spouse.
design language in hi-quality / hi-end consumer products is a foundation of long term success. form follows function & if the enterprise is wise (& lucky) that supports value (& price) as well as brand loyalty. McIntosh nailed that from the start & has kept at it - it's a big part of why it's still around today. I think sneaking new toys past the wife is an apocryphal story (physically swapping out same form-factor hardware easily would be as or more likely). it's actually about the second order consequences of great design (+ great engineering, obviously) = great loyalty = great resale value. consider the Porsche 911, Rolex "Daytona", Apple iPhones, etc. {btw, I really enjoy your enthusiasm (nuts about advertising brochures!), side-comments & all the deep-diving into classic / period audio... your honesty about aspects you are not certain about w/ some of the old fringe hw you stumble upon is notable... & somewhat rare on-line}
Form doesn’t get enough praise IMO, our brains are 50% emotion, 50% analytical, I truly believe if you have a beautiful piece of equipment that you are fond to look at while listening to music it stimulates the dopamine receptors leading to better enjoyment of the music more so than an ugly chunk of metal that may beat it out in raw technical abilities.
Solid State just doesn't have the warmth and depth of modern vacuum tube audio . In fact , some rare tubes such as the Western Electric 300B fetch as much as some your receivers so . Like 19 to 15 K .
I am not burdened with spousal acceptance factor. I am also a lonely curmudgeon hermit devoid of human emotion, but i do Love my turntables, amps, preamps, receivers, records and speakers, lots of speakers.
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I have an Mc240 the little brother of the 275, it's the 1962 model, and I'm happy with it, I see no reason to upgrade it. I got it in 1975, there was a McIntosh dealer in town, they had a workshop and clinic, they updated the caps and tubes. McIntosh used to have these clinics every so often and they were free.
So… what is it that McIntosh doesn’t want me to know?
They don't want you to know that this title was classic click bait.
I think the fact that the MC 275 amps are pretty much the same with minor changes ? Not necessarily a bad thing.
@@willyodell7802yep, to be quite honest and frank, it's getting tiring and irritation with so many people using the click bait tactic that it should be akin to false advertising. It is, after all, basically the same thing: more clicks more money.
Well that’s 8 minute I’ll never get back.
A member of our radio club often brought home a large cardboard box that originally contained a very expensive set, full of odds and ends he would pick up at club meetings etc. His wife got use to this and ignored it.
However, on the odd occasion, the writing on the box did match the contents, he just calmly walked past her with an expensive brand new amateur/ham radio and she never cottoned on.
1965, I was a flunky at a high end HiFi store in New Orleans: Lonigan's House of Sound. He sold Mcintosh, Marantz, Bozak, Crown, all the big names. My favorite was the Electro Voice Patrician in the corner-it shook the walls.
I was a repair tech for one, high school into college, fun times. My favorites were the Dayton-Wrights that shook the store!
My hobby was finding, restoring & flipping equipment back in the 70's. I once came across a single Patrician in a thrift store for about $75. I loaded into my Ford van, hooked it up the the Ford stereo and sold it the next day out of the back of my van for a good profit. (I can't remember how much). I also once got a huge JBL Hartsfield corner horn speaker at another thrift store for $75 and sold that one for $2,000. That money came just in time for a vet bill in the same amount for our cat! Oh well.
I love your Hi Fi history videos. I wish I had a audio secret to share but my wife often insists that I buy a new piece of gear if I really want it. Maybe that's why we have been married for 44 years. My oldest tube radio is a 1936 Silvertone Model 4585 that belonged to my grandparents. I put tung oil on, replaced the front glowing eye tube and grill cloth. Other than that it's all original and sounds great.
That radio has been in the family that long? That is awesome. Good for you!
@@allanellis5827 Thanks!
Even when McIntosh started delving into solid state amps, they kept the same basic layout with the MC 250 and MC 2100 transistor amps. The output transformers were switched to autoformers for the solid state driven outputs, and this kept the look almost identical to the none hi-fi nut. Now Mac has even preamps, integrated amps,and a double MC 275 with similar layouts. Why mess with a good thing?
yea they just wanna make money, who cares
Fun video! Thanks for covering the MC275 Gordon Gow Commemorative Edition. In the mid 90’s (when they were $4000 each) I actually bought a pair, a matched pair with consecutive serial numbers. I used them wired as 150 watts into 2 ohms monoblocks driving just the electrostatic panels on my Martin-Logan Quest speakers. A Krell KST-100 was used to drive the 12” woofers. Talk about scale and impact with tube liquidity and solid state bass slam! Of course all that stuff had to be sold to pay for (part) of my wedding and honeymoon.. A few observations on the MC275 Gordon Gow edition: It was the only modern MC275 where McIntosh actually commissioned special KT88’s to be built by Richardson in LaFox, Illinois for use in that model. Later ones all use Russian KT88’s. The input level controls were extremely useful as I was able to perfectly balance the woofers and ‘stat panels since the Macs and the Krell had slightly different sensitivities. And that MC275 was a true balanced amplifier, never touted by Mac, but obvious in the schematic. Turns out the first tube, the 12AX7 in the shield, each of the twin triode section serve as the phase inverter for each channel. When the balanced connection is used, that tube is totally bypassed and the positive and negative legs of the balanced signal get their own separate path through the tubes all the way to the output transformer. That’s why there’s 11 tubes in a Mac MC275 rather than the usual 7 tubes like in comparable KT88 amps of the time, such as the Conrad Johnson Premier 11A (BTW, an excellent amp, too!). Also interesting is the MC275 runs rather cool for a tube amplifier of its size. Mac always ran their output tubes very conservatively for long life and consistent performance. Though the driver tubes, 12BH7’s in the earlier Mac’s, and 12AZ7’s or 12AT7’s in the later ones, were run very hard, and usually needed to be replaced long before the output tubes. But those tubes were, and still are, cheap compared to KT88s that’s for sure. Even today you can still buy a NOS 12AZ7 for just a couple few bucks. They were common in TVs and a gazillion were made 😆. The MC275 actually put out noticeably less heat than my Krell, though to be fair, that KST-100 was biased up to 50 watts in pure class A before it slid into class AB up to its 100 watt into 8 ohm rating. Cheers?
What a great comment! Thanks for sharing. A matched pair must have been incredible!
@@LennyFlorentine Thanks! I actually kept one of those MC275’s and it’s only on its 2nd set of KT88s. But maybe the 4th set of 12AZ7 drivers. How about a video “The Mac Everyone Forgot?” highlighting the short-lived MR66 FM/AM “Stereo “ tuner. An unusual unit with a mono FM section (basically from the MR65) and an all-out AM section with a separate tuning dial for that brief time broadcasters did stereo with one channel on FM and the other on their sister AM station. Variable bandwidth/selectivity on that AM section, using more tubes than the FM section 😳. Provisions were made for an external Mac FM stereo decoder, which today cost more than the MR66.
I passed up a pair of MC75 "laboratory amplifiers" for free back in the day. I know, I know, that was one of the dumber things I've done, but in my defense I had a fair amount of gear already, not enough space for what I already had, and my home designed and built amp sounded better. And I had no clue how valuable they were to become!
I'm still running 3 of the 4 original Gold Lions on my first-gen MC-275 (the glass on the 4th shattered one day (dunno why) and I had to replace it with one of a small stash of spares). It's the Energizer bunny of tube amps.
I used to work at a McIntosh dealership in Florida. Been to the factory in Binghampton (wow!). We would have on-site clinics where a McIntosh factory tech would repair/tune up customer's equipment at no charge. I don't know if they do that anymore, but it was pretty great when they did.
What would they do to tune things up?
@@mikehermesmeglio Tuner alignment, replace burnt out bulbs, things like that. It was almost 40 years ago. I can't remember all the details. If something didn't meet spec they would take steps to correct that to the degree possible during the clinic.
@@6StringPassion. Wow, I would have loved to have been able to attend one of these on-site clinics! Thanks for sharing this with us. In my opinion, McIntosh really does have to be one of the greatest Hi-Fi equipment manufacturers of all time. The simple transparency of performing customer's equipment tune up services and repairs is something that I have never heard of any consumer grade audio equipment manufacturer doing. Fred
@@6StringPassion. I used to help run the clinics at Barnett Brothers in Philadelphia during the 70s. I did the distortion plots for amplifiers, the Macs always met their specs. I lusted after an MC275 but as a poor student had to make do with Dynaco Stereo 70.
@@tommost1 Small world. I worked for Wall-to-Wall Sound at that time. 9th and Chestnut. I still have my Stereo 70.
As a poor retiree with better taste than budget, I had to go modern when my old system components eventually died. I replaced my old Technics turntable with an Audio-Technica direct drive unit. When my old amp and CD player bit the dust, I replaced them with a Cambridge Audio ARX-100, a matching CD player, and an iFi Zen 2 DAC. I've got Klipsch speakers and can make some noise. As I can't work on my own stuff and paying to have it done is out of my price range, I was aiming for something I could jam into my golden years.
I can't afford either one, but I have to believe that McIntosh has been taking the same approach to their products as Porsche has taken (and was essentially forced to take) for the 911. Once a design becomes an icon, you must be *very* careful about messing with it. A huge number of customers/fans will revolt if you change things too much. As it should be.
🙂
init
My thoughts exactly. I am however a bit disturbed about your claims of subterfuge on the part of both McIntosh, and the people who buy them. That alone disqualifies this video of any credibility. I suggest future viewers should don their tin-foil hats when watching these videos
In 1987, the husband of the ambassador to Bulgaria during the Kennedy administration walked into our store with a pair of MC 275s to sell. I rebuilt both of them and they sounded better than any other tube amp that I've heard. We didn't know that they were selling for thousands of dollars in Japan so I think we sold them for $400.00 dollars each.
Great story!
Every day, I love my divorce lawyer just a little bit more.
LOL!!! Been there, done that too. Freedom cannot be overstated ever. Fred
Funny. I know you're being truthful though.
Sometime during this period Colgate radically upgraded its tubes from metal to plastic which also looked otherwise identical. Amazing coincidence.
Nearly had a stroke reading this
This video discusses the cosmetic differences between the version of the MC275, however there are three internal arrangements I've seen. The first version is all hand-wired, with the mode switch. The second version has a vertically-mounted printed circuit board, with leads to the tube sockets. The latest version I've seen has a large circuit board, with the tube sockets directly attached. Right now I'm working on a Gow commemorative version, one of the KT88s shorted and burned an area of the PCBA. At first, McIntosh said they have the board and at a surprisingly low price, now they say it's NLA. Hard to say how it will turn out.
There's a reason they chose green for their iconic color. $$$$$$.
Just curious. How many people knew... Back in the seventies and eighties you could connect your fm antenna to the tv cable and get tons of crystal clear fm channels.
I know this because when I was 16, my parents moved from a suburban neighborhood to the outskirts where the reception was not optimal. We finally got cable 5 years later, when I was almost out of the house, and the cable guy asked if I wanted a cable to my receiver for FM, and I said, " Well, yes, of course."
Not just the coaxial cable can be an antenna. You can connect your receiver to an actual TV roof top Antenna.
Yes, that's what I did before the cable guy came. Unfortunately, a large hill blocking signals prevented acceptable reception 😬
I wonder if used a Y connector and soldered a two lead wire to a cable end.
SOME cable systems had FM stations along with analog TV channels.
The one where I live Definitely did Not.
I am quite old by now, and my wife would probably be thrilled if I were to upgrade my equipment.
You are lucky if your equipment works at all.
I used to machine some parts for McIntosh. Just some simple stainless steel standoffs and screws. They were ridiculous on the tolerance of such a parts that didn’t need it. I did things for MRI machines that were not so tight on tolerance. No wonder they are ridiculously priced. Trouble is they were cheap on paying our shop for their high tolerance parts. They want to claim high quality when they sell their product but want to pay low quality prices for stuff they outsource. I’d build my own power amp before I would pay their outrageous prices.
Fascinating! No doubt they were high quality but that's what I did, build my own.
It's called capitalism.
If you have to hide your purchases from your spouse, then you shouldn't be in a relationship. That's pathetic and generally sad.
Meh I agree but once guys get them selves into situations like marriage and they are stuck it's just easier to sneak stuff than deal with al the bs and arguing. Women can be crazy and it's just not worth the headache. Unless you set those boundaries before and she knows you dont gaf what she thinks and will do what you want with your money most guys haven't set those boundaries or been that guy.
I am quite used to sneaking stuff in. Whether it be a piece of guitar gear or hi-fi, it's a challenge I'm up for. My favorite was acquiring a beautiful teak subwoofer that is 24×24 square and 18 inches high and hiding it in plain sight for over a month before the wife noticed. Actually she noticed something else that I moved. The key is never use household money to finance your toys. A side hustle is the way or be willing to sell old toys to get new ones.😊
MCINTOSH HAD NO BIG SECRET. I have heard you say that McIntosh isn't really a favorite of yours. This video makes a quiet point of proving that to some extent, but be that what it may. Several excellent companies with high quality products in the 50's and 60's did the same as McIntosh continuing with a production run that would last well over a decade. Look at Collins Radio Company that produced their famous "Collins S-Line" (radio equipment) from the late 50's through the mid 70's. Not only all quite identical but using vacuum tubes into the 70's when most other manufactures had gone solid state. The RL Drake company is another example. All of these companies knew they had a winner and so did the people purchasing them. The McIntosh MC75 Mono Block amps are legendary. When they brought them back for special promotions in 2000 why would they decide to drastically change them. McIntosh's
intentions I guarantee you had nothing to do with your speculative thoughts in this video. A lot of the HiFi equipment you sell is really not considered High End Audio which can run into thousands and thousands of dollars and then some. McIntosh is barely at the beginning of the really elite equipment. I own a near mint Kenwood Eleven GX Monster Receiver and it sounds great next to my MC75 Mono Blocks into a pair of Kilpsch tower speakers. So I do believe some of the best sounding HiFi was produced during the late 60's and 70's from companies like Kenwood and Pioneer. I do enjoy your videos and have purchased a few receivers from Just Audio. Carry on Mate
Thanks for sharing and truth be told the MC275 may be my favorite McIntosh I've ever heard, It does sound great. Also thanks for supporting us!
I've heard the secrets to tube sound is in the output transformers....and while bogen is known mostly for pa amps their HiFi output transformers are very good....
I actually do the opposite...I buy cheaper hifi and "clean and flip" about 20 items a year. When I flip, I give her the cash. That way there is a completely honest relationship and when I buy "for me" items...it's not a problem. And she doesn't need to track my spending and she's coming along for the next flip.
Very cool!
How sweet. 😂 Track your spending? Are you the man or not? This is the weakest shit I've seen in a hot minute.
There were actually a few significant changes electronically that should be noted, namely the change from terminal board/point to point to point to point/pcb hybrid and eventually almost full pcb design in the current model.
Great addition, thank you!
They’re coming out with a chair for listening, in the works, $2500-3500
You really missed the point. If you want to do a service to your channel, take an original, turn it upside-down, and show the guts of a point-to-point wired Mac compared to PCB and slide-on connectors they use today. I thought THAT was your "Secret". The amps as time went on became cheaper to manufacture. An early MC275 is a far cry better built than anything made since. What a letdown.
Not the first time I've heard commercial blah blah blah here
Commenting a year later! I've got a pair of MC30's with a MX110, Gordon Gow MC275 with its matching C22 preamp, MC2000 with matching C2200 preamp with gold trim. The C2200 came out later and you had to provide the serial number of the MC2000 to be able to order the preamp.
Thanks for sharing! Very cool
It's all in the tubes, and there are plenty of super high-grade tube basic amps out there not to mention hybrids. McIntosh will last several lifetimes, but technology has a nasty little way of improving things, sometimes.
9 decades ? I believe they started in 1949 which would make them 73.
The competitive model for the original mc275 was the Marantz model 8’s. They were similar priced.
The competitor for the 275 was the Marantz 9.The 8B was only 35 watts/ch.
Back in the 70's when I was a college student, I lived in a dorm. Guy down hallway had Phase Linear 750 amp, Phase Linear pre-amp, high end speakers that could handle the power, and odds and ends. When he turned volume up just half way, you could feel vibrations in the concrete floor and walls. He got a few reminders from the RA to keep it under Magnitude 7 on earthquake scale.
I still got my phase linear 400
It’s still loud AF
I started with SAE mk 4 d 100 + 100 watts is a dual powered. Then p 400. And never looked back. Always high power amp.
@@jimlee2664 great amps
@@PooNinja loved those amps
One of the biggest hifi secrets in my opinion is the b&w cdm NT series (mostly the 7's and the 9's). Why? They come very very close to the 804 Nautilus speakers. More neutral sounding also. But same details. I've listened the 7' nt's back to back with 804n's on a vintage accuphase setup iff you want to know.
Apart from the yet mentioned change from PTP wiring to at least two different versions of PCB's, there's some much more important design change *imho*: The first output transformers featured trifilarly wound primary windings (plate, cathode, and driver/cathode follower bootstrap), while later versions had bifilarly windings. Do you know when this modification was done?
An incredible marketing company. Like your stove at home. Impressing people you don’t like with the money you don’t have.
I had a MC275 with the LEDs and I was able to have the board modified and the LEDs became BLUE.....ahhhh much nicer, I also found I like the sound better when used with a transistor pre-amp. Present day, I have two MC75 60 anniversary additions that I fell sound even better!!!
Nothing about newer Mc gear drives me nuts as much as those stupid LEDs. You want tube-status LEDs? Fine, line 'em up on the chassis somewhere, but don't drown the soothing orange glow of the filaments in Borg-like green! :P
Hmmm.... I resemble your characterization of the deviousness of my fellow McIntosh owners 😆. This cannot go unnoticed!🍺
I've never been a fan of McIntosh, but that said I just bought the C-55 pre-amp, and a pair of MC-451 power amps. These are driving a pair of B&W 801-D3. The way they approached the dual mono tube & solid state outputs is extremely well done. The C-55 is blah, blah other than the dual outputs for bi-amping. The MC-451 not only sound good but they look incredible. People seeing these for the first time are blown away.
I was hoping for some product discussion, but the deceptive headline, unfairly implying that McIntosh prefers some level of customer deception when marketing product set the tone for this waste of time that actually devolved for the worse, to be about faulty relationships, not hi fi amplification. if you can't be honest about money, the relationship has more troubles than just buying hi fi .
Upgrading your stereo amp or any other part of your set up is not dictated by a wife or anyone else.
After the recent Mo-Fi scandal I thought they'd found a vintage DAC in Brian Wilson's original 275... 😉😁
Hahaha!!! Too damn funny! Mo-Fi lied to us for over a decade. Great comment! Fred
I was a salesman at Western Sound a McIntosh dealer then after University I worked at a well financed hi fi store for 12 year from 1973 to 1985 after which I went on the road as a full time musician.
I know, I worked at RadioShack in the 70s. Joined the Rolling Stones. Filled in for Kieth for most of the studio recordings after that.
Astronomy guys do the same thing. Wives just keep Count of the number of cases going out to the vehicle for an observing/imaging session not what telescope/equipment is in the cases!
Haha very insightful Larry! Thank you
Easier to get a solid state amp which you say is your "summer" or "warm weather" amp, and set the "cold weather" tube amp aside for a few months. Then the swap can happen over the summer at your leisure.
Diabolical, I know.
Interesting info, but you didn't say a word about the sound quality differences among these different versions of this amp :) Is there a GENUINE consensus among McIntosh owners which MC275 is the best sounding?
Good question and I have no idea
I think the most important design alteration during the years was in the output transformers: Originally with trifilarly wound primary windings, McIntosh decided to simplify to just bifilar ones. How did this impact the amp's performance?
Tube amps on full range ribbon speakers, are a match made in heaven.
Nice video and a lot of "truth" into it. Sometimes what the s.o. doesn't know, especially if listening to music via Alexa speakers, is a blessing to keep peace and harmony at home.
Thanks Francesco!
I don't like the sound of most McIntosh amps but the MC275 sounds special and is on my " If I won the lottery" shortlist. It sounds just as good as it looks.
When an amplifier come so good doesn't need much change, it becomes a legend!! Thank you for the video
Amen, the journey never ends. Speaking of McIntosh, my MA5200 should be here tomorrow.
Clickbait heading.
I dont have any secrets or stories, just love bad ass sound systems
when i was a teen buying sansui integrateds at good will my mom got on my case for buying the same darn thing just heavier! said it was a total waste of time, then 1 day i put the space au317 and some big cerwin vega speakers in the living room, came home from school the next day to find both the dogs out on the porch and we are the champions slamming out the front door while mom knitted on the couch..guess she figured it out haha!
I married someone who supports everything I do so I don't need McIntosh 😂
Bro the grinch part had me dying 😝. love the video so entertaining just what I needed when I get home from a long days of work. A little story behind it make it’s so much better too. Wife smh .. who needs one of those 😂 I’ll take two MC’s instead please!! Thank u
Haha glad you enjoyed it!
I have been sneaking guns past my wife and into my safe for 35 years. Handguns were easy I would just unbox them in the gun store parking lot and wear it into the house. Riffles on the other hand took some planning lol
Like wrapping them up in paper and claiming they were curtain rods.
Imagine hiding things from a woman like a scared boy, LoL
I do it with guitars ha ha . Once past the sentinel , they just blend in with all the others
Mine didn’t know the difference until I bought a silver one, then she noticed right away!
McIntosh isn’t anywhere near the high end in terms of sound (or cost)…. It’s really over-priced mid-fi. And I own some.
Not an “optical” output socket on the original 275. It was an octal socket!
To read out the tube current, I believe.
Those octal (tube) sockets were designed to connect the companion pre-amp which was sold along with the amps. Dynaco did the same thing with the legendary Stereo 70. It was just a cable with a very awkward looking connector that looked like the bottom pins of a tube that plugged right in and made all the connections.
@@gregordiseth6651 Come to think of it, I've seen those.
as the story goes " Dear Lord , please do not let my wife sell my stereo ( or what ever my hobby is ) for what i told her i paid for it "
A friend of mine mother put his Leak tube amp out on the curb. She said she thought it was junk.
He never saw the amp again.
Yet another reason I’m not getting married.
MC give you this beautiful mid-range rich sound but never even once gave me a small illusion of real life musical event. I suspect this is due to the weakness in their preamp sections. Audio research’s preamps are vastly superior than MC especially in Macro and micro dynamics.
They can't. Even if they could output an exact amplified analog of the input signal under complex loading, they can't produce enough power for a full bandwidth spl of real life musical events.
I think once you find a design that makes sense and works awesome, there's sometimes no real need to change it too much. I have a 1972 Steinway full -size grand piano Model B that is really identical to the ones made today with the exception of the added "Steinway" lettering on the front right side. Don't break the design it if it's not broken.
I don't know what's dumber, $1,500 for a light box (seriously???), or this guy saying, hey, if he had a McIntosh rack he'd probably get it! 🙄🙄
Agreed. If I could afford tube equipment and were willing to pay for it, the last thing I'd want would be that tacky ornament attracting attention away from it.
I'm a little late cause I just recently found your channel. You said you wanted some hi Fi stories. When I was young I had gotten a Nikko receiver from somewhere. Can't remember where or what model it was. It would power on but no sound. I had the top off with some speakers hooked up just messing around with it trying to get sound. Using a screwdriver I began tapping around on stuff inside. Suddenly it kicked in full blast and scared the hell out of me. Worked great for a long time after that
Thanks for sharing! Welcome to the fun!
I've upgraded my Mac about four times over the last 18 years. I've also traded in Ferarris three times after keeping them no longer than three years.
Oh no, I just pressed play. Has it been digital all along?
I own the mc60 mono blocks
With complete upgrades new 5%
Filter caps new resistors new cans.
THESE ARE THE BEST SOUNDING With the altec lansing mono tube 1568 amp
With a mixer an a luxman tube cl mk2 preamp upgraded with caps cans etc ..This is the system i,m using .
All natural sound with the peerless transformers altec uses
From the early 50s.
I actually asked my wife for her blessing to buy my MA5200. What! You asked permission? Yep, I said that this was my early adulthood dream (80s). Kind of like the young guy that says, I’ll own this or that someday. She gave me the thumbs-up emoji. Here’s the funny part. She knows that whether thumbs up, or down from her, carries no weight if I’ve already decided that I’m going to buy it. I don’t recommend that any married man, ask for permission. It's far easier to just buy what you want, and catch some shit, versus asking permission, to be told no. You catch a little hell, but you have the new gear.
Is there any sound quality differences on the different MC275 models?
Haha, sneaky sneaky McIntosh.
You didn't answer the most interesting question. What does this amp, the earliest edition of which sold for $450 in 1961, cost today? I'll guess $20,000 or maybe $25,000 but I could be off by a lot.
I just looked on Google and it's really hard to know what a new one costs. There were a bunch listed at $6,500, but most of them didn't mention if they were new or used. Then there were some listed as "clones" for $1,600; whatever these things were inside, I'm surprised McIntosh doesn't sue them for trademark infringement. There was also a suggestion that the new version from McIntosh has green LEDs under the tubes for some reason, so I have to wonder if anyone paying thousands for a tube amp wants that kind of glitz. The green just make the tubes look like the fakes they put on Chinese toy "tube" devices.
@@pcno2832 I think the current flavor of MC-275 runs somewhere in the $6000-7000 range. The "clones" are generally Chinese, and as many manufacturers around the world have found, the government of China doesn't give a rip about intellectual property. The stupid green LEDs are "tube life status indicators" that are supposed to warn you when a tube is reaching the end of its life. I hate 'em. :D
Yes I have to play those games too with the wife. I have six speakers rotating them out ever six months. She thinks I write reviews for you tubers. Might run in to a problem when they deliver my Wilson Audio master Chronosonic Magnum speakers. That will take 2 people and 2 days to set up. Oh the sh@t I have to deal with.
I just ran the math, I think it's gonna be cheaper to swap out the wife. Hey it's a hobby we all wanna upgrade to the latest.
@@flynow5614 OMG... You're a nut! I love it... Hahaha!!! Good luck, you're probably going to need it, fellow audio lover. Fred
Lol😂
Sneak it in when the spouse wasn't home. That's what I've been doing with loudspeakers for years! 😅
Don’t let her get new glasses! Speakers are probably easy to tell
Over acting on delivery of simple information becomes offensive if not comical!
The latest version had it's sound drastically changed, so it is more modern: faster, tighter, cleaner in sound.
Trade in, not me I just got whatever I wanted and compared them side by side. I now have enough McIntosh equipment to put one in every room in the house including the closets. 😁
thanks for reminding me why most people with a lot of money are so annoying.
Is it the money or is it the people or is it you. I like people that commit to their hobbies and are able to prioritize.
@@tommywingate2220 It's probably just me. The money was in effort fixing all that flood damaged stuff. I ain't got the money it takes to have all this stuff. Sweet equity if you will. I was fortunate enough to get the damaged goods. Most of it was going to the dump, I intervened.
@@phonebackup8132 good for you that’s awesome. My comment was intended for the person who was reminded why he was annoyed by people with money. His attitude is a real virus. I don’t know why so many are upset with those of us who have accumulated wealth. I said us but I’m not wealthy at all but I am commited to this hobby.
when the wrx sti first came here my manager got one, I compliment him on the bbs wheels he said look closer dummy, I hadn't seen a sti outside of gran turismo in 2004 ,so I didn't think we could get them, I also had a coworker that went from a black 392 to a black hellcat, same thing, omg to see a hellcat stand on it in 2015 ,my poor 95 suburban was at a standstill
I am not sure and can not prove this one. But back in 1999 I purchased a set of Totem Acoustic Forest Speakers. Fairport Sound works in Rochester NY. The main driver at that time so I was told and even shown. Was the Legendary Dynaudio 6.5 Driver with 3" voice coil. Those speakers sound awesome. But last year I was talking with someone who sells Totems and I was informed that was not the case but a china knockoff modified by Totem. Which would mean when the forest was released, I believe in 1998 I purchased mine in 1999, they even put the Dynaudio logo on the driver because I was shown the internals. Again I can prove it, it was way long ago. Let me know if anyone out there is aware of this. I only had those for a couple years and parted ways with em. This is my story. ether-way they sounded great.
That’s funny but I’m sure true. I really enjoy listening to your stories and advice about stereo equipment. You keep going young man I’m sure you have a great future at what your are doing ! Good Luck ! At least you can tell your wife you just brought home from the shop !
Thanks Fabien! Appreciate the kind words and glad you are enjoying!
@@LennyFlorentine keep up the good work young man. I’m sure your parents are Proud of you !
I am surprised that a manufacturer has not introduced a line of components with the livery WAF.
Oh, my spouse hasn’t seen a hifi bill in ten years, and I’ve swapped hundreds of components 😂
Is the chassis chrome or polished stainless steel?!
So what is it they don't want to people to know?? Did I miss the punchline?
Change that to "what they don't want wives to know"
That's what my son told me to title it!
@@LennyFlorentine Hey your channel is excellent...But....an accurate video title always a blessing....just a suggestion :)
Hope our wives don’t sell all our stuff for what we told them we paid for it.
would you consider reviewing the McIntosh option in the 06 Ford gt,?
Such bull! So why doesn’t McIntosh want you to know this? Most people who buy expensive toys like McIntosh don’t need to hide it from anyone. They have the money and they spend it any way they want. If you really have to hide money from your spouse to buy an expensive toy, you either need to step up your game and make more money, or get another spouse.
You know what’ better than an MC275?
Having TWO in your system! 😊
Very true!
i have two je je je
So what exactly does McIntosh does not want you to know?
Picking up two MC30s today, sweet.
Very nice!
Not digging the sequential preamp tubes.
design language in hi-quality / hi-end consumer products is a foundation of long term success. form follows function & if the enterprise is wise (& lucky) that supports value (& price) as well as brand loyalty. McIntosh nailed that from the start & has kept at it - it's a big part of why it's still around today. I think sneaking new toys past the wife is an apocryphal story (physically swapping out same form-factor hardware easily would be as or more likely).
it's actually about the second order consequences of great design (+ great engineering, obviously) = great loyalty = great resale value. consider the Porsche 911, Rolex "Daytona", Apple iPhones, etc.
{btw, I really enjoy your enthusiasm (nuts about advertising brochures!), side-comments & all the deep-diving into classic / period audio... your honesty about aspects you are not certain about w/ some of the old fringe hw you stumble upon is notable... & somewhat rare on-line}
Form doesn’t get enough praise IMO, our brains are 50% emotion, 50% analytical, I truly believe if you have a beautiful piece of equipment that you are fond to look at while listening to music it stimulates the dopamine receptors leading to better enjoyment of the music more so than an ugly chunk of metal that may beat it out in raw technical abilities.
Solid State just doesn't have the warmth and depth of modern vacuum tube audio . In fact , some rare tubes such as the Western Electric 300B fetch as much as some your receivers so . Like 19 to 15 K .
Tried this and it became grounds for my divorce.
Mc was started in 1949. 73 years ago. Bad math.
Over 9 decades...
40s
50s
60s
70s
80s
90s
00s
10s
20s
And Marantz started in 1948 in my ages too. I still had Marantz 4072 it had pretty sounds No budget to buy mc.
I am not burdened with spousal acceptance factor.
I am also a lonely curmudgeon hermit devoid of human emotion, but i do Love my turntables, amps, preamps, receivers, records and speakers, lots of speakers.
Many couples have separate “mad money” accounts for this purpose. The biggest problem is the wife hating the aesthetics.
How about the McIntosh MC250 that seems to fly under the radar I'm baffled I own it and its beautiful sounding please remark its from 1971....
so what is it mac doesn't want us to know?
This is a theory only ….
American made, high quality amps ... but go with other brands like DCS, Accuphase and such for CD players, DAC's and such....