2. amps-preamps
  3. 1127592013

Advice for a tube newbie: McIntosh MC275

Just bought my first tube piece. I went for the MC275 re-issue because of all the great reviews and dealer recommendations especially from dealers who do not carry the McIntosh line. Got a SMOKING deal as well so I had to go for it. So now I have this thing arriving on Tuesday and I have no idea what I'm going to do with it. Any advice would be appreciated.

My current system:

McIntosh MHT200 HT receiver
McIntosh MVP851 for DVD/CD
B&W Nautilus 804 and HTM2 fronts and SCM1 rears
MIT Magnum 3 speaker cable
Synergistic Designer reference interconnects

The options I came up with were:

OPTION 1: Use the MC275 to power Left and Right channels through the MHT200 connecting to the 804s via the MIT Magnum 3 cables. I have no idea what interconnects to run between the MHT and the MC so any advice here will be helpful.

OPTION 2: Run the MC275 as a seperate ZONE B system with different speaker cable into the 804s.

OPTION 3:Use the MC275 with my iPod and the SCM1 as a 2nd bedroom system.

OPTION 4: Sell off the MHT200 and center rear speakers and go buy a pre-amp and stick to 2 channel music only.

My musical taste runs almost excusively to Baroque opera and instrumental, especially solo harpsichord. Any other options would be appreciated as well. Thank you.
pookie10
theo's avatar
theo
2,659 posts
 
Option two makes the most sense to me. You're out fom some more cables but that is it. Also you will have the advantage of having both SS and Tube for a change, by switching from Zone A to B, from time to time. As Certs used to advertise "It's Two..Two systems in one!"
bigjoe's avatar
bigjoe
693 posts
 
im with theo,option 2 seems the easiest way to explore tubes,if you really must get into high end cables tributaries are fairly nice cables without breaking the bank.

from my experience's mac gear dont respond very well to different types of cabeling,ive tried a few different types of high $ interconnects with my mac gear & the differences(if any)were so small it wasnt really worth the added expense.

mike
tumbler
93 posts
 
My MC-275 runs the fronts of an MX-119 based HT system. It drives a pair of Totem Mani-2s. Quite an experince. I also run a REL Stadium III sub. Enjoy the Mac! BTW, I used to run the same set-up with an MHT-100 and an MC-252 for the fronts.
unclejeff
1,313 posts
 
Sounds like you are in for lot of fun. Be very careful on how creative you get with all of the possibilities. For instance, assuming the amp has both balanced and unbalanced inputs, don't get so impulsive that you start using them for direct access to the amp by other components while depending on the little switch at the back of the amp to go from one (balanced) to the other (unbalanced).
beemer
444 posts
 
I like option 4. Having been through the HT thing, and always being disappointed with the quality of 2 channel sound, I went back. I run my DVD player's digital output through my DAC, and movies sound great. No need for all those speakers for an occasional surround effects IMHO.

As to the 275, you will be more than happy. It's a great sounding amp! A good friend has BAT D5SE CD player into BAT VK50SE preamp into a pair of 275's strapped mono into the new B&W 802D speakers. This system to me sounds absolutely fantastic.

Good luck regardless of what you do.

Best,

Paul :-)
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