Mac 275 questions........

Funny you should ask! I am planning to write an update and later a review. Doing that later today (while I listen). Some very satisfying aspects of the 275 and some not so satisfying (compared to the ASL Hurricanes). Overall.....quite happy!

Rick (RWD)

Well it's been at least 5 weeks with one McIntosh MC-275 amp in my system and now I have, for over a week, installed the second one and I now have two mono MC-275's. So let me share my experience.

I'll cut to the chase and say that one mono amp is very similar to two. One 275 (rated at 75wpc) is powerful. Two 275's @ 150 wpc is more powerful. What do I hear? In a word "relaxed". A little more control but a bit more relaxed overall.

My comments of the 275 therefore will be generally a comparison of one (1) 275 (2-sounds pretty much the same with the additions above) versus the ASL Hurricanes DT 200.

Here are the pluses of the Mac over the Canes:

First- I got my mid bass (and bass) back in spades. One of my complaints with that the Hurricane amp was that it had a higher sensitivity compared to my other electronics. I wrote in my review of the Hurricanes: "The sensitivity of the Hurricanes was much higher than my previous ARC amp and therefore, I needed to fool around with the controls on my Infinity crossover to boost the output of the bass columns. The higher sensitivity made amplification of moving coils much easier, but seemed to be bright ,a bit edgy and the upper bass/mid-bass was missing. However, I was struck, immediately, with a new unveiled sound that spread instruments wider across the stage with much more clarity than before."

I am not an engineer nor a tech so what I may be explaining to you may not, in fact, be the reality. However, with the Mac in my system it mated better with my Aesthetix Calypso and reintroduce better mid bass and bass. How this could happen and be, since my bass columns are driven by a separate amp, I am not sure. I'm just the reported.

Second- The Mac is very clear and solid. It is there in your face. There is no drift or sway and it makes you feel like the amp runs at more power then rated.

Third- It is silent. And this is a tube amp? Wow.......

Now here are the ASL's pluses:

First- Stage width with the Mac is good. With the ASL it is great. The ASL add 5-7 more (imaginary) feet per side to the orchestra

Second- The ASL Hurricanes seemed more delicate and cleaner. Less colored? Maybe?

So here I am sitting with my system, enjoying my music and the biggest plus of all (Mac vs ASL) is that I AM LISTENING.
The Mac's have been on without a hitch. Knock on wood. However, just the feel makes me certain that the Mac's are far better in construction (far) then the ASL.

Remember, however, ASL has come up with a better Hurricane and I have not heard it or seen it but I must believe it has to be more reliable then the original. I just could no longer live with break downs with hurricanes.

Finally, if anyone is thinking of a Mac I say "YES". It is quite a wonderful amp with some character and style and plenty of power. And it keeps on running.......

P.S. I have not yet listened to the Mac with better KT88's or x7's or t7's which I plan to as I expect this would provide an overall better sound.

Rick (RWD)

I probably use the stock tubes initially. I plan to speak with Neil (Nsgarch)about some tube rolling.
Keep me posted on the pre-amp and amp!

Hey Neil, I was going to purchase some tubes at New Sensor....perhaps we should talk off line? Their new Gold Lions 88 are not that good. Where did you get your tubes?
And thanks for all your support and help!

RWD (Rick)

I wanted to respond to everyone since I was the original author of this thread. I have been listening to one Mac 275 for 3 weeks now. I am getting the other 275 installed this weekend. I hope to report to all of you the outcome.
There certainly is a difference between the Mac275 (one) and the ASL Hurricanes. Some pluses and some minus.
Hold tight and let me do some listening Saturday and Sunday (before the game) and I will report to you all.

Rick (RWD)

Hi Neil, Thanks for the response. Which tubes are you referring to...the KT88's? What do you recommed? I have someone who works in NY for a tube dealship so I might be able to get some new tubes at a savings. Your comments are valuable!

Neil, thanks for the heads-up with regard to tubes on the 275. However, this is the first time that I have heard of failures (tubes blow up) from McIntosh? I totally agree that better tubes will probably improve (change?) the sound but I hope I am not going from the frying pan into the fire? That's the reason I am loosing the Hurricanes.....amp failures.

RWD (Rick)

Yes Chiroman, we will have to compare our finding when we get both amps up and running. My 1st map will be in this Saturday (Jan 5th). The second should be in a week or so latter. This will give me some time to evaluate the 1 versus 2 amps etc.
What are your amps driving?

RWD (Rick)

Gene, just click on (system) by my name (RWD).

Rick

Thanks Neil for the advice on tubes. Lapierre and all I also expect one amp this Saturday so I will keep all posted!!!

Just an update....the Mac's are in but I am only using one so far. I want to get a good understanding of whay one can do and then put them in mono. Hold tight!

Rick (RWD)

OK all you technicians and amp designers a question. I am here sitting and listening to "Mallets, Melody & Mayhem" a great percussion record (thanks to the great Sid Marks) and I am hearing stupendous bass from my woofer towers now that I have my new Mac 275's running. This is better then when I had the ASL Hurricanes. My question is the Hurricanes and the Mac's are only driving the top end of my Infinity's not the bass columns??? Is it really a sensitivity issue?

Any answers or suggestions as to why the beautiful bass is back in full swing?

Anyone? No one to answer? Sorry if my question is confussing. Perhaps I should try a new Thread. This is an interesting question. No?

"With new amps on the top end of my system (Infinity RS1-B's) I am getting more and better bass from my system then with my ASL Hurricans. However, my bass columns are being driven by a Perreaux 3150B amp that's still in the system. How can an amp on the top affect the sound of the lower range???"

Correct, Neil.

How can a change in amps (McIntosh 275 vs ASL Hurricanes) result in a dramatic improvement in the bass when they are not even driving the bass columns. It's a Perreaux 3150B that's assigned to that duty. Someone suggest the sensitivity of the top and bottom amps were not matched. But I just don't get it?

Just an update.

I have changed all my 12AX7's in the Mac 275 to "used" Telefunken 12AX7's and the change was really noticeable. OK Neil, you can say it..."told you so"! Hah!

Anyway, the sound is cleaner, yet more delicate (or is ti more air around the instruments?). I have on order some Telefunkens 12AT7's and then I will replace the KT88's with probably the Gold Lions.
Just an update!!

Rick (RWD)