Good idea to swap McIntosh amp stock tubes?
Having experienced a blinking red light issue with a Macintosh amplifier, I replaced the small tubes and for now seems to be fine
I have heard that mac stock tubes are used as part of the design process of the amplifier and the recommendation is not to swap the tubes with something else. The rationale is the amplifiers don't need tube modifications to alter the sound which has already been optimized. Tube amplifiers that reflect sound changes when tube swapping occurs may not be designed very well. you shouldn't need to change out the tubes to improve sound of your amplifier.
Further because McIntosh amplifiers are so sensitive with all their built-in circuits that sense all kinds of voltage irregularities and power irregularities and tube irregularities, it may be risky to use tubes not designed for the amp. McIntosh does not support using any tubes other than those that were designed for the amplifier.
Interested in what people think about swapping out tubes for McIntosh amplifier and I'm talking about small tubes primarily right now. Do you really note changes that enhance the amplifier if you do swap out tubes? Is it a good idea to not use stock tubes?
@facten + 1 Tubes changing the sound of an amp has nothing to do with how well the amp is designed. It's just a fact. If an amp uses 300B tubes for example, and it sounds the same whether you're using $400/pair Gold Lions or $1400/pair Western Electric, I would suggest that there is a problem with that amp's design. |
Is anyone experiencing very sensitive red lighting when it comes to McIntosh amplifiers? I’ve experienced red light blinking and constant red light conditions and both times I replaced all the small tubes and this solved the problem. I’m told if I use NOS tubes and because of their age they may be unpredictable and cause problems with the very sensitive circuitry of McIntosh amplifiers. I’m not sure Mac supports using these for fear they would damage the unit but they really don’t explain why that is. I am kind of concerned that the quality of stock tubes used by McIntosh which are JJ I guess. they may not be of good quality, I've never heard anybody say anything good about them, and maybe I could be doing better. Having all these red light conditions occur I don’t think is healthy for the circuit boards. I bought McIntosh amplifiers so I could avoid these problems. |
Maybe you just need to contact McIntosh and ask what may be causing these repeated red light conditions given you state that they only recommend the tubes (brand) that come with the amp, yet you are concerned that the quality of the brand, meaning reliability, isn’t good (I think they are mediocre sonically) . Net net, find out from them if it’s a tube issue or if it is an amp issue since you state it's a recurring issue
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I have a MR-71 McIntosh tube tuner from 1962. Had it for years was completely gone thru by an authorized McIntosh service , Cornell in Phoenix he's been doing it for years , has all the parts , etc. It sounds superb and has all the original tubes far as I can tell. I know he didn't replace any of them. I would never consider changing them and if one burned out I'd replace it with another O.E. tube if I could find one. |
