GregJD Posted March 23, 2005 Share Posted March 23, 2005 Hi, I am looking at buying a Mcintosh MC250 or MC 2105 old solid state amp to use with my klipschorns, 1987 models. Does anyone have experience with this set-up along with any thoughs? I am now using an old H K Citation 19 that sounds pretty good. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elydaman Posted March 23, 2005 Share Posted March 23, 2005 This is going to sound really dumb....here goes, Does Mac still make amps? If they do, do they still produce Tube gear? If not, then that would explain why there is so high intrest in the vintage gear. If they don't, what happened, they were the popular benchmark in "High end" amps. I just don't have the time to stay in tuned with all the great knowledge that this forum supplies...wish I did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Bell Posted March 23, 2005 Share Posted March 23, 2005 You don't need the power of a 2105. I've used a 2105 with Klipschorns but it's really overkill. You probably won't use more than one half watt most of the time. Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill H. Posted March 23, 2005 Share Posted March 23, 2005 Try this link......... http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-MAN Posted March 23, 2005 Share Posted March 23, 2005 I hardly ever go up to a watt on the meters. No kidding. Mc + horns is GOOD. DM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregJD Posted March 23, 2005 Author Share Posted March 23, 2005 How did you like the sound of the 2105 with klipschorns? Thanks, Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dflip Posted March 23, 2005 Share Posted March 23, 2005 They still make tube, ss and ht compatable amps and receivers. The big advantage of the older, vintage equipment is the price compared to the newer equipment. I remember going into the upper rooms at Bay Bloor Audio in Toronto and looking at the McIntosh SS amps and could only drool at the prices, I think $3000 and up, and that was back in the early 80's. My pair of MC-30's were $1600 Cdn and available locally. Some of the reviews of the newer tube amps are not as favourable as the older equipment, this also will influence the decision making process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillH2121 Posted March 23, 2005 Share Posted March 23, 2005 GJD - I've got a MC2125 (120 watts and meters)with mahogany cabinet in excellent condition for $975. Email me if your interested or visit AudioGon and look at the photos with the ad. And yes - vintage Mac SS sounds great with Klipsch and my new Mac tube amp (100 watts) sounds fantastic with my RF7s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBrennan Posted March 23, 2005 Share Posted March 23, 2005 Molotky's Khorn rig uses SS Macs and sounds superb. Back in the 1960s, 70s and 80s Khorns with SS Mac and Crown were not uncommon, there must be thousands of those setups out there. The thing is, those guys are contentedly listening to music and not posting here like us idiots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audible Nectar Posted March 23, 2005 Share Posted March 23, 2005 YES. Old Mac solid state sounds very good on Klipsch. I use 250's in the theater (Cornwalls). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mungkiman Posted March 23, 2005 Share Posted March 23, 2005 Another resounding YES! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LonestarBlues Posted March 24, 2005 Share Posted March 24, 2005 Mcintosh solid state & Klipsch Heritage are like peanut butter & jelly, a match made in heaven. They sound very good together in my opinion. I own 1977 Cornwalls & 1983 Cornwalls. My Mcintosh MC 7150 SS autoformer amp-1991 vintage paired with a Mcintosh C 38 SS preamp-1999 vintage sound very good to my ears. I used to run all 4 Cornwalls with the Mac amp, Mac preamp & a 31 band 1/3 octave pro gear equalizer. I liked the surround sound from a 2 channel rig-room 25'-L x 19'-W x 8'-T. I have since moved to 2 separate SET amp systems with each pair of Cornwalls. As much as I like my Mcintosh gear, the SET systems sound better to my ears. Mcintosh & Klipsch was gear I lusted over as a teenager & in my 20's when I could not afford either. Used Mcintosh-preamp from Audio Consultants in Chicago and the amp from Sound Labs in Palentine, Illinois got me my Mcintosh in 1999. Bought my 1977 birch Cornwalls from a guy in San Antonio. He introduced me to tube gear when I auditioned his Cornwalls. First time I had ever heard tubes was at his casa-house. Liked what I heard and prefer tubes with Klipsch Heritage though I could easily live with SS Mac gear. Mac gear sounds very good with a veritable plethora of speakers. I still own & use the Mac amp though it is in the bullpen right now. I own a Lubbock, Texas made Llano Phoenix CAS 300/VA2 mosfet/tube hybrid amp- Class A, 2 gain stages, no negative feedback-uses 6SN7,6SL7 & 12SN7 tubes in the voltage section of the amp. The Llano amp sounds better to my ears with the Cornwalls or my JBL LX 55's or my Advents. Just doesn't have that purty retro black glass faceplate with the very useful blue meters. I use either the Llano amp or the Mac amp in my third system with the Mac preamp. The Llano amp is more extended in dynamic range-has much deeper bass response and has more extended highs-treble which are smooth & non strident with either amp. Midrange is smooth with both amps. If you don't want to mess with tubes, Mac gear is a no brainer and will sound great with Klipsch in my opinionated opinion. YMMV and all that. I took my JBL's out-92 db efficient and hooked up my 2nd generation 1980 New Large Advents-89 db efficient to the Llano amp & Mac preamp. The Llano amp is 300 watts x2 @ 8 ohms & 600 watts X 2 @ 4 ohms. Very different sonics from Cornwalls-a low efficient acoustic suspension speaker. But still good sonics to my ears. Paul Wilbur Klipsch and Henry Kloss-Advent owner/designer were diametrically opposed in speaker design. But each were a genius in my opinion in their respective speaker designs and the resulting sonics. Just the ramblings from an opinionated Texan. Regards, Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnysal Posted March 24, 2005 Share Posted March 24, 2005 I used a McIntosh SS integrated amp with my klipschorns for quite a while, they sounded great. they used almost no power judging by the meters but they sounded great none-the-less. the 250 is highly recommended. tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted March 24, 2005 Share Posted March 24, 2005 I'm currently running my Khorns with a MAC1900 receiver. Sounds great to my ears... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptnBob Posted March 24, 2005 Share Posted March 24, 2005 A dissenting viewpoint - vintage Mac solid state gear does sound great with Klipsch heritage. I think the Mc 2505 and Mc 2125 are among the best looking amps ever made. That said, I wouldn't be surprised if the HK sounds better - or at least would be a "wheel spin." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Good2BHome Posted March 24, 2005 Share Posted March 24, 2005 I use a McIntosh C-33 Pre-Amp and a MC-2505 50watts(Original owner of the MC-2505) and have been very happy. Tubes are a little better, but ..... Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Posted March 24, 2005 Share Posted March 24, 2005 YES, even tubophiles think ss Macs are good with big ole horns! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidmack Posted March 24, 2005 Share Posted March 24, 2005 I too run a 2100 and 2105 between my Cornwalls, LaScalas, and Heresys. I've been known to get the meters moving a little on the 2105 (I think my neighbors hate me), but 100 watts is more than my ears could ever handle. Just a side note: I think the 2105 and 2100 are a little noisey at idle. I try to run more gain from my preamp than from the amp to minimize this, but the horns will bring out the noise more on the amp than other speaks I've run on them. Anyone else agree or disagree? Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ctiger2 Posted March 24, 2005 Share Posted March 24, 2005 I use MC30's and an MC2505 w/my '80 Khorns and the sound is downright glorius. I imagine this is how music would sound in heaven... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted March 25, 2005 Share Posted March 25, 2005 Ditto! I agree SS Macs (new or vintage) sound absolutely fantastic with horn-loaded Klipsch loudspeakers. I owned an early '90s MC7200, borrowed my brother's classic MC2100, and simply cherished ownership of my classic MC250 with my '79 Cornwalls. If I hadn't gone the SET route with my latest 300B power amp, I'd still have my favorite MC250, connected directly to my CD player, using the Mac's gain controls soley as volume and balance to my Cornwalls. To my ears (and to quite a few Klipschers here), a SS McIntosh is the closest thing to the warm tube sound without the valves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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