richieb Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 Have found a local sale for a pristine, hardly used Mac 2505 amp and C-26 pre with perfect walnut cases, $700 for the pair. What do ya think of the price and how will that pair with Belles? Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrot Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 Roger Russell had a big write-up on that preamp, that he designed. http://www.roger-russell.com/c26pg.htm Sounds like an excellent buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Songer Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 Cheap. Good. If you don't like them, you can turn them for a 50-75% profit in a heartbeat. The C26 was the first decent piece of SS gear McIntsoh built. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piranha Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 Have found a local sale for a pristine, hardly used Mac 2505 amp and C-26 pre with perfect walnut cases, $700 for the pair. What do ya think of the price and how will that pair with Belles? Rich That seems like dirt. Although I have never cared for the Mac sound, collectors for whatever reason gobble them up? Personally, I don't get it. But, if you need to try them, you can't lose on Mac gear pricewise. Sound quality on the other hand is where they fall short of other gear IMO. OK, flame away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrot Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 OK, flame away!Sorry, no flames allowed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnysal Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 that looks like great pricing for that equipment. Will you have a chance to listen to them, open them up? Assuming the things do not need major work I say pick them up, if you do not like the sound eventually and plan to upgrade you will be able to sell them for much more than you are planning on paying. I am one of those who DOES like the sound of McIntosh, SS and Tube, I think most people who have heard McIntosh equipment stay fans for life. IMHO the amps sound better than the preamps. At that price you cannot go wrong. Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richieb Posted March 18, 2006 Author Share Posted March 18, 2006 Did not get a chance to preview, now I am not sure I got such a good deal as I have never owned Mac before. I get quite a bit of hum when I turn the L-R channel gains up to about one-third. Is this normal? Don't sound right to me. My MOSFET integrated is stone cold silent. Hope I did not buy a pig in a poke. Any ideas? Thanks Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrot Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 The hum shouldn't be there, sorry. Sounds like another job for NOS Valves. Maybe it's something simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garymd Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 Paul's right. If you send them to Craig (or maybe a local tech?), he'll give them the once over and it could be as simple as good cleaning. Either way, you'll still come out ahead whether you keep them or not. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richieb Posted March 18, 2006 Author Share Posted March 18, 2006 Thanks Gary/Paul - I've got in narrowed down to the loudness control. On the C-26 it is labeled flat to the left and max to the right. I have not had a loudness control on any equipment for years but when I did it would either be flat or off. Here where it gets funny, at the flat setting is where there is most volume gain and the worst hum, at max setting is the least volume gain and no hum. I am confused. As I turn toward max nearly all the mids and highs are gone along with hum. At full flat all frequency is as they should be but with a lot of hum. Never seen a loudness control like this. Although once everthing is adjusted just so, it sounds pretty good. This is all connected to my second system, Corns, crappy wire and an older CD. But hum is hum no matter what it will connected to. The seller said he would take it back or pay for a tech but I am not sure it is worth the trouble. Whats an ignorant Mac guy supposed to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott0527 Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 It's not that great of a price. A little better than average. I think C26's usually go for $350 and 2505's go for $300 to $500. These are both solid state so Craig isn't going to touch them. Ok, wait, they have walnut cases. That makes it a little better deal. But I agree that at that price you're safe to buy them and give them a go. If you don't like them, you're not going to lose anything. Edit.... Good timing on my part. I see you already bought them. If they aren't working and the guy will take them back, I'd take him up on that offer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garymd Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 Sounds like an easy fix for a tech. If the seller will pay, find someone local and have them go through it. It'll probably cost less than $100 to fix and you might as well get the whole thing cleaned while you're at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrot Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 Actually, Craig will work on solid state if you sweet-talk him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 Contact Terry Dewick if you can not find someone local to repair them for you. He hangs out at the Audio Karma McIntosh section often and has an ad there with his contact information. Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilbert Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 Rich, if the cosmetic condition of the McIntosh is excellent, and you want to part with it, I might be interested. That is of course assuming you don't want to mess with it. If sugar lips Craig won't touch it, you may want to try the folks at AudioClassics instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dflip Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 Contact Terry Dewick if you can not find someone local to repair them for you. He hangs out at the Audio Karma McIntosh section often and has an ad there with his contact information. http://www.mcintoshaudio.com/dewick_repairs.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richieb Posted March 18, 2006 Author Share Posted March 18, 2006 Thanks guys for all your input - there is a long time Mac dealer in town who can have a look and from what eveyone has been saying it sounds like there is a problem. I am going to mull it over tonight. Gilbert, I'll let you know. Pisses me off when you think you have found a decent deal on equipment you've been wanting to try and then, problems. Course then again, my beautiful and described as "perfect" Oak/Cane Belles were picked up with blown tweeters. Now I wouldn't trade 'em for a million bucks, well, maybe a million and one!!!!!!! Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boomac Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 I think you ought to have them gone over and brought back up to spec. I can't imagine you would be sorry. I bought a MC2155 and a C29 and both had minor problems that I had taken care of. For less than $100 they perform like new. I love the the McIntosh sound with Klipsch and how can you resist those blue meters! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillH2121 Posted March 19, 2006 Share Posted March 19, 2006 I still use a C26 with my MC2102 - I plan to upgrade in the future but I've had that preamp for close to 30 years and it still checks out great. I think you'll be pleased when you get your Mc amp and preamp cleaned up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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