McIntosh MC2100
mulveling
Posts: 505
Another vintage 60's amp, another excellent match for my Tannoys 
The MC2100 is unusual for SS in that is uses output transformers, just like a tube amp. Rated at 105 Watts/ch, but said to beat that rating, as is typical for McIntosh. This amp has a different skill-set than the Heathkit W4A's. It ROCKS on bass and sheer musical power. Mids & highs are superb; almost as sweet as the Heathkits but not quite there. Any kind of sound that goes "thwack" or "thump" hits with a sheer force I'd not known these Tannoys were capable of. Mind you, they're no lightweights with 10" woofers (and superb engineering all around), but I've only heard this level of palpable, weighty dynamics on much larger speakers before (think Thiel CS 7.2).
I wonder if I bi-amped with the 'tosh down low and Heathkit up high, if it would be the best amp I'd had by a significant margin That little test will have to wait for later, while I continue to enjoy each amp separately.
Before, with the modern hifi amps, everything was super except for the actual flow of the music. The Heathkits showed me what it was like to open up the flow on the upper half of the spectrum, and now the McIntosh for the lower half. These results may by quite specific to my speakers; I've read the TD10s have a somewhat unusual impedance curve (nominal 8 ohms but all the way down to 2 at one point).
The vintage total is now just $1000 ($450 Heathkit, $550 McIntosh) for 4ch of superb quality amplification; can't complain about that one bit
It was just way too much money, even used, for the Sunfire ($2000), then the JC1's ($3800), then the VACs ($3500)...wish I could have those transactions' costs back
Pics:
Dusty, crusty, and a bit rusty, but still lookin' good overall:
The MC2100 is unusual for SS in that is uses output transformers, just like a tube amp. Rated at 105 Watts/ch, but said to beat that rating, as is typical for McIntosh. This amp has a different skill-set than the Heathkit W4A's. It ROCKS on bass and sheer musical power. Mids & highs are superb; almost as sweet as the Heathkits but not quite there. Any kind of sound that goes "thwack" or "thump" hits with a sheer force I'd not known these Tannoys were capable of. Mind you, they're no lightweights with 10" woofers (and superb engineering all around), but I've only heard this level of palpable, weighty dynamics on much larger speakers before (think Thiel CS 7.2).
I wonder if I bi-amped with the 'tosh down low and Heathkit up high, if it would be the best amp I'd had by a significant margin
That little test will have to wait for later, while I continue to enjoy each amp separately.Before, with the modern hifi amps, everything was super except for the actual flow of the music. The Heathkits showed me what it was like to open up the flow on the upper half of the spectrum, and now the McIntosh for the lower half. These results may by quite specific to my speakers; I've read the TD10s have a somewhat unusual impedance curve (nominal 8 ohms but all the way down to 2 at one point).
The vintage total is now just $1000 ($450 Heathkit, $550 McIntosh) for 4ch of superb quality amplification; can't complain about that one bit
It was just way too much money, even used, for the Sunfire ($2000), then the JC1's ($3800), then the VACs ($3500)...wish I could have those transactions' costs back
Pics:
Dusty, crusty, and a bit rusty, but still lookin' good overall:
Tannoy Dimension TD10, SOTA Star Sapphire, Heathkit W4A's, McIntosh MC2100, Eddie-Current Zana Deux, Singlepower SDS, Sennheiser HD650, Audio-Technica L3000, Sony Qualia 010
Post edited by mulveling on
Comments
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Added pics to first post.Tannoy Dimension TD10, SOTA Star Sapphire, Heathkit W4A's, McIntosh MC2100, Eddie-Current Zana Deux, Singlepower SDS, Sennheiser HD650, Audio-Technica L3000, Sony Qualia 010
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That is so cool looking.Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
Thanks
Ben -
Yeah, I like it too though the see-through cage takes some getting used to...SS wasn't made to be looked into, though I guess back then transistors were more of a novelty to look atThat is so cool looking.
Now the McIntosh tube amps in this type of chassis (225, 240, 275) are a work of art for sure.Tannoy Dimension TD10, SOTA Star Sapphire, Heathkit W4A's, McIntosh MC2100, Eddie-Current Zana Deux, Singlepower SDS, Sennheiser HD650, Audio-Technica L3000, Sony Qualia 010 -
I can see a 275 in your near future!
The glass is calling."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
One of the reasons I went for the 2100 is because it's relatively inexpensive (especially compared to its original MSRP), and thus seems to be under-valued in the vintage McIntosh lineup. The tube amps, vintage and reissue, are all so expensive! I'd love to own them at one point, but probably not until I have a lot more money to play with (then again, I've previously made similar claims that were quickly broken...). Now if I could go back in time and get back all that money I've lost on amps, I'd have a 275 on its way right now :cool:sucks2beme wrote: »I can see a 275 in your near future!
The glass is calling.Tannoy Dimension TD10, SOTA Star Sapphire, Heathkit W4A's, McIntosh MC2100, Eddie-Current Zana Deux, Singlepower SDS, Sennheiser HD650, Audio-Technica L3000, Sony Qualia 010 -
Looks great. I hope you've had it recapped, right?
I'm hoping to get back into McIntosh great soon, although I'm aiming a little heavier to properly motivate my 1.2TLs. Anyone have an MC2300 they wanna toss my way? -
As far as I know this is a bone stock unit that has not been recapped. Pretty impressive and a tribute to McIntosh engineering, buy yeah I do worry about those old caps. I'm strongly considering sending it off to Terry Dewick for checkup, probable recap, and various cosmetic & other minor repairs...but of course that means being without it for awhileJohn in MA wrote: »Looks great. I hope you've had it recapped, right?
I'm hoping to get back into McIntosh great soon, although I'm aiming a little heavier to properly motivate my 1.2TLs. Anyone have an MC2300 they wanna toss my way?
Geez, this thing sounds like it has enough juice to power a nuclear sub, but then my TD10's are 91db sensitive. I'm lucky that I don't need no mo power, and I can get away with a bargain like this Tannoy Dimension TD10, SOTA Star Sapphire, Heathkit W4A's, McIntosh MC2100, Eddie-Current Zana Deux, Singlepower SDS, Sennheiser HD650, Audio-Technica L3000, Sony Qualia 010 -
That is in beautiful shape!
FYI, it's basically a 2105 without meters."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche -
nice looking amp. is that all they go for, around $500
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They usually go for more than that, he got a nice deal.
You can pick up it's baby brother, the MC-250, for $500 or less."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche -
by the way face, what kind of speakers did you settle on. the infinity 2b's i had went to a guy out west. he was very happy with them.
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I picked up a pair of recently re-coned Tannoy HPD-385's in Arden cabinets. Since I picked them up, I've recapped the crossovers, rewired the cabinets, and added a little polyfill, all yielding nice improvements. I'm still looking for a pair of D700/900's though."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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I can pick up one of those MC2100's locally for under $300 but it's not in near nice of shape although not awful. The bad thing is that it's missing one of the "0" in the MC2100 model number. But I will say that my Mac 1900 receiver at 55wpc sounds great on the Klipsch Heresy's. They are a very good combo.
Great looking amp you have there...Richard? Who's your favorite Little Rascal? Alfalfa? Or is it........................Spanky?.................................Sinner. -
My MC2100 is currently packed up and ready to go to Terry DeWick (McIntosh certified repair center) for a basic refresh. His standard service includes a cleaning, check-up, and replacement of old electrolytic caps with Nichicon Muse for $150...sounds like a bargain to me, of course I'll have to eat shipping both ways.
Heh, it took me a couple hours of packing (and probably a few hundred calories) before I was satisfied that it would withstand Fedex shipment. I've always felt it's best to err on the side of paranoia in shipping audio gear.Tannoy Dimension TD10, SOTA Star Sapphire, Heathkit W4A's, McIntosh MC2100, Eddie-Current Zana Deux, Singlepower SDS, Sennheiser HD650, Audio-Technica L3000, Sony Qualia 010 -
Rene, please take your ad to Audiogon, it's not allowed to sell anything here if you have under 100 posts."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
