Power Amplifier - McIntosh MC2105

Ever since I bought my MC2050, I've wanted an MC2105. Yesterday was my lucky day. A gentleman in Torrance, CA was selling one on CraigsList for a good price, and this meant local pick-up, which is what I was waiting for. 


This is a beautifully-designed amplifier. Functionally, it's nearly the same as the MC2100, but where the 2100 is the "industrial" model - just the chassis and cage designed to hold the components and I/Os, the 2105 is what many people imagine when they think of a McIntosh power amplifier. Blue-green VU meters, simple yet elegant knobs and transparent lettering allowing the light to shine through the front panel glass.... ahhhh. Sorry - geeking out for a moment.


This particular unit sounds terrific as well. The left channel VU seems to be a little more sensitive than the right - not sure which one is correct, but I can get these calibrated if and when I decide to do so. A couple small scratches on the chrome, a little bubbling around the headphone jack, small abrasions on the cabinet - all very well-within my acceptance criteria. This one is a late serial number model, manufactured in 1976. It also came with all the provenance - the owners manual, service guide, brochure, and original McIntosh warranty card. Very cool. Yes, I'm pleased with myself. Please allow me to gloat.  Okay - done.


High-Res Photos HERE.


Have any experiences with a McIntosh MC2105 you'd like to share? Any photos? Please send 'em on in.

Power Amplifier - Yamaha P-2200

So why would I spend 20 minutes Photoshopping these photos but zero minutes cleaning the unit prior to taking the photos? Because I didn't buy this - only took these pics inside the garage of the estate sale property. There - mystery solved.

Why didn't I buy it? Because I had already expended my cash on speakers and a Cal Audio CD player. There. . .two mysteries solved.

How did it sound? They had it hooked up to an old (Phillips?) preamplifier and some vintage RSL speakers, so with that system it sounded fine. One of the meter bulbs was burnt out, some rack rash.

After coming home and reading up on these beasts it made me wish I would have dropped the Cal Audio CD player and grabbed this amp instead. Supposed to be a real workhorse.

Have any experience/stories about your Yamaha P-2200 power amplifier? Send 'em on in. Thanks.

What's it worth?
Good: $275
Fair: $200
As in photo: $200

Goodbye BOSE 1801

After three months or so of LOVING the idea of having a rare, vintage BOSE 1801 amplifier, I decided to sell it. Two weeks ago I took it to Brooks Berdan, LTD in Monrovia, CA and had them test it, replace a binding post, check to make sure all the diodes had been replaced by the previous owner. It tested fine - 260 wpc at .08% THD - well within the distortion spec and outside the wattage rating of 250 wpc. I was very pleased.

After running it last weekend, though, I was disappointed to find it didn't like the warm environment of the loft nor the confined space I had it in. The protection circuit kicked in after about six hours at moderate volume. Not bad, considering , but I knew I'd be worried about running it up there for any amount of time. So, not wanting to simply shelve the unit for any number of years until I can accommodate a better operating environment, I decided to let someone else enjoy it.

Ever experience a bittersweet moment of separation with any of your gear? Tell us about it. Misery, after all, loves company :)

Join the HiFiCollector.com forum and get in on the fun! New topics this week: Favorite vintage speakers, Favorite vintage receivers, lots more!

Click HERE to join.

Power Amplifier - Bose 1801

This is a truly beautiful beast. Eighty-two pounds and 250 wpc of pure 1970-something power. So far it sounds great. Looks good too for its age. . .better than the photographer anyway. I swapped out the Adcom GFA535 on the bench for this and BOY did that little guy sound anemic compared to this amp! I know, I know - all my preaching about there being no real difference in amp sound, yadda yadda. Double blind me - I dare ya!

Maybe I just WANT this to sound so much better because lifting it onto the work bench caused my L7 vertibrae to fly out of my spine like a spastic skeet and careen off the shop light.

More reports on this as time goes on. I believe this one deserves to be fully reconditioned. Your thoughts?

Power Amplifier - Nikko Alpha 220

Rescued this Nikko Alpha 220 power amplifier from a thrift store only to find it didn't work.

Protection light didn't come on, but my well-trained shnozz detected the faint but distinct odor of burning dust only moments into testing. Forty milliseconds later, a snap! followed by a mini mushroom cloud of white smoke errupted from the top near the aluminum heat sinks.

Determined to extract sound from this %#&*!!, I left it plugged in a moment longer. . .then silence - the type of deafening silence that only a dead amplifier can produce.

Neat looking though, ehe? Would have loved to see those funky VU meters dance to some Run DMC, Miami Sound Machine, or whatever the kids are listening to these days.

Power Amplifier and Preamplifier - McIntosh MC7270 and C31V

First off, I apologize for the stock photos, but mine look exactly like that - I swear! I'll replace these soon with a shot of the whole system after the tuner arrives next week.

This is a preliminary assessment of this 7270 power amplifier and the C31V preamplifier, as I've only listened to these for about two hours so far. I'm using the 7270 in place of my MC2100 which has served me well for about a year, powering my KEF 105.2. The other components in the lineup, the preamp, tuner, and CD player have been switched out several times over the last 12 months as I opted for more inputs, better CD sound, etc. (you know the drill). I am currently using a Conrad Johnson Sonographe CD player with these McIntosh components and it sounds fine.

Let me address the differences in sound between the MC2100 amp/Adcom GTP350 preamp combo that these new McIntosh units are replacing. There is very little "noticeable" difference. No, my hearing is fine - actually quite a bit above normal for my age according to my doctor. What's missing here? Why aren't I extolling the blatant superiority of the sound coming from this new gear over the old system? Because they both sound REALLY nice to me! And, the only way I'd be able to tell the difference between these two is if they had significantly different sonic characteristics, and quite frankly, those don't exist. Set up a blind listening test where you can instantly switch out the two sets of gear, and I could write volumes about the differences I hear. But - add setup time of 25 minutes between listening to the two systems, and my sonic memory fails me.

So, enough with comparing these two - how does the new McIntosh gear sound?!? It sounds wonderfully natural. The phono stage on the C31V has allowed me to rediscover vinyl, and I had a blast last Sunday morning listening to some of my favorite LPs, including "Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass - Whipped Cream and Other Favorites," and "Stan Getz - Getz/Gilbarto." Both of these were uncolored, very neutral. The percussion and horns of the Herb Alpert sounded spectacular - "live" but not forward. I was IN the studio with his band.

And hey, what's not to like about the looks of this gear? The C31V does not have a full glass face - only partial, with brushed aluminum along the bottom, but that's okay - it still has that futuristic retro-chic like it belongs on the set of Sin City. The Amp. . .masculine but pretty at the same time. Those huge, glowing watt/db meters. . .drool. Both of these units came to me by way of a Craigs List ad, and the seller may have more to unload some day. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! He kept these in immaculate condition, and we worked out a fair price which is always nice.

Still to come? For my second McIntosh system, I should have a McIntosh MX113 preamp/tuner on my doorstep when I get home this evening. This will go with the MC2100 amp. Then, next Wednesday, to replace the Pioneer tuner being used on the system described above, I've got an McIntosh MR7083 on its way. Yes, when I dive into something I go whole-hog. Speaking of hogs, I think it's time to replenish the old piggy bank!

Full system review coming soon after I get the new tuner installed.

Have any stories or photos of your McIntosh gear? Please leave a comment or send me an email.

Want to hook up your iPod to your vintage stereo? Visit my Audio Accessory Store for some great values!

HiFiCollector.com Mugs, Hats, T-Shirts! Come visit our store on CafePress!

Power Amplifier - Marantz 240

Picked up a rare, black-faced Marantz 240 power amplifier about six months ago, and my back hasn’t been the same since. But seriously, beyond its weight, this was a nice-sounding amplifier. At 120 watts per channel, it wasn’t a monster, but still packed enough power to impress the neighbors.

How did it sound? To me, and again, no opportunity for a side-by-side listening test, it sounded just fine. I was using a newer Adcom preamp with it, and those together worked quite well, sonically-speaking.

Have any stories or photos of your Marantz 240? Please leave a comment or send me an email.

Want to hook up your iPod to your vintage stereo? Visit my Audio Accessory Store for some great values!

BONUS - Here's a first-hand HiFiCollector.com reader's story about the Marantz 240. Thanks to Paul for sending this in!

Hi,

I saw your little posting from 2009 (!) about your Marantz 240.  Do you still own it?  

I worked at Superscope/Marantz in the 1970's, when the 240 was still part of the product line.  As an employee, I had the privilege of buying any Superscope/Marantz product at a 50% discount, but instead, I put together a 240 out of parts -- leftovers from the engineering department, replacement stuff from the parts department, and some parts (e.g., giant electrolytic capacitors) I found at the local electronics surplus place (Apex) near the old Marantz factory in Sun Valley.  The old thing has been working for the past 40+ years, but I have never really pushed it very hard.  What a shame, heh?  

These amplifiers had a sort of checkered reputation in the Marantz engineering department.  After the product was designed and shipped, the service department discovered that the "protection" circuit could fail in a way that would do more harm than good.  Also, in order to meet the specifications for distortion, etc. (which Marantz was very conscientious and forthright about), the output transistors needed to be matched for beta and something like Vbe.  So, at the factory, each transistor was tested on a curve tracer and color coded with drops of paint.  This added some hand work and expense to the assembly process.  The target retail price at that time was $1 per watt, and I think they met that target.  

The 240 was the only product that so blatantly displayed the "marantz" brand name on the front panel.  I like that, actually.  There wasn't a lot else to do with the space meant for the meters on the 250.  They added a little blue jewel light in the star.  Does your jewel light still work?  Adding level meters (on the 250) never made much sense to me.  If the amplifier were operated such that the meters would register anything but minimum levels, the speakers would be practically flaming. 

With my employee discount, I bought the official walnut veneer case for my Frankenstein 240.  Those boxes were elegant, but they, like the amplifier, had weaknesses.  In the owner's manual, the company sternly warned customers not to ship the amplifier inside its wooden case.  The reason was that the amplifier was so heavy (because of the massive power transformer) that the usual jostling by UPS would break the particle board pieces of the case that supported the amp.  I just recently applied another coat of Watco oil to the walnut veneer on my wooden case, and it really does clean up nicely!

Paul, Nevada City, California 

Power Amplifier - SAE 2200

I’ve always liked the looks of SAE gear. Their design is a good balance of bad ass and post-modern minimalist. Very industrial, very serious. I imagine they would fit perfectly in a sleek, futuristic, black-walled bachelor pad. You know the place – there’s a single, low-wattage bulb hanging from a bare wire in the corner above a brass sculpture of Orpheus that your ex-girlfriend made for you two weeks ago, right before you told her you’re life is just too complicated. The air is thick with the languid, subterranean tones of Bauhaus emanating from a pair of custom black lacquer Cerwin Vegas. Save for the red LEDs on the 2200, your SAE stack is camouflaged against the wall on the far side of the room. You sit and watch the crimson lights dance the tortured beat. Each ruptured pulsation of the woofers brings you one breath closer to insanity. “Bella Lugosi’s dead, undead undead undead. . .” Suddenly there’s a knock on the door. It’s the pizza guy, but you didn’t order a pizza. You pay for it anyway, sit back down on the futon, curl up a slice and take a bite. Anchovies. . . You hate anchovies, but Rebecca loved them. Ahhh, Rebecca. You take another bite, think about calling her, then stare back at the LEDs, those damn dancing LEDs.

How does it sound? Surprisingly cheerful! I only had this amp for a few weeks, and ended up trading it to some guy who collects all things SAE. He already had three of them in various stages of completion. The amp was fairly neutral as I recall. Nothing out of the ordinary. SAE started making these in 1978 and they were a respectable 100 watts per channel at 8 ohms. I never played Bauhaus through it, although I do remember a rousing rendition of Margaritaville on one of my test CDs sounding quite nice.

SAE, by the way, stands for Scientific Audio Electronics. They were founded in 1968 and taken over in 1985 by DAK electronics. DAK, in turn, folded in 1992 when its parent company went bankrupt. Don't you just love Wikipedia?

Here's some useful information the SAE 2200 from a guy who rebuilds them.

Have any photos or stories about your SAE 2200? Please leave a comment or email and I'll share them with the community.

Want to hook up your iPod to your vintage stereo? Visit my Audio Accessory Store for some great values!

HiFiCollector.com Mugs, Hats, T-Shirts! Come visit our store on CafePress!

Power Amplifier - Pioneer M-25

Yessir, the HiFiCollector.com community has started sending in photos, and this one comes from a collector just down the coast here in Orange County, CA. This fine beast is a Pioneer M-25 power amplifier. Rare, powerful, and beautiful. Since I didn't get any info on this, just a photos (not that there's anything wrong with that), I'm deferring to the experts on the InterWeb to fill in the details. You can read some great info on the Pioneer M-25 amp HERE and HERE.

If you have any photos or stories about your Pioneer M-25 or 20 series power amplifier, please leave a comment or send me an email.

Want to hook up your iPod to your vintage stereo? Visit my Audio Accessory Store for some great values!

Power Amplifier - McIntosh MC2100

So ugly, it's beautiful? Yeah, try convincing you wife of that when you tell her you had to place this on top of the entertainment center because it's too tall or too heavy to fit inside. Believe me, I've tried that argument. Continuing in the long line of marriage-busters that I've brought into the household, I present to you the McIntosh MC2100 power amplifier. This 57 pound beast presents a conservative 100 watts per channel of unchallenged, yummy sound. I've used this on three systems so far, and it's currently driving my KEF 105.2 speakers in the loft.

How does it sound? Well, I won't take the cheap shot of saying "It's a McIntosh. . .duh!" because, well, that's just not me. It sounds great to me, although I suspect this particular unit could need a tune-up. Time does strange things to capacitors and wiring, and even blockbusters like this tank need attention after 30 years. I found a place not too far away that will test it and bring it back to spec for about $300. We'll see how long it takes me to bring it in. Stay tuned.

If you have any stories or photos about your McIntosh MC2100, please leave a comment or send me an email.

Want to hook up your iPod to your vintage stereo? Visit my Audio Accessory Store for some great values!

Power Amplifier - Carver M-400a

I won't go into too many details as you can read a great little write-up of this Carver M-400a amplifier HERE. Suffice to say if ROCKS! I'm not a huge Carver audio fan - mainly because most of the vintage carver units I pick up have serious issues. Most of these issues involve the switches and buttons and the terrors of oxidation. I'd be curious to hear whether people living far away from an ocean have the same trouble with connections on switches and buttons. Hey - that's what the comment field is for :)

How does it sound? I'm going by memory here because I haven't plugged this in for about a year, but I remember being pleasantly surprised by how clean this little cube is. I have a Carver "The Receiver 800" too, and that doesn't have quite the punch that this fellow does.

If you have any photos or stories about your Carver M-400a, please leave a comment or send me an email.

Want to hook up your iPod to your vintage stereo? Visit my Audio Accessory Store for some great values!

Power Amplifier - Conrad Johnson SA150

The SA150 shown here with its companion SC22 Preamplifier, were part of the Conrad Johnson Sonographe series. Here's a good example of where I need the vintage audio community's help to supply information on these. I traded a couple of pairs of speakers for this nice set, and love the sound, but know very little about Conrad-Johnson other than the company makes quality gear.

How does it sound? Very clean, uncolored, nice with all kinds of music. Seems like many of my amps sound this way on first impression, but some - like some of my Carver models - don't retain those qualities for me as I continue to listen to them. Listener fatigue can set in early and often for me if I don't like a particular component. It happened with one of my Pioneer Elite PD-65 CD player which sounded so thin to me that it continually left me wanting more . . .notes, sound, dynamics - something! But I digress, the SA150 and the SC22 were perfectly paired, and although they didn't represent the flagship of the Conrad-Johnson line for their day, were certainly contenders for design quality and attention to what matters most - the sound.

If you have any photos, or more information on the Sonographe Series by Conrad Johnson, please leave a comment or email me.

Want to hook up your iPod to your vintage stereo? Visit my Audio Accessory Store for some great values!

Preamplifier - Phase Linear 4000

These units needed help. Tuns out, a previous owner has Frankensteined parts from other units into both the PL4000 and its companion PL400 power amplifier. The new owner of these, a collector of vintage Phase Linear equipment, is fixing them now. Bob Carver founded Phase Linear in 1970. You can read the full Phase Linear story HERE.

If you have any pictures, stories, or video clips of your Phase Linear 4000 or Phase Linear 400 units, please leave me a comment or send me an email.

Want to hook up your iPod to your vintage stereo? Visit my Audio Accessory Store for some great values!