Original Mac Mc275 Refurb/Future "Retro Demo" With DCHFG

[John Gatski President/Founder]

Hey DC Hi-fi'ers:

  Update on my original early 1960s McIntosh Mc275. Bill Thalman at Music Technology in Springfield, Va. has completed the recap/retubing of my Mc275 that I have owned for nearly 30 years. I originally rescued it from the basement of a co-workers girlfriend in Rockville. It had been abandoned by the original owner, complete with original manual, 1964 Mac catalog and the original Mac-labeled Tungsol KT88's. It worked without doing a thing back then, but Brett Mullens replaced some of the caps in 1997. I played it. as-is ,for many years until Mr. Thalman's refurb a few months ago.
  For those unfamiliar, the 75 wpc (150 mono) Mc275 was considered a powerful tube amp in its day and was manufactured in the original edition designup to 1973. It was brought back in the 1990s and has undergone several versions with additional features and PCB build, as opposed to the point to point wiring of the original. The stereo amp sounds good — with uncomplicated two ways, especially stand speakers. The amp utilized familiar tubes per channel, including the powerful KT88/6550,12AX7, 12AU7, 12AZ 7 and 12BH10. It used a solid-state rectifier and sported a set of controls that allowed u to run in a more powerful mono mode and use it as a standalone amp/preamp, via passive attenuator and separate balance control. The screw-strip, speaker connections made it hard to use big cable, but I eventually added screw-to-banana plug adapters that work just fine in its array of variable load terminals.
   The newer Mc275s are a bit quieter and have such modern features as XLR and five-way binding posts, but the essential sound is there. The original was considered a top-class tube amp that costs nearly $450 in 1961, and has held its value accordingly. I often see a good shape original edition go for more than a newer one. I have seen a few advertised at $9 grand in perfect condition. (I wont tel you how much I paid for my used one back in 97). Stay tuned, I will be posting some updated Mc275 impressions via the DCHFG Forum — with various speakers including MartinLogan electrostatics, JBL 4309s, Amphion Argons and Lipinski 505’s. Also planning a DCHFG “Retro Demo” of the mighty Mc275 at one of of our upcoming meetings. If you have an Mc275 stories, let us hear them.