Does a McIntosh 2100/2105 amp makes sense today

Hello!

As per the title... I keep looking at a good amp, and, of course, McIntosh name and fame are very attractive.

However, financially I cannot reach the new generation, neither the tube "big boys", but I've seen their
first generation integrated amps at digerable prices.

But they're 50 years old, different connections than today's standards, no protection for speakers, and the '90s to current day market has a plethora of options, in the same price range, both tube and integrated.

So? Does buying something like this worth it (especially sonically)?

Thank you!

 

No personal experience, but I’ve heard that McIntosh make really good hi fi equipment. YMMV.

 

No experience with them, but the name and vintage alone makes them desirable. I think they would have to be considered more for their collectability and cachet than their sound quality. I would think they could be easily bested by more modern gear, but I know there are many that are convinced that the old stuff is better. Either way, be prepared to have them gone through.

 

I'm using a Mac C 28 preamp with a 2505 amp and they make wonderful music together. I play mostly albums but from time to time I will play CD's. I don't find them lacking sonically at all even with their age. I can't speak to modern Mac gear so maybe others will be able to give you more info.

 

I had an MC2505 with an MX112 tuner preamp for over 20 years. The amp was nothing special, no balls and no excitement. Dull but reasonably clear. The preamp hissed if the gain on the amp was more than halfway up. I’m not sure either would have benefited much from the tune up and recap job they were in desperate need of.
But yeah, looked real hip on the equipment rack. Friends thought it was just fabulous America made anything like that still.

 

Many are in daily use and enjoyed by serious audio enthusiasts worldwide. Product support is readily available from any number of Mc specialists throughout the US and many other countries. In terms of resale value, few manufacturers come close which means you can enjoy for many years and still recoup most or all of your original investment. In that regard, nothing makes better sense than to own McIntosh in excellent condition IMHO.

Not sure why the suggestion is being made why the connections are different for an MC2105/2100 than they are for most any modern basic power amplifier which are conventional RCA which are the most commonly used connections between pre and power amplifiers.

 

Capacitors, resistors, transistors, autoformers. These are the ingredients of a fabulous circuit that is found in the MC2105 and 2100. It is a near perfect design. One could argue if sound could get any better. What do you think the newer amps have in their circuit? The same components. Recap the McIntosh, and you will be set for the rest of your life!

 

I have never heard a McIntosh but have been sort of curious about the older solid state amps.
I have read that the 754 and 752 power amps sound really nice but since they don't use autoformers they don't have the same cachet as say a MC-250.
You can usually see the 754 and 752 on Ebay at pretty good prices.

 

Thank you all for your replies!

Indeed, as mentioned, the "hip" score is really high, as with all McIntosh products, and investment wise it makes sense, as the value is maintained.
However, the caveats are the full reccaping needed for the unit, which, in a way, means it's not the original McIntosh anymore, isn't it?
And I've mentioned the connections, as, from what I've seen, there's only bare wire connection for the speakers and DIN connection for input (for the 2100 at least).

I'll ponder this for a while...

 

Find a tech that has a good reputation for quality work that way you won't have to worry if it's done right. I had mine gone through and its still McIntosh. Replacing caps and such just makes good sense cuz then they don't go and take much more expensive parts with.

As far as banana plugs go here is what I use on my 2505 amp
https://www.amazon.com/Hi-end-Adapter-Speaker-Connector-Wy-yp01/dp/B00X9FET7I
They work perfectly.

 

No protection for speakers, Sorry! Wrong. It has protection for both the output transistors. And the autoformers keep DC out of speakers, how protected against speaker damage can you get? Overpowering them's the only way this amplifier could destroy a speaker. The MC 2100/2105 in nice condition is all the amplifier I ever need in my main system even today. 105 WPC into any load is plenty for most people. One of the few higher power amplifiers I really like at that.

 

I think vintage Mac stuff can be great, but depending upon age, getting it recapped can be important to get the best out of them.

Both my main preamp (C35) and amp (2255) are ‘80’s vintage McIntosh. I also had a 2120 amp, which also sounded good. I compared the Mac amps to other amps, most closely with a Forte Model 3 (early 90’s 200W SS amp from Nelson Pass company).

The Mac amps were warmer, fuller, and more musical to my ears, which is why I switched to them. Yet they weren’t rolled off or obscuring high end details like other amps I’ve had (B&K EX442 which is a mosfet based amp with a reputation for sounding tube-like). I personally found them pretty easy to recap myself - few caps, reasonably accessible.

The C35 preamp didn’t sound significantly different against other preamps I compared it to (Bryson 1B, Modwright SWL 9.0 Signature, Forte Model 2) - all were really good. But the reason I went with the Mac was it was more versatile than any of those I compared it to: multiple switchable preamp outs, 5 band EQ, and the biggest one to me: variable loudness, which allows you to finely add in some midrange and bass to thinner sounding recordings to make them sound more musical.

My C35 is recapped, but I didn’t do it myself. There are a lot of caps in this guy, so more time/work, but also reasonably accessible, though not as easy as the amps.

I’ve read the C2x series have some issues with the volume pot from time to time and generally, the older you go, the more attention they will require.

But McIntosh are very very nice sounding units for the most part. Just do your research to verify that models under consideration are not particularly troublesome or hard to find replacement parts for.

 

I run my 5.0 set-up on 2 MC2100 and 1 MC250 (set to Mono) amps with 5 Spendor BC1 speakers.

I bought my first MC2100 around 2002 and I was instantly hooked to its sound. I've purchased the second MC2100 and the MC250 two years ago and I'm really happy to have them. I keep a simple set-up and I do not use wireless/Bluetooth. For my needs, this is perfect for me and the amps always deliver sound wise.

I think you either love the McIntosh sound or you don't.

If you can find one in great condition for a decent price, go for it.

 

I've never seen a DIN connector used with any McIntosh power amplifier of this era (or for that matter, any other). Later models do have XLRs but even these still include the conventional RCA jacks.

When you refer to bare wire connections, do you mean the barrier strips with individual impedance taps? I'll be the first to agree they are a PITA. But there are spades available making connections a breeze which will greatly reduce the possibility of a stray strand shorting the outputs.

It's possible the MC2100 in question has some modifications which was not uncommon in professional use.

 

No MC 2100 or MC 2105 had DIN connections as factory installed. Usually it's screw terminals on barrier strips (not unusual to see MC 2100 especially modified for various professional applications). The easiest and best options for classic McIntosh amplifier owners and users is to get the Banana jack to spade lug adapters and use banana plugs. Recommended.

 

Are you certain? I'm not seeing that.

http://www.mcintoshcompendium.com/Compendium Docs/Power Amplifiers/PDFs/MC2105.pdf

I do see an octal socket on the MC2100 but to my knowledge that's not a DIN.

http://www.mcintoshcompendium.com/Compendium Docs/Power Amplifiers/PDFs/MC2100.pdf

 

Actually, the technological advancements in replacements parts have been shown to raise performance over original spec. Also keep in mind, McIntosh outsourced many OEM parts to begin with so the question is relative. In practice, it's usually far more preferable for vintage McIntosh to have been expertly restored than to have been left untouched- that is unless it's to be used as a display piece only.

 

Octal socket, yes, DIN, no. Only on the MC 2100. Barrier strips with screw terminals, yes on both.

 

I have a 4100 receiver purchased a few months ago that was recapped, cleaned, etc. and it goes wonderfully w/my Ohm Speakers, Oppo 205 and Music Hall TT. Don'tt count the brand out because of age. All amplifiers need recapping (I would think) after a number of years.

 

Thank you all again!

I see that, as expected, McIntosh has a lot of supporters and satisfied users.

To answer some of the points raised: indeed, and apologies, the input is octal socket, I've called it DIN - my mistake, and there are adapters for octal to RCA from what I've seen online.

Also, as mentioned above, I've seen options with a kind of 90 degrees spade to banana input for speakers, which helps, so there's a solution for this too.

Same for the recapping - I've actually found specialised sellers on fleabay with kits available with all the parts to replace (caps, light bulbs, etc.).

@McLover - I was referring to what I've read on other forums:" ...SS amps came along and loss of tweeters was becoming a real issue. Paul updated his crossover components and changed to steeper slopes adding SS speaker protection. Mcintosh introduced Power Guard to their amplifiers to help protect their speakers. Like Paul Mcintosh knew and measured that only about 1 to 2 % of power required was necessary for tweeters above 6 kHz."
Not a problem that I actually expect to happen, or mentioned by anyone here, but still, it comes down to the age of the technology (the evolution of it since actually).

Also, the key point in all of it is "decent price" - I have access only to market price, which only looks decent for a McIntosh product, but it compensates with the age.
Not "ageist" against equipment, quite the contrary, I'm crazy about my '65 Garrard 401 and the rest of my system is from the 90's, but, compared with the "evolution" of turntables and other mechanical based audio devices (i.e. speakers), the electronics advances are tremendous.

I'll try to see if I can get to listen to one in my system, that way I'll see if I'm "sold" or not.

 

One thing you need never forget in all of this. Trust you ears. If what you're hearing makes you smile, you found what you,re looking for.

 

It was not Paul, it was Frank McIntosh, and his engineers.

 

What speakers will you be using?

 

@motorstereo Cabasse Iroise 500
@McLover yes, the discussion was about a speaker manufacturer and the problems faced at the time. However, the remark is done after I've looked online as to "cover my bases", it's not something against McIntosh. I understand you're a dedicated supporter, so let's stop here please.

Thank you!