My vintage McIntosh MX-110 preamp surprised me today. Follow up post #61!

David, thanks for posting. Always interesting reading. Feel free to post more on the MX-110. The language you use is actually English, easy for everyone to understand and grasp.

Much appreciated.

 

Have not. The 6D10 is easier to find (or was for me) than the other tube.

If you're asking if it's a good sub, no idea.

 

I would stick with what is recommended in the manual...

The 6D10 is not a rare tube, it's around, just not sexy.

 

Eva Longoria loves (among other things) her McIntosh MX-110!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkFv1KZzyMo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

Probably Panloc'd right into the wall. Neat.

Got my second MX-110 back from being fixed and it's installed in my studio along with the McIntosh MC30 monoblocks into my Venture Perfection Mark IV speakers (4 ohm tap) and I'm amazed at the sound.

Really, I could live with this for a long time. Telefunken heaven. 3-D midband to die for.

 

I had a beautiful MC240 that I sold off a few years ago. It was mint but didn't have the midband magic that the MC30's have. Maybe it was the change to a solid state rectifier, don't know. It sounded good but slightly brighter and leaner. Wish I hadn't sold it because it was so pretty.

 

Sorry, I didn't answer your entire question. I had my Mac 30's up in my studio because I ran out of room downstairs in my vintage area and the amps are too pretty to hide away so I decided to use them. In my studio they replaced a McIntosh MC402 that I had been using with a Joule-Electra linestage. I substituted the MC30s in place of the solid state 402 and things got much more interesting, musical and holographic. I've had it that way for about 1/2 a year.

Strange to say, I've never had either of my MX-110's hooked up to the MC30's before. So, today I tried it just on a lark and wow, more "colorful" sound. Slightly over the top but oh, so exciting midband with true reinforced holographic presence. Fun to listen to music on, for sure. I have a neutral system that I enjoy as well but this system is just fun.

I have Telefunken ECF82's (6U8) in this MX-110 (good testing), tomorrow I will switch to RCA 6U8A's and see what happens to the sound. Then I'll try the cheapo GE's and the Joint Army Navy Phillips 6U8's.

 

That MC402 is a great stereo amp. I use it in my big room sometimes. It really controls my speakers well and is highly crankable. Wouldn't want to be without it.

 

I even watched almost 3 1/2 minutes of the making of the commercial but they neglected the MX110!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=N1AFXeQrTX0&NR=1

 

That's show biz.

 

Of course they are the least accurate. If they were accurate we wouldn't be having a conversation about them! They are wildly colored. Perfect for resurrecting the dead. Liquid sounding. Recording engineers in the know used to (in the 1970's and 1980's before they became rare) powered their studio midrange drivers with Mc30's. People were throwing them out then and engineers gathered them up for their tri-powered studio systems. Kevin Gray included. That's how I first heard them, from borrowing his pair. Started me down this long road.

You'd really like them.

You want accurate? Get a solid state McIntosh amp from 1995.

 

Yes, a lot.

I had a pair of 60's that I really liked but they were totally mismatched so I sold them. The 60's have less of the complex character of the 6L6 tube just because of the higher powered 6550 Tung-Sol output tubes. Higher power, less goodies hiding in the sound. But, a beautiful tube.

Still, my second favorite McIntosh tube amp is the 60s.

For me it goes in order of liking (by me):

MC30 (tube rectified)
MC60 (tube rectified)

240/225 equal (Solid state rectified here on)
40
75
275

My favorite preamps:

20 (earlier version) (tube rectified)
MX-110 later versions
C-22 (most accurate, therefore least interesting.)

Really, any of the above are worthy of a good listen if you like that vintage sound.

 

Good, glad you got your tubes. Those 10 tubes should last a good long time. Remember to check the 6U8 in the FM multiplex section in back. BUT, always replace with the same brand of tube (I've been told it's crucial to keeping your FM in alignment).