McIntosh MC75 Monoblocks!

[Socal Sam]

I picked up these beauties last weekend off of Craigers from a fellow enthusiast. I spent a few bucks but it was worth it.

I had to clean the tube sockets to clear an intermittent gain loss when cold but that was it. These babies have been playing 4 to 6 hours a day.

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/socalsam/MC75a.jpg
http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/socalsam/MC75b.jpg
http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp192/socalsam/MC75c.jpg

[Web Police]

They look great Sam. *eyepop* *thumbsup*

[Scorpion8]

They look great Sam. *eyepop* *thumbsup*

There's two .... double ditto! *Hi5**Hi5*

[Socal Sam]

They look great Sam. *eyepop* *thumbsup*

The looks are a big part of enjoying vintage McIntosh. Chinese tubes will get you 85% of the sound but the pride of ownership is not there.

[Acoustic]

I'd like to hear them beauties. Could use them to heat the room as a perk in Kansas winters. On CL here it's all iPods and car audio!!

Forgot to ask your opinion on them, sound wise??

[Rat44]

Those look nice.*thumbsup*
One of the Classic pieces by them.

[Socal Sam]

I'd like to hear them beauties. Could use them to heat the room as a perk in Kansas winters. On CL here it's all iPods and car audio!!

I'm thrilled to owned them. When I'm going for a big ticket item like these, I usually sell a bunch of stuff FIRST but MC75's are rare so I had to jump. Deficit spending! It's the American Way!!

Forgot to ask your opinion on them, sound wise??

Soundwise, as good as my MC275V's. I haven't done a back to back yet but I don't expect much difference. I've tried McTube KT88's in place of the Russian Tung Sol 6550's and didn't care for the sound. The 6550's had more sparkle and resolution. I'm planning on replacing all the front end tubes so my impressions are not final.

[Socal Sam]

Those look nice.*thumbsup*
One of the Classic pieces by them.

No question, a true American classic that still stands the test of time. Made from 1961 to 1970, this pair is at least 40 years old and still sounds better than a year old Chinese tube amp I have on loan.

[imasoundhound]

I spent a few bucks but it was worth it.

so, how are you coping with just one arm, leg, and testicle? do you miss your first born child?

[Elite-ist]

Hi Sam,

They certainly are lookers! How do you decide on what's a fair price to pay for some of the recent vintage gear you've purchased, and have let us TapeHeaders take a peek at? You've been on a bit of a spree lately, or, am I wrong?

Without scouring the net for more info on your McIntosh amps, what are the features?

Nando.

[Socal Sam]

so, how are you coping with just one arm, leg, and testicle? do you miss your first born child?

OK, I spent MORE than a few bucks.*grin* Vintage MC75 ownership is worth every penny. Moreover, I'm "in the money" on this deal so if I ever sell (and that will be after losing "one arm and leg"), I'll come out ahead. My THIRD leg is too important...

[Des-Lab]

Geez. A system like that is something many of us (myself included) can only dream about. Maybe if I sold my entire tape collection, I could afford a starter piece...

Very nice.

[Socal Sam]

Hi Sam,

They certainly are lookers! How do you decide on what's a fair price to pay for some of the recent vintage gear you've purchased, and have let us TapeHeaders take a peek at? You've been on a bit of a spree lately, or, am I wrong?

Without scouring the net for more info on your McIntosh amps, what are the features?

Nando.

I've been collecting for some time and I used to go to the swaps and thrifts religiously. I still patrol CL from the comfort of my home but I think my hunting days are over. Over time, I kept trading up when I made a few bucks and ended up with the collection I now have. Today, when I want something, I try to stay within my "Audio Budget" by selling enough to cover the cost of my new acquisition. From searching ebay and selling gear, I know vintage values fairly well. I pride myself on buying well and that is the key to enjoying gear.

Here is an excellent webpage on MAC history and features.

http://www.roger-russell.com/mcintosh1.htm

The MC75 can use KT88's and 6550's without adjusting the bias current. Unlike almost every other tube amp, the MC75 never has to be adjusted for bias and that makes ownership super stress free for the non-technical.

[Elite-ist]

I've been collecting for some time and I used to go to the swaps and thrifts religiously. I still patrol CL from the comfort of my home but I think my hunting days are over. Over time, I kept trading up when I made a few bucks and ended up with the collection I now have. Today, when I want something, I try to stay within my "Audio Budget" by selling enough to cover the cost of my new acquisition. From searching ebay and selling gear, I know vintage values fairly well. I pride myself on buying well and that is the key to enjoying gear.

Here is an excellent webpage on MAC history and features.

http://www.roger-russell.com/mcintosh1.htm

The MC75 can use KT88's and 6550's without adjusting the bias current. Unlike almost every other tube amp, the MC75 never has to be adjusted for bias and that makes ownership super stress free for the non-technical.
Hi Sam,

Thanks for the link. Just coincindetally, prior to your reply, I started a new thread in the Lounge regarding Vintage Stereo Buying Budget.

Looking forward to the responses.

Nando.

[Socal Sam]

Geez. A system like that is something many of us (myself included) can only dream about. Maybe if I sold my entire tape collection, I could afford a starter piece...

Very nice.

In a lot of ways, I've been fortunate AND lucky with the decisions I've made.

I've met a lot of enthusiasts who started at the bottom and worked their ways upward. They all ended up closets or garage full of BOTL and MOTL gear that they never listen to anymore. Most of the time, they are too busy to sell gear or they don't want strangers coming over from CL.

Usually, they have thousands tied up in silent gear. My position is this: "You've already shown the commitment to the hobby. With the money you have committed, you could have had (fill in the brand and model number) super system. Why not start at the top and get what you really want."

[Des-Lab]

That's a good point. Why anyone would want to hoard BOTL gear is anyones guess unless it's purely for sentimental reasons (i.e. wanting to keep or recreate your original setup.) However, MOTL stuff (which I suspect makes up a good amount of the collective gear we have-including mine) makes a little more sense: It's better to have numerous average-albeit adequate pieces to choose from in the event one goes. For example, the line of reasoning goes that it's better to have five Denon cassette decks as opposed to a single Nak Dragon. If one of the Denons craps out, you have a spare you can drop in and maintain operational continuity while you repair/replace the bad unit. However, if you have just the one deck and it goes, you are SOL until you either do a very time consuming repair or search for a[n] expensive replacement.

But when you have a hoard of top shelf gear-as in me owning three Teac X-2000R reel to reels, all of which are worth upper three to mid four figures each given their condition, I guess it's simply to hold onto them because they will only get even more rare and expensive as times goes on.

[Socal Sam]

That's a good point. Why anyone would want to hoard BOTL gear is anyones guess unless it's purely for sentimental reasons (i.e. wanting to keep or recreate your original setup.) However, MOTL stuff (which I suspect makes up a good amount of the collective gear we have-including mine) makes a little more sense: It's better to have numerous average-albeit adequate pieces to choose from in the event one goes. For example, the line of reasoning goes that it's better to have five Denon cassette decks as opposed to a single Nak Dragon. If one of the Denons craps out, you have a spare you can drop in and maintain operational continuity while you repair/replace the bad unit. However, if you have just the one deck and it goes, you are SOL until you either do a very time consuming repair or search for a[n] expensive replacement.

But when you have a hoard of top shelf gear-as in me owning three Teac X-2000R reel to reels, all of which are worth upper three to mid four figures each given their condition, I guess it's simply to hold onto them because they will only get even more rare and expensive as times goes on.

Having spares is essential. Having too many spares is not. Collecting is fine as long as you have the space and the understanding of significant others. Gear like my MC75's have to pass a very high hurdle to become keepers. They must be well built and great performing. They must come from a company with a pedigree. They must be highly sought after so that there is always a "bidder's" market for them. Lastly, I have to like the piece in order to keep it.