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McIntosh (MC601) amplifier overheating problem

Hello everyone - A buddy of mine has MC601s that have recently started overheating.  Each amp went into protection mode after emitting a burning smell, and both had to have an output transistor replaced (at different times).  

My internet digging has revealed that ThermalTrak transistors are not very reliable, or at least the early batches were not.  Ayre has also reported overheated MX-R amps with the same problem.  They apparently can fail after years of use, which is not good news for owners!

I'm trying to get a feel for how widespread this problem may be (at this point in time)?  Each transistor replacement is $400, and there's an awful lot of output transistors in MC601s...!!  I convinced my brother to also get MC601s so I'm starting to get really worried his will fail too in the near future.

So far, McIntosh's response to my inquiry has been vague and reticent, unlike Ayre who apparently went to great lengths to remedy this issue for their owners.  Has anyone out there had this problem with McIntosh or Ayre?  

aball
aball OP
2,018 posts
 
Clearthink - your input is still not relevant.

Any McIntosh owners out there with overheating amplifiers?  Thanks
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tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,935 posts
 
the only MC amp i have at moment runs 6L6 output devices.... however i can attest that Ayre did handle failures with grace  - I had a VX-R that the thermal tracs failed in one channel, lucked nto help with Twenty series upgrade at that time which use different output devices....
good luck
hope MC helps you i still run a bit of kit from them...
tobor007's avatar
tobor007
135 posts
 
Sorry for your issues. I have had several McIntosh units over the last 30 years. None have ever failed. I have had a pair of 601's for awhile now driving Revel Salon 2's. They have been perfect even after listening to The Who at concert levels for extended periods of time. As far as questions about equipment, McIntosh has always been very helpful and prompt with their responses. Just my experience. 
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biketony
93 posts
 
I had the same overheating problem with a mc-352.  I have two and run them mono. I bought both used. The unit in question would overheat then shut down.  Then after a few would come back on. While the other would not have any problems with the same input. Eventually the unit made a Burning smell and shutdown for good.
Took the bad unit to a authorized service center in royal oak Michigan. They went through it found what they thought was wrong and reassembled. They then wanted to make sure that they had solved the problem, so they ran the unit for a few days on their bench, and the same problem occurred. It fried again. They went back in and replaced a whole side of output transistors. (I saw the bag of transistors they replaced, it was a bunch).
 The whole process of th repair took almost 6 weeks (evaluation, ordering parts, labor, testing, evaluation, ordering parts, labor, testing). In the end the bill was $650.00.

So with the repair cost of $650.00 and the $2700.00 I spent on the unit I have $3350.00 into a mc-352. It’s not the greatest deal I ever made, but I wouldn’t say that I am unhappy with my purchase. 
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