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Mac 275 questions........

After some months of up's and down's with my ASL Hurricanes (just seemed to never stay operational for longer then 2-3 months) I have decided o retire them and get the McIntosh MC 275 (2 amps).

I have some questions for you all and appreciate any input you may have (especially form Mac owners) but opened to all.
My speakers are Infinity RS 1-B's and I will be using the amps to drive the top end of the system (EMIM's and EMIT's). I have a Perreaux 3150B for the bass columns. The Infinities are rated at 4 ohms.
I plan to listen to one amp on top ( I will get one amp in a week) and then when I get the 2nd amp ( a week later) run both in mono.
What will I hear with each application? First with one and then with both? Also can any of you let me know if any of you compared the Mac 275 (in mono) 150 watts with the Hurricanes 200 wpc? The Hurricanes were great but I just could not live with them being up and down so many times.

Thanks to all for your input.

RWD (Rick)
rwd
rwd OP
695 posts
 
Correct, Neil.

How can a change in amps (McIntosh 275 vs ASL Hurricanes) result in a dramatic improvement in the bass when they are not even driving the bass columns. It's a Perreaux 3150B that's assigned to that duty. Someone suggest the sensitivity of the top and bottom amps were not matched. But I just don't get it?
nsgarch's avatar
nsgarch
2,524 posts
 
The short answer is: the ASL's are 200w/ch and the 275 is 100w/ch (and the Perreaux is 200w/ch.)

Since the preamp is driving the Perreaux with the same volts as it's driving either of the tube amps, naturally the bass will sound louder relative to the panels driven by the 275 than driven with the ASL's.
rwd OP
695 posts
 
Just an update.

I have changed all my 12AX7's in the Mac 275 to "used" Telefunken 12AX7's and the change was really noticeable. OK Neil, you can say it..."told you so"! Hah!

Anyway, the sound is cleaner, yet more delicate (or is ti more air around the instruments?). I have on order some Telefunkens 12AT7's and then I will replace the KT88's with probably the Gold Lions.
Just an update!!

Rick (RWD)
lapierre
547 posts
 
Rick,

Glad to see you have the 12A7's updated. When you order the KT88's make sure you get a matched Quad for each MC275.

I have a lot of changes (tubes, fuses, and CDP modification) added to my system this week. I will report on that later.
nsgarch's avatar
nsgarch
2,524 posts
 
Rick, I'm glad you're happy with the TFK's, (and that's ALL I'm going to say about that!) And the rest of your plan I think represents the most bang for a *sane amount* of bucks. I just hope you can stop there; I couldn't. (But then, I only have one amplifier to feed ;-)
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