McIntosh MC 427 Amplifier Review

[Chrispy]

It won't go in the dash. Can go under seats or trunk.

Thanks, was wondering....

 

[DonR]

That's a good idea re electrification & lower noise, but with the levels of SINAD we're talking then surely it's miniscule in comparison to even the quietest of quiet electric vehicles whilst driving - road noise, etc, (petrol engine & exhaust obviously being only one part of motoring noise).

Probably but it is a better environment than in the past. Probably still mostly for the sake of marketing, though.

 

[jjmanda]

The hardercore car audio enthusiasts want 2 Ohms load so they get more wattage.

Especially those who participate in SPL competitions: I remember seeing some amps able to go as low as 1 ohm.

 

[pseudoid]

Thank you for the review, @amirm,
Unfortunately, the used market prices for this Mc (w/its cheese + special sauce) should go up because of your test results.

Nice!

 

[Hipster Doofus]

nice unit and very pretty but of all the places noise and distortion may not matter its in the car and laundry room, except of course for parking

 

[CedarX]

Candid question: with more cars offering ANC or active noise generation (so it sounds “sporty”), does the amp performance even matter?

 

[staticV3]

Candid question: with more cars offering ANC or active noise generation (so it sounds “sporty”), does the amp performance even matter?

Sure. ANC requires even higher output power from the Amp as the speakers have to play your music plus inverse noise on top.

 

[amirm]

I for one would love to see more McIntosh stuff tested here.

Their gear is just too darn heavy for me to lug around.

 

[dfuller]

McIntosh stuff is pretty much always excellent performance wise - their tube based gear is as tube gear goes quite low distortion with boatloads of power. Heavy SOBs though...

 

[Anton D]

Their gear is just too darn heavy for me to lug around.

Wouldn't that qualify as part of the pain of being the member of ASR?



(Interthread joke.)

 

[Chrispy]

Well...

View attachment 331999


JSmith

When I asked about the dash fitment I remembered this photo rather than Amir's, lol....then looked back after Amir's answer---power amp, duh. Less impressed now, tho.

 

[OldHvyMec]

All of the older Mcintosh amps love ventilation for the record. The will get very hot. They also doubled as a heater in my 69.5 Panteria.
They do have a protect mode if I remember. I've have had and used better amps. Now I use a pair of Power Acoustics that are about
the size of my hands put together. Class Ds! I've taken them apart they are extremely heavy for their size. Built like a tank.

I run a single 10" HO-44 in a 1cf IB 3/4" treated inside and out cabinet. I run at 8 ohms and about 250 watts. They run cool. I would still
take the Mcintosh for 6X9 2 or 3way speakers. 6-8ohm loads sound a lot better to me. You wire how you want.
Raw power and heavy loads class Ds are an easy choice at 80-120.00 usd. I've ran that HO-44 at 1.8 ohms (static) on the same amp.
No problem, but you better have tight connections. Things do get hot, when you push them. LOL

I used 4/4 SOOW X 2 in (you pick) armor with Y spades cranked down on 1/4 or 1/2" copper lugs.
Makes for nice installs. Spray, wipe, dry, and play.

Mead makes great tools to tune them, if you can't figure it out. Searious Bass head. I'm not. BUT I understand how not to burn the
vehicle or the equipment UP by scrimping on cabling and crappy install techniques. Loose connection and low ohms is a fire waiting to
happen. I've seen some bad choices for cabling because of size over quality too. Aluminum has no place in audio cabling. It's for rems
and cases and Magico speakers. LOL

Regards

 

[Labjr]

I don't understand people who need loud booming exaggerated bass blowing the windows out. I don't think car stereo amps are as popular as they were 25-30 years ago. Probably because the factory radios have gotten better and radios are integrated into the rest of the electronics of a vehicle.

About 35 years ago I put a nice Alpine system in a new truck I bought. It was stolen 2-3 weeks later and I've never spent money on car stereo since.

 

[Chrispy]

Especially those who participate in SPL competitions: I remember seeing some amps able to go as low as 1 ohm.

I don't think with car amps 1 ohm is all that hard to find now? Not sure, but easier to find than a home consumer amp rated for 2 ohm

I don't understand people who need loud booming exaggerated bass blowing the windows out. I don't think car stereo amps are as popular as they were 25-30 years ago. Probably because the factory radios have gotten better and radios are integrated into the rest of the electronics of a vehicle.

About 35 years ago I put a nice Alpine system in a new truck I bought. It was stolen 2-3 weeks later and I've never spent money on car stereo since.

Some just like that.....while I like the lower end a lot, not to the point of spl competitions/deafening use. I've had several car systems ripped off over the last 50 years....the first was an 8-track system. Had a partially successful attempt recently (they couldn't get the head unit out, but stole my stand-alone sub and a lot of miscellaneous stuff in my van).

 

[pseudoid]

....who need loud booming exaggerated bass blowing the windows out.

I don't think that is what @amirm meant when he said this unit was "heavy" but I don't want to put any words in his mouth!

 

[amirm]

Indeed. This amp won't remotely blow out your windows. Folks doing that use crazy amplification with massive subs.

 

[CleanSound]

I have a hunch McIntosh solid state amps are probably among if not the best measuring high power AB amps in production - just a hunch though

Well, we know it's not the best. Benchmark is the best AB. But I won't be surprised at all if it's one of the best.

 

[JSmith]

Benchmark is the best AB.

Depends on how one defines "best", rather measurements wise the Topping LA90D has higher SINAD, Benchmark more power. SINAD difference is rather academic though, 120 vs 112.


JSmith

 

[CleanSound]

Depends on how one defines "best", rather measurements wise the Topping LA90D has higher SINAD, Benchmark more power. SINAD difference is rather academic though, 120 vs 112.


JSmith

Agreed.

 

[Rottmannash]

I have an old (over 20+ years old I believe Sony 4 channel amp I could send. Believe I have an Alpine as well. I have a crate of amps, head units, speakers, and active crossovers left over from those days...I miss installing those systems. Cars these days are so complex with the audio system integrated w/ the backup camera, security, GPS, etc it's almost impossible to modify one. I may send the Sony in if @amirm wants to measure it. These car amps probably aren't a time drain like an AVR so maybe?