McIntosh MC2102 with all vintage US made GE tubes (6550a, as well as the 12ax7/at7 equivalents). SF Bay Area.
Original box. One of the incandescent meter lights is dimmer than the other. All tubes are GE, JAN spec (Joint Army Navy) where available, with about 100 hours on it. Cosmetically 9/10 with one of the screws on the cage having scuff marks. Powered Magnepan MG3’s (resistive loads are easier in the tubes)
Price reflects costs of the tubes. Open to trades for collectibles. Will not separate amp from tubes.
https://www.stereophile.com/tubepoweramps/429/index.html
”The MC2102 is an all-tube design. There are no transistors in the signal path."
“The cathode winding provides near-instantaneous local feedback, which... reduces distortion at the frequency extremes.“
Attached review from Australian Hi Fi with factory tubes (attached PDF)
+-0.01 dB from 10Hz to 15kHz
-0.18 dB at 20kHz
-3 dB at 123 kHz
THD+N at 1W at 0.010%
THD+N at 100W at 0.028%
This is the last amplifier that Sidney Corderman developed in 2001. He was a true engineer.
https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/brand/news/Sidney-Corderman
My comments:
Different tubes will have different measurements. Modern tubes are only manufactured in China or Russia. US or European made tubes that are “New Old Stock” are likely from the 70’s, so longevity of the tubes are uncertain. The GE 6550A is considered one of the most reliable tubes and The MC2102 does not stress the tubes hard, further enhancing service life.
This is a tube amp that sounds like a solid state amp. In essence, a mechanical watch that comes close but does not match to the performance of a smartphone for telling time. This amp was designed for accuracy with the constraint of zero transistors in the signal path. With the best tubes, you will likely get among the very best sound theoretically possible with tubes. This makes it more of a museum piece or collector’s item. If accuracy is important, you will be better off with a Benchmark AHB2. Among fans of tubes, especially those favoring euphonic second order harmonics, this is a bad choice also. The Mc275 and KT88 combo will have more pleasant coloration in the midrange which is why it is more popular. The MC2102 will be too accurate. So, you are paying more than a Benchmark AHB2 for something that is less precise. You are paying more than an McIntosh Mc275 with none of the “market-has-spoken” pleasant coloration. You are also paying for performance that scientifically should degrade over time at a faster rate than a solid state amp. You are paying for engineering and US manufacturing. I actually think it sounds really good because it takes many of the best characteristics of a high end but perhaps not flagship solid state amp, but biasing the THD toward even rather than odd harmonics, and getting the benefit of the soft clipping.
The GE 6550A is considered a very linear tube.
There are 8 of these. (But the rarer Joint Army Navy spec)
https://www.tubedepot.com/products/6550a-us
4 of these
https://www.tubedepot.com/products/jan-ge-12ax7wa
4 of these
https://www.tubedepot.com/products/ge-5814a-12au7a
I am happy to ship to Amir for testing prior to final purchase provided that you cover shipping costs (assuming Amir is interested and willing). If you don’t like the way it measures, you don't have to buy it.
Original box. One of the incandescent meter lights is dimmer than the other. All tubes are GE, JAN spec (Joint Army Navy) where available, with about 100 hours on it. Cosmetically 9/10 with one of the screws on the cage having scuff marks. Powered Magnepan MG3’s (resistive loads are easier in the tubes)
Price reflects costs of the tubes. Open to trades for collectibles. Will not separate amp from tubes.
https://www.stereophile.com/tubepoweramps/429/index.html
”The MC2102 is an all-tube design. There are no transistors in the signal path."
“The cathode winding provides near-instantaneous local feedback, which... reduces distortion at the frequency extremes.“
Attached review from Australian Hi Fi with factory tubes (attached PDF)
+-0.01 dB from 10Hz to 15kHz
-0.18 dB at 20kHz
-3 dB at 123 kHz
THD+N at 1W at 0.010%
THD+N at 100W at 0.028%
This is the last amplifier that Sidney Corderman developed in 2001. He was a true engineer.
https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/brand/news/Sidney-Corderman
My comments:
Different tubes will have different measurements. Modern tubes are only manufactured in China or Russia. US or European made tubes that are “New Old Stock” are likely from the 70’s, so longevity of the tubes are uncertain. The GE 6550A is considered one of the most reliable tubes and The MC2102 does not stress the tubes hard, further enhancing service life.
This is a tube amp that sounds like a solid state amp. In essence, a mechanical watch that comes close but does not match to the performance of a smartphone for telling time. This amp was designed for accuracy with the constraint of zero transistors in the signal path. With the best tubes, you will likely get among the very best sound theoretically possible with tubes. This makes it more of a museum piece or collector’s item. If accuracy is important, you will be better off with a Benchmark AHB2. Among fans of tubes, especially those favoring euphonic second order harmonics, this is a bad choice also. The Mc275 and KT88 combo will have more pleasant coloration in the midrange which is why it is more popular. The MC2102 will be too accurate. So, you are paying more than a Benchmark AHB2 for something that is less precise. You are paying more than an McIntosh Mc275 with none of the “market-has-spoken” pleasant coloration. You are also paying for performance that scientifically should degrade over time at a faster rate than a solid state amp. You are paying for engineering and US manufacturing. I actually think it sounds really good because it takes many of the best characteristics of a high end but perhaps not flagship solid state amp, but biasing the THD toward even rather than odd harmonics, and getting the benefit of the soft clipping.
The GE 6550A is considered a very linear tube.
There are 8 of these. (But the rarer Joint Army Navy spec)
https://www.tubedepot.com/products/6550a-us
4 of these
https://www.tubedepot.com/products/jan-ge-12ax7wa
4 of these
https://www.tubedepot.com/products/ge-5814a-12au7a
I am happy to ship to Amir for testing prior to final purchase provided that you cover shipping costs (assuming Amir is interested and willing). If you don’t like the way it measures, you don't have to buy it.
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