McIntosh MC462 Stereo Amplifier Review (by ErinsAudioCorner.com)

[ban25]

Hi All!

I can´t determine which speakers I have from 1976 or 1978... but anyway the early models were given for 60 watts and sensitivity´of 90 dB...
so I don't know what to say....

whether to try the MC 462 and then if not convinced take it back to the store ( 200 km) with costs
or give up and keep the 275 and try another game.


( My children are aware.. )

thanks!
Maurizio

I would say, given the high sensitivity of the 12" paper cone design, there isn't really a benefit to going to a MC462. That said, it's an incredible amp, and if I were you and I got a deal, I would just use that as an excuse to build a new system in another room.

 

[ban25]

I just finished reading this thread and one thing that has not been discussed is if real performance opportunities might be gained by simply having this much power and a wider choice of speakers. I have fairly high sensitivity speakers and I don’t listen to music at rock concert levels, so this amount of power does not make much sense for my system, but if I were starting with this amp and looking for appropriate speakers, are there overall performance gains to be made when looking at low sensitivity speakers?

In other words, does designing high sensitivity speakers entail making sacrifices or compromises that low sensitivity speakers do not have?

Are there any specific speakers that have exceptionally low distortion and linear responses at the expense of sensitivity that would make them unsuitable for lower powered amps but ideal for the mc462?

Looking a the issue from the other direction, if I have speakers rated at 90dB (1w/1m) and I'm not seeking to listen at louder levels, would I hear any increase in fidelity with the mc462 over a lower powered amp like the Toping LA90d?

I have the 300W version of this amp and for home theater use, I have been able to hit the Power Guard limiter at 300WPC driving my Blade Two Metas (86 dB sensitivity). So I wish I had bought this 450W version instead, as that would've given me just a bit more margin at the higher SPLs.

That said, one of the very nice features of this amp (and mine) is the Power Guard functionality that effectively compresses the output by limiting peaks as opposed to clipping (and potentially destroying drivers). That's a very nice feature that you won't find on a Topping and one that lets me live with only 300WPC.

 

[Dean Palmer]

Hi all!!!!

do any of you happen to have a Mc 462 paired with some old Tannoy Cheviot stereo speakers from the 76/78's? Was I a fool with my vintage speakers to do this?
I´m going to blow them up?

Thanks
Maurizio from MUNICH GERMANY

You can never have too much clean power, just maybe some care with the volume in some cases I have a MC462 that I have used with speakers that could easily be damaged if I was to use all the power, but I'm an adult and that's not really an issue. I bought the 462 to have the absolute cleanest power and sonic performance I'll ever need in a stereo amp. I will take it to the grave with me. I would run separate mono amps if I had the room, but after having the 462 for a few years, I don't think my old ears would tell the difference anyway! Think of it this way, you can always suffer from overdriving a smaller amp, but rarely an issue when you have limitless clean power and the understanding of how to use it.

 

[Maurizio_Maggi]

And with one of my lightning decisions--I found a brother for my 275.... Only two S/N's difference, so hopefully same construction lot.... And I couldn't resist....

Freshly plugged in and with flying connecting wires...

 

[ban25]

And with one of my lightning decisions--I found a brother for my 275.... Only two S/N's difference, so hopefully same construction lot.... And I couldn't resist....

Freshly plugged in and with flying connecting wires...





View attachment 424204

Beautiful!

 

[HaveMeterWillTravel]

Here is my perspective from having own McIntosh amps for most of my life.

Their amps (at least their auto transformer designs) have been consistently very well designed, built, and performing. They hold their value very well and tend to just last and last and only require contact cleaning and the inevitable replacement of the electrolytic capacitors. As a general rule, they always performed better than spec.

Call it 'education' or 'marketing', but Dave O'Brien used to travel around putting on "clinics" where he would bench test any amp you brought in. Thou there were stories he simply refused testing Carver's designs as they would have catastrophic failures. People have forgotten just how bad output power claims were, almost to snake-oil level.

My grandson now has my first units: C28 pre-amp, MR-71 FM tuner, and a MC2505 amp. I still have my MC7270.

Having said that, when I upgrade I tend to buy used models which were replaced a few years prior. When I bought my Sopra 3's I decided I wanted a larger amp as well. The MC462 had just replaced the MC452. Those were really holding their value as they were both rated the same and the differences/improvements were more subtle. So I bought a near-mint condition MC402 (400Wx2@ 8-Ohms) locally for a fabulous price (~$3500). That era amps had a staggered 3 piece glass front and aesthetically not as nice.

While I am sure the MC462 most likely has slightly better measurements, I bet it's inaudible.
If I win the lottery I may replace it, but it would only be for the looks.

 

[HaveMeterWillTravel]

With respect to comparing amplifier power over different impedance there really are two sides of the coin. Let's ignore transformer coupled outputs for the moment, nor issues such as poor design/built quality causing reliability issues, or short term dynamics. Or reactive versus real power. Or rated impedance versus actual impedance vs Frequency.

Many (most?) would say the amplifier that double its power from 8Ω into 4Ω, and then again into 2Ω is inherently the better amp. They will say the amp is not "current limited"
The other side of the coil is that the amplifier puts out half it's power going from 2 Ω to 4 Ω, then again going to 8Ω. One could equally say the amp is "voltage limited".
Power = Voltage x Current

Really what matters is what particular load the amplifier will be driving. A "450W" amp into a 4Ω load may not be the best choice if it delivers 250W into your 450W 8Ω speaker. On the flip side, a "250W" at 8Ω may be fine if it doubles to 450W into your 450W 4Ω speaker.

Historically, McIntosh always emphasized "full power into any load". Which is one of the benefits of their auto transformers.

BTW: 20+ years ago it seemed the "typical" speaker impedance was 8Ω for home audio, car audio was 4Ω.

Is it now 4Ω?
I ask as it seems more testing is now done at 4Ω, at least when considering the "power class" of amps.

 

[Bernd]

Interesting thread! I'm a headphone listener, so I'm not really concerned, but from my point of view I'd say: a 10 K amp may well be worth it's money, while a 10k DAC is snake oil for sure!

 

[Maurizio_Maggi]

at the end.... I changed everything...

I had old tannoy Cheviot speakers from 1976... and had the opportunity to buy two BW 802 Diamond 2's....
sold at a good price my Tannoys I brought home two black MONSTERS with a Yellow eye.

But.
suddenly the 275s were no longer adequate.
some of the music was sending the 275s into crisis!
... and they would come off on their own ( those who have them must have had the red tube LEDs flashing intermittently).

I tried modifying the sound so as not to stress the two amps too much, which although in mono (175 Watt nominal) did not give enough Power.
At the same time I had found a used Mcintosh Mq112 equalizer.
I tried with the ADI 2 FS Dac to modify the EQ curves ... and with the MQ 112 to modify some frequencies so as not to put too much stress on the two small tube amps ...... but to almost no effect.

I wanted to keep them because I really liked
but certain orchestral planes, which I would have liked to hear now with the BWs ... some Dire Straits music and especially this track:

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were sending the 275s into crisis.
I decided to sell them in partial purchase and buy a 462.

long story short... arrived yesterday.

I think this is the best my finances can give me right now.
all used, except the 462 that might last me a few decades given the power.

the 462 and especially the BWs have a very very nice 3D effect and soundstage space.

not if it´s just psychology but it seemed to me that the 275s gave a different naturalness--softer, which the 462 pushes and pushes and pushes with a more analytical force.

But I´m not an expert and I´m highly swayed by what I read around.. so... take my words “Cum grano salis”

all The Best!
Maurizio from Munich.

 

[Talisman]

Those huge speakers attached to those bare walls make me hear the huge peaks and nulls already from the photo

 

[Maurizio_Maggi]

Those huge speakers attached to those bare walls make me hear the huge peaks and nulls already from the photo

.
yes i know thank you for the advice...

they´re not so attached, but I can´t put them too much in the middle of the room... they are HUGE!
I touched a little with the Equalizer on the frequencies to improve listening--but I know they can sound 100 times better.
I have to improve the acoustic little by little, I just moved house ( if you see the previous pictures) and i still have to buy furniture and everything else....

ciao Maurizio!