I definitely enjoyed your video. My dad bought the MC 2505, a C 26 preamplifier, and a MR71 tuner back in the late 60s or very early seventies. I was born in 67 and I'm not sure if he got it then or when I was a young kid? But he quit using it in the 1976 time frame and put it in his closet when we moved to houston. I brought it down stairs in the 1980s in my teens and hooked up the McIntosh system. He wasn't happy about that but he didn't make me put it up so I got to play with it through the few years leading into my 20s . I always wanted to buy it or get it from him but he never would pass it on. I finally got it about 3 months ago and he gave it up. It hasn't seen about 1991 and it's just been stored inside his closet with a blanket over the gear. I'm legally blind now and I don't want to hook this gear up and mess something up that I could have prevented by having it serviced or looked at first. The only problem is the cost (being blind I don't make much money) and where do I find somebody to look at it. I'm in the DFW area in texas. I've talked with a few repair people but I don't really know what needs to be done or what I need to make sure gets done if I can ever save up enough to get it done? Do you have any recommendations on what I need to be asking if I can find a repair shop? Everything worked fine the last time it was turned on and I have not tried to hook it up and turn it on again since acquiring the components from my dad. I know it would be impossible to estimate a cost on what it might run to have it looked at. But is there any rough estimate that I should be expecting if I can find someone who can do the work? And again, what do I need to make sure they do? I sure do miss audio shops, TV repair shops, etc like we used to have! But I've been trying to get my dad to pass on this Macintosh equipment since the 1980s and some 40 plus years later I finally have it and I don't want to get stopped on my progress to being able to use it again by questions I don't even know what they are. I'm not a fool and I do understand electronics too to an extent. But I'm also not a serviceman and being blind I would not be able to do the work myself. Please excuse any errors that I didn't catch using Google Voice to Text here on my phone. I've been following along with a magnifier trying to correct Google's mistakes but I wouldn't be surprised if I missed something. And thanks for any help if you are able to answer any of the questions. Oh yeah, and one last quick question. I get the impression I shouldn't hook this gear up and try turning it on or using it now from what you mentioned in your video. Is that correct? Do I need to have somebody look at it first thanks again! Brian in Fort Worth 🎶
I believe the MA5100 was the first solid state integrated amp Mac put out. I have one from 65-72. Mine has been very enjoyable for decades, though it needs some love now and there are no longer any techs alive in Hawaii so it needs to go on a trip. Last time I had it worked on was over 10 years ago and the great guy who worked on it live in TN and had it singing. He was not willing to just update everything as might have been a good idea. So, now it needs the volume pot cleaned or refurbished and likely some capacitors replaced. It does not play out on one channel but sounds fine with headphones. I also have a MC250 which is the same amp as yours just without the nice blue lights and VU meters. It has also been refurbed and has worked fine for at least 15 years since Terry DeWick fixed it when I got it off Ebay. Love the sound of Mac gear. Neat to watch your video. Wish I had technical background.
I’ve had one of those since the early 70’s. Guess it’s time it to get it checked. It’s been a very good amp. I’ve run it in my office pretty much non stop for 20 years.
Great Video! I know it's been 3 years since you've posted it but still very interesting. I own the MC2105 and even though I've been an audiophile since the late 70's, (and a huge Mac-centered fan since then), I was surprised to find that the MC2505 was the first SS amp by McIntosh. Honestly, I would have guessed the 2105 to have held that distinction. In addition, I was just as surprised to find that the MC2505 was rated by McIntosh at less than half the watts/PC output compared to the MC2105!! My MC2105 is rated at 105W/PC and yet the MC2505 was rated at 50W/PC. Of course, the 'actual' power output of almost any McIntosh amp is at least 15% higher than they rate it for. I did a re-cap of my 2105 and replaced the the entire glass faceplate as well. However, I didn't re-stuff the Can Caps because I just didn't know enough about the procedure. I own many instruments to measure these electronics and have a combination of analog and digital test equipment for capacitors, resistors, etc. The problem is that I'm a "junior hobbyist" at best and simply don't trust myself to do the job without close, expert, guidance. Much of the reading material that I've read over and over, can be open to my own ignorance and misinterpretation. In fact, interpreting what is being said is my biggest problem. Mostly, the material I've read requires that I have an electronics expert close by to explain what some of these things mean. But there's also the type-o's, grammatical errors, and misspellings of the reading material, which makes it even more difficult to understand when combined to my 'misinterpretation difficulties'. If you see what I'm saying, you can probably imagine the potential for just how far off a novice could be thrown when those variables are considered. Having spent many hours over a period of months trying to grasp some of the more complex procedures in the reading material that I've found, it became clear to me that I was burning myself out. Without proper guidance, I realized that I've managed to confuse myself even more than before I started. A simple 'crash-course' in electronics wouldn't cover the areas that I needed to know and would only create more questions. Therefore, unless I was prepared to enroll in a certified college or technical institution, I would have to find a place that was certified to work on these systems. I finished the basic recap of the MC2105 w/o re-stuffing the cans. The two large capacitors were likely replaced before I bought the amp. In fact, I recall that they said they had acquired original McIntosh capacitors from McIntosh itself. I placed them in my analog Cap-tester and they certainly passed 100%. I have the amp setup in my home system and the music sounds great but still, I know that my MC2105 is not performing to its best ability and that bothers me a little. I'll eventually need to address this point. Thanks again for the great video! Rich PS: That Sony pre-amp is fantastic and my search for one came up with only a single preamp availbe to buy. It's in excellent shape and located in Japan. They want about $2500 USD for it...
I was blown away by the first sony receiver i bought. And that was in the 90s. When i found my Sony STR V5 this year, i could not believe the fidelity and power. To my ears, it sounds better than the comparable Kenwood, Sansui and Marantz i have in my collection. Just an opinion. Big thumbs up
There were so many great audio products produced back in the day. Sometimes I listen to one piece of equipment and I think this is the best I've heard. Then I listen to another and think the same thing. You are doing the right thing. Listen to your ears. Thanks for watching.
@@vintageaudioaddict cheers friend. I couldnt agree more. I was born in the late seventies. Its cool to see there was something special happening back then.
@@vintageaudioaddict . I can either blame you or thank you for my recent interest in vintage audio. It was your videos that really piqued my interest in this stuff! I will say thank you! Though i have spent a couple bucks on this stuff, i havent broken the budget, and couldnt be happier that these military-grade pieces of audio gear are in my home!
These videos you do remind me of my childhood. I used to sneak into the living room and play my father's records. David Bowie, the Ohio Players, the Funky Meters. Amazing how the memories just come flooding back. Thank you.
Hope ya never blew out any of his speakers.....my buddy had a party at his house when his parents were away back in the late 80's and he used his dad's stereo for music....well he ended up blowing out one of the B&W speaker's tweeter.....dad was pissed.....was a great party though!
A very interesting video. Thank you. I'm the second owner of an unrestored MC2025 that I purchased in the mid '70s along with an unrestored C26 Preamp and unrestored MX113 Tuner Preamp. Other than being stored for the first few years the MC2025 and C26 were in off and on use until about 2000. The MX113 functions fine but has not been in service. Since 2000 the MC2025 and C26 have been in almost daily use, flawlessly other than transistors replacement in 2004, as a zone in my whole house audio system. The only "maintenance" needed has been an occasional cranking of the gain knobs to free up likely minor corrosion. Coincidentally, the light bulbs for the MC2025 left channel meter are out so watching your video is timely and provides an excellent tutorial for the bulb replacement. Although my primary systems are of more recent vintage I continue to be very fond of the MC2025 and C26 components.
Very glad to see your videos again! I missed you and the way you present a very interesting channel. Thank you for sharing your craft and audio component details with us. Happy Thanksgiving!
I remember "listening" to one of these years ago at a McIntosh amplifier "clinic". You could bring your amp and they would test it for output and THD. They tested my old Dynaco 120 (which I later sold) and a Phase Linear 400..which I also eventually sold and replaced it with a Hafler. I always wanted one these, but today it easier and cheaper to build a MOSFET-Amp from scratch.
Thanks for your reply. May I ask what capacitance value you used for the 9300uf's? In the meantime I'll take your advice and check out some other sources. Thanks again!
Hi! I have a MC2505 and the Meter Range only works if I select -10. If I switch it over to -20 the meters don’t move. Do you think this could be an easy fix?
I've found the raw linseed oil on a badly scratched cases works wonders without the risk of sanding through the veneer. You will have to wait 1-2 weeks for it to dry. The only downside is it will darken the wood.
Since viewing your video, I decided to replace the electrolytics in my MC2505 I purchased back in 1969. The power supply caps at 9300uf are no longer available. Can you tell me how much higher in uf I can safely go? Does one have to be concerned about in rush current? Thanks for the excellent instruction!
Thank you for watching. You are correct that you have to be somewhat concerned about the capacitor values that you use. I'm a hobbyist and not an audio/power supply engineer that is smart enough to answer your questions with 100% accuracy. Fortunately the 2505 has a strong following and I'm sure the information you are looking for is available. Just google "McIntosh 2505 restoration" or something along those lines. Thanks again.
Most people downgrade the quality of components when recapping McIntosh equipment. When you do this before you chuck the old parts, look at the series of the components chosen. Often they are of the highest quality. Make sure that you meet or exceed the quality that was used or you might be shortening the lifespan of the unit. I know that Sony made some good stuff but they were responsible for the garbage years by flooding the market with Sony garbage systems that beet the price point of other companies that held to their integrity. Like selling a whole system with a tuner, cd player, caset, turntable, equalizer, amp and a junk pair of speakers all in a junk system case for about the same price as a large well made receiver or amp.
Can anybody comment on the difference in sound between this vintage McIntosh power amplifier and, the newer slimline MC122? I haven't heard either amp. I have an opportunity to purchase one of them at a fair price. Thanks
Love this channel ! Just serviced my 3rd Sansui G8000 ! Review coming soon this is my favorite vintage amp channel thanks buddy !! Check out my sneak peak video of the G8 ! Thank you ! Would love to find a Sansui Au 111 tube integrated !
I have always liked McIntosh equipment. All of my experience is with their vintage equipment but If I were in the market for higher end new audio equipment I would certainly check it out.
