All Hail the Tube!
Earlier this year McIntosh introduced its new MC2301 monoblock tube amplifier. Jim Ludoviconi, the senior dealer support manager for McIntosh, sent the following press release to dealers:
“The new McIntosh MC2301 monoblock tube amplifier hails the fusion of our Unity Coupled and Quad-
Differential circuit topologies. From the inception of McIntosh Labs, Unity Coupling stands as one of the
premiere tube topologies ever conceived, making possible revolutionary power bandwidth and low distortion. Quad-Differential circuitry, a recent McIntosh innovation, cancels nearly all induced noise and circuit-borne nonlinearities resulting in the lowest noise levels ever achieved in a tube amplifier. With 300 Watts available at 8, 4 or 2 ohms, the MC2301 provides power enough to drive even the most demanding loudspeakers. From the demands of massed chorale to full-on rock and roll the, MC2301 delivers the most extraordinarily lifelike and dynamic performance ever heard from a McIntosh tube amplifier.
The MC2301 design is fully balanced from input to speaker output and the first ever McIntosh tube amplifier to include Quad-Differential circuitry. A blend of tube and solid state devices comprise a super-linear input stage and the output stage, based upon eight KT88 power tubes, terminates in a custom multi-filar wound output transformer providing very low distortion and wide power bandwidth. The result? A staggering 117 dB signal to noise ratio combined with vanishingly low distortion to provide remarkable low-level linearity and unmatched liquidity.
The MC2301 features Sentry Monitor short circuit protection, marking the first time this feature has been included in a tube amplifier. Sentry Monitor responds to short circuits more reliably than a common fuse to protect your amplifier and loudspeakers from damage, and does so without sonic consequence.
The appearance of the MC2301 bespeaks pure McIntosh power. A fast-responding wattmeter with L.E.D. illumination glows blue behind a premium ½” glass frontpanel. A pair of hand-machined, anodized handles and polished stainless steel chassis completes the package.”
8250 Theaterworks recently brought a pair of these in-house for demo and the results are excellent; music has a tremendous sense of open space while still providing intimate details and texture. If you’re considering a new 2-channel system, or looking to upgrade your current system, the new MC2301 is definitely worth considering and a “must demo” product.
Tags: MC2301, McIntosh, quad-differential, sentry monitor, tube amplifiers, unity coupling