MA-252 inbound

Randy Myers

Randy Myers

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Joined
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So I came across a deal that was worth giving one of these a try. My amazing wife said to buy it and keep my other equipment. She is great, I got to say! I may sell some of the other gear depending on how this works out down the road anyway.

I really wanted to try one of these (McIntosh on the brain growing up on the South Side of Binghamton, shadow of the factory and all). I am so intrigued by the hybrid design. This definitely has the power and features that I need.

Anyway, this older gentleman (well older then me :)) has one that is exactly one month old. He said it has way too much power for his 100 dB speakers and he is going back to a lower powered amp. We communicated back and forth several times and I asked him if I could make an offer. I offered him much lower than he originally asked for but an amount that Cheryal would be happier with. He decided to take it so, dam, McIntosh inbound!

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Re: MC-252 inbound

Randy.......Congratulations on a great score. I am confident the MA252 will impress you. I own the very first hybrid integrated amplifier McIntosh ever made, the MA230. In fact it is the very first integrated amplifier McIntosh manufactured. It is a solid state preamp and 30 watt per channel tube power amplifier on the same chassis. The MA230 is 54 years old and still sounds excellent. The MA252 is the opposite of my MA230, yours being a tube preamplifier and solid state power amplifier on a single chassis, but I have no doubt that hybrid design combination will deliver a fabulous performance. I'll be watching for your review.
 
Re: MC-252 inbound

I think it will be good, but we will see. Diz, Dan, and others, thank you for your input earlier. Always appreciated!

The bottom line is I do not have to get rid of my other gear immediately, so if it does not do what I need no harm no foul.
 
Re: MC-252 inbound

Randy, congrats on the score!


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Re: MC-252 inbound

very nice!! can't wait to hear how sounds in your system and how it compares to the amp8

this will now give you an excuse to head back to "bing" for a factory tour... followed by a burger and craft beer at the galaxy brewery -- i cannot recommend this itinerary more highly!!
 
Re: MC-252 inbound

I was in Binghamton in August. Unfortunately under difficult circumstances. It was for my dad's passing. I did notice that there was a Speedie festival going on... God I miss Binghamton Speedies... my brother would not stop and let me grab a Speedie sandwich though (I did try to get him to stop) :(....

The last time I was actually at the McIntosh factory was back in the late '90s when I was living in Syracuse and a buddy was buying some gear and I drove him down to pick it up.
 
Congratulations Randy!

That’s one of the amps I’d get, it’s superb. You will absolutely love it.
 
I couldn't resist the deal. It is literally one month old. And since I am keeping my other gear (certainly for now), it allows me a chance to really try it out in my system.

The gentleman and I corresponded back and forth and he seemed to be a real straight shooter. He has already shipped it. Great follow up indeed.
 
I'm not surprised from your comments on recent Mac threads, I knew something Mac would eventually come your way, LOL Enjoy!

If I have my models correct, some say the 252 doesn't sound as good as larger integrated from Mac due to not having the output transformers However, I heard one at the show driving JBL L100's, the new version, and I thought it to sound good. I may have it and the 352 mixed up.
 
Dam Binghamton boy syndrome :D. Really looking forward to trying this Amp out :).

I honestly do not understand all the technical aspects of power amps and I am not certain about how this technically compares to the technology used in their other products. I do know that they use ThermalTrak Output Transistors in it, similar to what is used by T+A. I do know that these sound very very good :).
 
McIntosh and British speakers have always been a great combo! I think this amp will work well with my KEFs also :D.
 
Man you have been busy building all along in 2019 - good to be happy, why not, right?


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