Tube amp sound, great soundstage and imaging, and runs very cool.

None

The MC250 is based on on the old tube amps from McIntosh borrowing the classic output autoformers with taps at 4, 8, and 16 ohms. It has an output of 50 watts p/c at 4, 8, or 16 ohms thanks to the autoformers. Its specs are very comparable to amplifiers built today. Mine was built in 1976.

This amplifier is very quiet due to a great signal to noise ratio, 90dB. It has a rated output of 50 watts p/c and a peak output of 100 watts p/c. It can also be bridged mono for 100 watts rms and 200 peak into 2, 4, or 8 ohms. Frequency responce is rated at 10Hz to 100,000Hz at half power output and 15Hz to 60,000Hz at full power output. And the MC250 weighs 35lbs.

The McIntosh MC250 is very well built and pretty heavy for a 50 watt amplifier. New, this amplifier cost $380.00. Now, 24 years later, I paid over $400.00 for it plus shipping. All I can say is that I do not regret buying it one bit. I actually won the bid on this amp from Ebay. The gentleman I bought it from had it put through its paces at a certified McIntosh service center before it was put on Ebay and it passed every test with ease. I even have the paper to prove it! McIntosh has been known to under rate their amplifier output and the MC250 is no different. It actually pumps out 68 watts rms and 136 peak in stereo, 136 watts rms and 272 peak in mono.

The MC250 is the heart and soul of my stereo which also doubles as a Dolby Digital home theatre system. My main speakers are the Klipsch Cornwalls which date back to 1978 that my father bought brand new. The MC250 replaced a 10 year old SAE A205 amplifier that one of my brother's bought new back in 1989 and proceeded to blow up not only the two main capacitors but also the rectifier in it. About 4 years ago, I pulled it out of the closet, had my father help me fix it with beefed up caps and rectifier, and used it in my system since. Once I got the MC250 though, my brother asked to have his old amp back, so I gladly gave it back to him!

Anyway, back to MC250. This amplifier is very pleasing to both the ears and eyes. It has that wonderful classic tube amp sound with the looks to match. Except where the output tubes would be located inside the black metal cage, there are 4 large heatsinks with Motorola output transisters on them. This is actually a great design because the heatsinks have ample ventilation on all sides plus with the Cornwalls sensitivity of 101 dB @ 1 watt, at full volume, the MC250 is only pushing out about 3 or 4 watts of power!

Like I said before, this amplifier DOES have a tube sound to it. A very warm, full, smooth sound with excellent soundstaging and precise imaging. No matter what kind of music I put through it, it comes out very natural and all you hear is the music. And if you really want to achieve that tube sound, raise and widen the soundstage, and produce and even more precise imaging, take your 8 ohm speakers and hook them up to the 4 ohm taps on the output autoformers. I picked up that little tweak tip from a few other MC250 owners who are more than twice my age and have had the MC250 longer then I have been on this planet! Doing this tweak in my system also made the MC250 run cooler and added more depth to the soundstage!

I am very pleased with the McIntosh MC250 and I will continue to use it in my system until either it croaks or I croak, which ever comes first, and I'm only 25!!!

Similar Products Used:

SAE A205

built like a tank, reliability, well rounded dynamic response, firm bass.

Not the ultimate in resolution, output barrier strips are a pain.

I,ve lived with this amp for 22 years , never ever any problems, The amp might not posses the so called high end ultimate resolution but at this price which one does. I disagree with the review below, This little tank is a nice loyal folk. I also own Mc,s C 22 tube pre wich is a honey , beutifull phono stage, completlly disagree that MC,s are overrated, might not be this persons cup of tea but I find the review below unfair.

Similar Products Used:

Audiprism debut, Mcintosh 6500 Int. amp.