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John
A new amplifier from McIntosh and a more permanent replacement for the limited edition MC2152 introduced last year to mark the manufacturer’s 70th anniversary. The incoming full-timer is called the MC1502 and threatens a whopping 150wpc — enough for almost any loudspeaker.
Not only. According to McIntosh, the MC1502’s power delivery is load-independent. No matter the connected loudspeaker’s nominal impedance – 2 Ohms, 4 Ohms, 8 Ohms – the company’s ‘Unity Coupled Circuit’ output transformer tech will make good on the MC1502’s 150wpc promise.
From the press release: “Two Unity Coupled Circuit output transformers flank the power transformer and each transformer is housed in a glass-topped extruded enclosure which displays the wiring diagram for each transformer.”
On output tubes, we note an octet of KT88, with a quad of 12AX7A working the inputs and a quad of 12AT7 handling voltage and driver circuitry.
Those noticing the MC1502’s visual similarities to the MC275 amplifier should, according to McIntosh, see the newcomer as the long-standing classic’s new bigger brother. A single MC1502 reportedly matches a pair of mono-blocked MC275 on output power but beats them on SNR: 112dB vs. 105dB.
On the MC1502’s back panel, we find balanced XLR and single-ended RCA inputs plus McIntosh’s ‘Solid Cinch’ binding posts. Other features include ‘Air-Pipe’ cooling applied to the KT88 tubes’ socket bases and ceramic sockets with gold-plated contacts for the signal tubes.
Shipping begins in August with an RRP of US$11,000.
Further information: McIntosh
