Question:

In light of the McIntosh trade in offer I am thinking of the following:

Trade in a MINT MC252 for a new Mc275.......as I live in a one bedroom apt here in NYC would I lose the visceral impact of music? I have KEF 107 speakers that have a sensitivity of 91 db and are 4 ohm rated resistive load.

I also wonder about tube life of the KT88s....

Thanks in advance for the candid comments:thmbsp:

Since I have very limited experience with the 275, I can't answer...

but....another question might be, would this be considered a trade "up" in the eyes of McIntosh?

Pete

Are you dissatisfied with the sound of the MC252? Is it just to big and heavy on the dresser to dust around? Are you just wanting to try tubes?

The new MC275 MkV, although rate at 75 watts per channel, usually bench tests at 90 watts per channel, so you are only looking at approximately 4.5dB difference in output between the MC252 and the MC275. My guess is you are not peaking the meters on the MC252 in the bed room on a regular basis, so power wise, the MC275 will more than likely suit you well.

I have owned the MC275 MkV, and I can tell you it is spectacular. Tube maintenance is a fact of life with any tube amp. The KT88's have a good life expectancy, typically 2000 hours or more from what I've read.

Question:

In light of the McIntosh trade in offer I am thinking of the following:

Trade in a MINT MC252 for a new Mc275.......as I live in a one bedroom apt here in NYC would I lose the visceral impact of music? I have KEF 107 speakers that have a sensitivity of 91 db and are 4 ohm rated resistive load.

I also wonder about tube life of the KT88s....

Thanks in advance for the candid comments:thmbsp:

I also considered the MC275 when I bought the MC252. They were priced similarly (actually the MC275 was a little cheaper) so my conclusion was obviously not influenced by their cost.

Because of tube heat and tube life, I think a lot depends on your listening habits. On many days I like to fire-up my system in the AM and keep it on all day. I went with a tube pre and SS power amp because this way I don't have to worry about tube life, heat, etc.

If, on the other hand, you listen more seriously just a couple of hours per day AND you really prefer the sound of the MC275, then go for it. But I would not do it unless you really, REALLY, prefer the MC275 sound to the MC252.

In either case, I don't think you can do much wrong. They are both great Mc amps.

Alberto

Dan,

I love the sound of the 252........but the sheer bulk and weight of the thing is of a concern.....the back/spine of a near 60 yr old is not what it was in my halcyon youth! To clean behind the dresser is a concern because of the weight on the small steel casters.....digging into my parque floor! Consider I traded in mint mono ARC amps due to size and cost of potential tube replacement of 16 KT-90's! I love the sound of tubes, but am not averse to ss reproduction...the 252 is as mentioned in the bedroom....XLRs and speaker cabling are realized to the pre-amp via round holes drilled into the baseboard of the bedroom/living room where the system lives.

I have read many times that the 275 actually puts out 90 watt rms..and I doubt I will miss the extra power. Just wanted to ascertain it's suitability with a speaker spec ed at 91db/meter.



Are you dissatisfied with the sound of the MC252? Is it just to big and heavy on the dresser to dust around? Are you just wanting to try tubes?

The new MC275 MkV, although rate at 75 watts per channel, usually bench tests at 90 watts per channel, so you are only looking at approximately 4.5dB difference in output between the MC252 and the MC275. My guess is you are not peaking the meters on the MC252 in the bed room on a regular basis, so power wise, the MC275 will more than likely suit you well.

I have owned the MC275 MkV, and I can tell you it is spectacular. Tube maintenance is a fact of life with any tube amp. The KT88's have a good life expectancy, typically 2000 hours or more from what I've read.

I have both. For a while I had them both in the same room, and I would switch between the two. I was looking for less maintenance with the SS, but my wife loved the tube sound. The tube sound is actually why we made the leap to Mc in the first place.

From time to time, I switched the cables without telling my wife, but it was rare, that, with a little listening, she couldn't tell the difference. She always preferred the tubes. Truth be known, so did I. I think the SS had a bit more punch, a bit more in the bass.

My solution was to double the 275 and run them as mono blocks. I really like this combination. They are running B&W 803D speakers.

The 252 is in the theater room doing quite well there and waiting as a spare in case I lose both tube amps simultaneously.

I don't sense a problem with heat in the room. I have had to replace one of KT88s in a year and a half and one of the AX7s, total cost of about $75.

I think the terms of the amp trade-in program require that the new amp be of higher cost than the trade. Maybe you can execute a trade of the 252 for two 275s.

Laemmle......At 61 myself, I have a healthy respect for the the back/spine conditions of us "older gentlemen". We've earned every ache.

I am positive you will not be wanting for more power due to lack of volume. 91.5dB/meter is not considered inefficent. The meters on the MC252 read output power directly. Crank it up to what you would consider the loudest volume level you will ever be listening to. Put the meter switch in peak hold position, and read the watts. If those peaks are under 80 watts, you will have no problem with power using the MC275 amp. The 67 lbs. of the MC275 should be a little more manageable than the 95 lbs. of the MC252 amplifier.

I think you are making a mistake, but this is just my opinion. You already have the mc252 and I can understand if you said you were getting two separate amps. but to get a less powerful stereo amp. that makes no sense to me.

I think you are making a mistake, but this is just my opinion. You already have the mc252 and I can understand if you said you were getting two separate amps. but to get a less powerful stereo amp. that makes no sense to me.

That is the point...........will I miss the extra power considering all my variables?

Dan,

I'll wait till the wife leaves tomorrow for work.......I then will open the 'laboratory!':D



Laemmle......At 61 myself, I have a healthy respect for the the back/spine conditions of us "older gentlemen". We've earned every ache.

I am positive you will not be wanting for more power due to lack of volume. 91.5dB/meter is not considered inefficent. The meters on the MC252 read output power directly. Crank it up to what you would consider the loudest volume level you will ever be listening to. Put the meter switch in peak hold position, and read the watts. If those peaks are under 80 watts, you will have no problem with power using the MC275 amp. The 67 lbs. of the MC275 should be a little more manageable than the 95 lbs. of the MC252 amplifier.

Dan,

I'll wait till the wife leaves tomorrow for work.......I then will open the 'laboratory!':D

Were you able to do your audio testing today? What were the conclusions? I'd be very surprised if you were peaking at 50 watts at your loudest listening levels. Let us know.

Expect to lose some resolution but instead to marvel and get lost in the sweet harmonics. The 275 can be intoxicating with certain recordings and you tend to forget everything hifi and just get totally lost in the music.