McIntosh MC152 Slim Amplifier w/Autofomers and 150WPC - Pre-Loved

This MC152 is pre-owned but functions exactly as new. Visit our store for pricing. Price shown is MSRP.

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Please note this item must be purchased in store and we will not ship under any circumstances. Click here for more information about this policy.

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This item will come with a SkyFi In-House warranty.  The original McIntosh is not transferable. 

Standout Features:

• 150 Watts x 2 Channels
• McIntosh Patented Autoformers and Sentry Monitor
• Space saving 6" tall chassis

General:

The McIntosh MC152 stereo amplifier delivers 150 Watts of power into two channels at 2, 4 or 8 Ohms. Both balanced and unbalanced inputs are included for connecting your preamplifier. Our smallest current model solid state stereo amplifier in terms of power output, the MC152 is perfect for modest sized systems where higher power output levels are not needed or in home theaters to power surround channels.

"Best Amplifier" 2015 - Hi-Fi World

Featuring a space saving design with a slim 6” tall chassis, it can fit where larger models can’t. While it may be physically smaller than our other amplifiers, it's still full of all the technology McIntosh is known for and will perform to the same high standards as any of our amps. The McIntosh output Autoformer™ ensures every speaker receives full power regardless of its impedance while our unique Power Guard® circuitry prevents clipping that could damage your speakers. Our speaker binding posts provide a secure connection to your speaker cables.

"It was the combination of power, control and overall coherence that made the McIntosh work so well with seemingly all musical genres… It can be subtle and fleet-of-foot when needed – yet is just at home pounding out deep bass lines, crashing guitar chords or orchestral crescendos. Not just a cut-down version of McIntosh’s bigger power amplifiers but a great performer in its own right." Awarded 5 out of 5 Globes. - Hi-Fi World

The MC152 is completed by the classic McIntosh black glass front panel, silver end caps and a pair of large, easy to read blue watt meters that are globally recognized as a symbol of quality audio. Bring the MC152 home today and introduce your friends and family to the performance only McIntosh can deliver.

Brand Background:
McIntosh Laboratory is an American manufacturer of handcrafted high-end audio equipment based in Binghamton, New York. The company was founded in 1949 by Frank McIntosh. The company designs and produces audio amplifiers, stereo tuners and other consumer electronics products.

Cosmetic Condition:
8/10 = Very Good. Excellent front faceplate, one minor flaw on chassis side or top. See our detailed rating description here.

Working Condition:
Working perfectly and tested in our lab and listening room.

Recommended Cables:
Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Better

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Best

Kimber Kable - BALANCED XLR Connectors - Better

Kimber Kable - BALANCED XLR Connectors - Best

Kimber Kable - Speaker Cables - Better

Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Better

Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Best

Specs:
ELECTRONIC SPECIFICATIONS
FTC Power Output Rating
150 W

Power Output per Channel
150 W into 2, 4 or 8 ohms

Number of Channels
2

Total Harmonic Distortion
0.005%

S/N below rated output
118dB Balanced
115dB Unbalanced

Dynamic Headroom
2.0dB

Damping Factor
>40 Wideband

Rated Power Band
20Hz to 20kHz

Frequency Response
+0, -0.25dB from 20Hz to 20kHz
+0, -3.0dB from 10Hz to 100kHz

CONTROL
Remote Power Control
Yes

Multi-Channel DB25 Cable
No

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Circuit Configuration
Push-Pull Complementary

Circuit Design
Solid State

Mono Bridge
No

Mono Parallel
No

Output Type
Autoformer™

Meters
Yes

Meter Light Switch
Yes

Balanced Input
1 Stereo

Front Panel
Glass

Illumination
LED Fiber Optic

Chassis Style
Enclosed Steel

CONNECTIVITY
Speaker Binding Post Type
Yes, New Style McIntosh

WEIGHTS & DIMENSIONS
Unit Dimensions (W x H x D)
17-1/2" (44.45cm) x 6" (15.24cm) (including feet) x 21" (50.8cm) (including front panel and cables)

Unit Weight
75 lbs (34 kg)

Testing Process:
We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure that there are no signs of heat stress or damage. Capacitors are checked for telltale signs of predictive failure including bulging, shrunken wrappers, or physical leakage. We also inspect resistors and other passive components for signs of overheating. If tube arcing has occurred in the past we can usually spot discoloration on the output tube sockets. On vintage units we often spot check select capacitors for value and ESR.

If the amplifier passes visual inspection, we move on to a full test of all of the tubes. We use a modern Amplitrex AT-1000 Professional Tube Tester which is capable of testing both emission and Gm with a high degree of accuracy.

We document the results of each tube and replace any weak or suspect tubes before proceeding.

When we power on tube amplifiers for the first time we usually use a variac and current limited AC supply and slowly raise the voltage up to nominal mains level while monitoring plate, screen, filament, and negative bias supply voltages where applicable.

If everything is in order we feed a low level test signal into the amplifier’s input and monitor its output on an oscilloscope across an 8 ohm dummy load. At this point we are just looking to verify basic function and confirm that the output transformers are not damaged.

Once we have verified that the amplifier is safe to operate, we connected it to full mains power. For fixed bias amps we set the bias to manufacturer spec. For cathode biased amps we monitor the plate to cathode voltage to determine if the output tubes are operating in a safe range. Once the output section is verified we move onto bench evaluation.

We start by feeding the input of the amplifier with a low level 1 KHz test signal, slowly increasing its amplitude while monitoring the amplifier’s output on an oscilloscope for signs of noise, clipping, distortion, or improper channel balance. We continue increasing the signal level until the amplifier reaches clipping. At this point we take an output power measurement and compare it to the spec sheet of the amplifier to verify proper performance.

We finish off the bench evaluation with a 1 KHz square wave check and a 20 Hz to 20 KHz sine sweep to assess the amplifier’s frequency response characteristics. This battery of tests will usually reveal if the amplifier has any issues that need further attention.

Before the device leaves the bench we perform a listening test with actual music using a variety of preferred test tracks. Our benches are outfitted with familiar monitor speakers which help us identify inconsistencies that will not always show up on our test gear. The main things that we are listening for are hum or noise with no signal present, proper center image, clicks, pops, or any other obvious undesirable audio characteristics.

If the unit passes all of these tests it is moved to our long term testing rig where we simulate real word operating conditions for 6-8 hours minimum.

For tube amps we like to run this test at least twice.

This allows us to monitor the unit for signs of thermal runaway or intermittent issues that only crop up when it has fully come up to temperature. We find this step to be essential, especially for vintage units.