McIntosh MC312 Solid State 300W Amplifier - Pre-Loved

Price listed is MSRP. Please call to order and discuss pricing.

This is the first MC312 that we are listing as Pre-Loved. It will come with its manual, box, and power cord just as new.

A SkyFi 1-year warranty will be included with this product (no McIntosh warranty). 

Support your local McIntosh Dealer

The MC312 is a capable 300-watt stereo amplifier. We really like this amp because it showcases classic McIntosh traits such as Autoformers and the iconic blue watt meters. As a 300-watt model, it can power just about any speaker with ease while providing plenty of headroom.

Standout Features:
• 300 Watts x 2 Channels
• McIntosh Autoformers™
• 27% increase in Dynamic Headroom compared to previous model

General:

Prepare yourself for years and years of musical enjoyment with the MC312 Power Amplifier. A 300 watt per channel stereo amplifier, the MC312 is a great choice to power virtually any home audio system. The full 300 watts can be delivered to almost any speakers, whether they have 2, 4, or 8 ohm impedance, thanks to our unique Autoformer technology.

Named Best Stereo Power Amplifier of 2019 by Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity, the MC312 was praised with the words: “This just may be all the amplifier you will ever need!”

The MC312 has received numerous improvements compared to our previous 300 watt stereo amplifier. Most notably, filter capacity has been doubled, increasing dynamic headroom by an impressive 27%, from 1.8 dB to 2.3 dB. This increase means the MC312 is even better suited to handle wide dynamic swings in your music. Distortion prevention and bass performance also benefit from the increased filter capacity.

“A component that makes you want to listen to as much music as possible, such as the MC312, is what it is all about. It is perhaps the finest, most sophisticated amplifier I have heard in its price range in my system.” — NOVO Magazine

While still looking very much like a McIntosh, the MC312 has received several key design updates. Direct LED backlighting now illuminates the front panel for improved color accuracy. The audio output Autoformers still straddle the power transformer, but are now housed in new enclosures capped by a single cover with glass inserts that display the wiring diagram for each transformer.

“When the hairs on your arms rise during a listening session and you get a huge grin on your face, you know that you’re having a tremendous amount of fun and listening to true reference-quality equipment.” — Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity

Other updates include the addition of our Monogrammed Heatsinks and our eco-friendly power management system. Numerous circuit components and internal wiring have also been upgraded. Balanced and unbalanced outputs have been added to enable bi-amping or tri-amping your speakers. These outputs can also be used to connect to a secondary system if your preamplifier lacks sufficient connections, or to connect a powered subwoofer.

The MC312 is packed with exclusive McIntosh technologies, including Power Guard, which monitors and adjusts the input signal in real time to prevent harsh-sounding and potentially speaker-damaging clipping; Sentry Monitor, a fuse-less short-circuit protection circuit that disengages the output stage before current exceeds safe operating levels and automatically resets when conditions return to normal; Power Control, which sends power on and off signals to other connected McIntosh components for easy system startup and shutdown; and patented Solid Cinch speaker binding posts that securely attach speaker cables, prevent accidental shorts, and are gold-plated to resist corrosion and ensure optimal signal transfer.

The MC312 sits on a beautiful polished stainless steel chassis and features the timeless McIntosh black glass front panel, illuminated logo, control knobs, aluminum end caps, and a pair of fast-responding blue watt meters.

SkyFi Cosmetic Notes:
Light marks and scratches are visible on the rear panel chrome near the speaker output connections. Overall condition is very good.

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.

Ownership:
Single Owner

Connections:
XLR, IEC power, RCA, 5 Way Binding Post, Power control

General Sound:
Big beautiful musical sound with little fatigue.

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.

Included:
Unit, Box, Manual, Power Cord

Packing:
Original Manufacturers Packing

Original MSRP:
$8,500.00

Specs:
Power Output per Channel 300 Watts @ 2, 4 or 8 Ohms
Number of Channels 2
Total Harmonic Distortion 0.005%
S/N below rated output Balanced: 120dB
Unbalanced: 118dB Dynamic Headroom 2.3dB
Damping Factor >40 Wideband
Rated Power Band 20Hz to 20kHz
Frequency Response +0, -0.25dB from 20Hz to 20,000Hz +0, -3.0dB from 10Hz to 100,000Hz
CONTROL
Remote Power Control Yes
Multi-Channel DB25 Cable N/A
CONNECTIVITY
Speaker Binding Post Type Patented Solid Cinch™ Speaker Binding Posts
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 2
Front Panel Glass
Illumination Direct LED
Chassis Style Polished stainless steel & black painted steel

Dimensions:
17-1/2" (44.45cm) x 9-7/16" (23.97cm) (including feet) x 22" (55.88cm) (including front panel, handles and cables)

Weight:
103 lbs.

Link to Manual:
Click Here

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 Summit Series Monocle XL Speaker Cables (PAIR) - Best

Kimber Summit Series BiFocal XL Bi-Wire Speaker Cables (PAIR) - Best If Applicable

Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Better

Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Best

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 the PCBs for discoloration from resistors or transistors that may have been running hot. On vintage units we often spot check select capacitors for value and ESR.

If the amplifier passes visual inspection, we move on to a controlled power on sequence using a Sencore safety analyzer to monitor current draw in real time. Once the amplifier is determined to be safe to operate, we connect it to full AC mains for function and power testing. We connect the speaker outputs of the amplifier to a Sencore PA81 Power Analyzer which acts as a dummy load, DC offset monitor, and oscilloscope interface. We start with a low level 1 KHz test signal at the amplifier's input and slowly increase its amplitude while monitoring the 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. If the device under test has both balanced and single ended inputs they are both tested at this time.

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. This allows us to monitor the unit for signs of thermal runaway or intermittent issues that only crop up when the unit has fully come up to temperature.