McIntosh valve amplifier manufacture. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

McMurdo · 18th Nov 2020, 8:57 am

This appeared in my youtube recommended list the other day. The 'how its made' style programme all about McIntosh valve amps which are still made:

https://youtu.be/2HgS6gvokEI

Craig Sawyers · 18th Nov 2020, 9:18 am

McIntosh are a major audio electronics manufacturing company, and have been going since Adam was a lad. Beautifully built and with a characteristic appearance. And some of it is punishingly new-car level expensive.

Thanks for the YouTube link! The unit they are building, the 275, is a mere price baby at £7k.

Craig

murphymad · 18th Nov 2020, 11:10 am

I see that they have simplified the manufacture and reduced the complexity of the 275 output transformer when compared with the MC240 type which I was asked to rewind a couple of years ago. Also it is no longer on C-Cores.

I would rather have the MC240 with no circuit boards!!!

Mike...

merlinmaxwell · 18th Nov 2020, 1:38 pm

Interesting video, well made, the LEDs are not blue and I enjoyed the transformer laminating machine. £7k though? At least the IEC connector is the right way up (ground down). I do wonder if the meter is real watts or volts assuming a resistive load.

Radio Wrangler · 18th Nov 2020, 6:17 pm

Ooh, wow. How do they do the special heaters in the valves which make them glow green?

All mine are just the old-school reddy-orange.

The speaker terminals are in a non-magnetic material "which is important because magnetic ones would react to the current and cause distortion"

I suppose non-magnetic materials for the transformers would price them out of the market ?

Sorry, but the twaddle factor is too high to watch further.

David

Craig Sawyers · 18th Nov 2020, 6:17 pm

There are amps in the McIntosh range that make £7k look cheap.

For example this beast https://www.dbhifi.co.uk/product/mcintosh-mc2kw/ . Note the £49,500 is for one channel - so the thick end of £100k for a stereo amp.

Craig

chriswood1900 · 18th Nov 2020, 7:42 pm

Slightly surprised on a corporate video at the wonky tube near the start followed by a panel covered in fingerprints, interesting seeing how they are made but best with the sound turned down.

joebog1 · 18th Nov 2020, 10:47 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radio Wrangler

Ooh, wow. How do they do the special heaters in the valves which make them glow green?

All mine are just the old-school reddy-orange.

The speaker terminals are in a non-magnetic material "which is important because magnetic ones would react to the current and cause distortion"

I suppose non-magnetic materials for the transformers would price them out of the market ?

Sorry, but the twaddle factor is too high to watch further.

David

The way to beat the problem of magnetic speaker terminals David, is to make the output transformers DC. A steady fixed flux!!

Joe

PJL · 20th Nov 2020, 1:39 pm

I guess the non-magnetic speaker connectors also allow the pre-amp 'tubes' to be placed right next to the power output ones. I have to agree with the dislike of using a PCB for a valve amplifier and particularly for the power output valves, still, it is good to see some manufacturing that is not in the far east.

18th Nov 2020, 8:57 am	#1
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 4,222	McIntosh valve amplifier manufacture. This appeared in my youtube recommended list the other day. The 'how its made' style programme all about McIntosh valve amps which are still made: https://youtu.be/2HgS6gvokEI __________________ Kevin

18th Nov 2020, 9:18 am	#2
Craig Sawyers Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 3,007	Re: McIntosh valve amplifier manufacture. McIntosh are a major audio electronics manufacturing company, and have been going since Adam was a lad. Beautifully built and with a characteristic appearance. And some of it is punishingly new-car level expensive. Thanks for the YouTube link! The unit they are building, the 275, is a mere price baby at £7k. Craig Last edited by Craig Sawyers; 18th Nov 2020 at 9:25 am.

18th Nov 2020, 11:10 am	#3
murphymad Heptode Join Date: May 2003 Location: Devizes, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 594	Re: McIntosh valve amplifier manufacture. I see that they have simplified the manufacture and reduced the complexity of the 275 output transformer when compared with the MC240 type which I was asked to rewind a couple of years ago. Also it is no longer on C-Cores. I would rather have the MC240 with no circuit boards!!! Mike... Attached Thumbnails __________________ Mike Barker.

18th Nov 2020, 1:38 pm	#4
merlinmaxwell Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK. Posts: 10,257	Re: McIntosh valve amplifier manufacture. Interesting video, well made, the LEDs are not blue and I enjoyed the transformer laminating machine. £7k though? At least the IEC connector is the right way up (ground down). I do wonder if the meter is real watts or volts assuming a resistive load. __________________ Cats have staff, it's dogs that have owners.

18th Nov 2020, 6:17 pm	#5
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 16,717	Re: McIntosh valve amplifier manufacture. Ooh, wow. How do they do the special heaters in the valves which make them glow green? All mine are just the old-school reddy-orange. The speaker terminals are in a non-magnetic material "which is important because magnetic ones would react to the current and cause distortion" I suppose non-magnetic materials for the transformers would price them out of the market ? Sorry, but the twaddle factor is too high to watch further. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

18th Nov 2020, 7:42 pm	#7
chriswood1900 Octode Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 1,046	Re: McIntosh valve amplifier manufacture. Slightly surprised on a corporate video at the wonky tube near the start followed by a panel covered in fingerprints, interesting seeing how they are made but best with the sound turned down. __________________ Chris Wood BVWS Member

20th Nov 2020, 1:39 pm	#9
PJL Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seaford, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 4,816	Re: McIntosh valve amplifier manufacture. I guess the non-magnetic speaker connectors also allow the pre-amp 'tubes' to be placed right next to the power output ones. I have to agree with the dislike of using a PCB for a valve amplifier and particularly for the power output valves, still, it is good to see some manufacturing that is not in the far east.