McIntosh MC2301 Audiophile Vacuum Tube Monoblock Power Amplifier

The new McIntosh MC2301 monoblock tube amplifier hails the fusion of our Unity Coupled and Quad-Differential circuit topologies. From the inception of McIntosh Labs, Unity Coupling stands as one of the premiere tube topologies ever conceived, making possible revolutionary power bandwidth and low distortion.

Quad-Differential circuitry, a recent McIntosh innovation, cancels nearly all inherent noise and circuit-born nonlinearities resulting in the lowest noise levels ever achieved in a tube amplifier. With 300 Watts available at 8, 4 or 2 ohms, the MC2301 provides power enough to drive even the most demanding loudspeakers. From the demands of massed chorale to full-on rock and roll, the MC2301 delivers the most extraordinarily lifelike and dynamic performance ever heard from a McIntosh tube amplifier.

The MC2301 design is fully balanced from input to speaker output and is the first ever McIntosh tube amplifier to include Quad-Differential circuitry. A blend of tube and solid state devices comprise a super-linear input stage and the output stage, based upon eight KT88 power tubes, terminates in a custom multifilar wound output transformer providing very low distortion and wide power bandwidth. The result? A staggering 117dB signal to noise ratio combined with vanishingly low distortion to provide remarkable low-level linearity and unmatched liquidity.

From the demands of massed chorale to full-on rock and roll, the MC2301 delivers the most extraordinarily lifelike and dynamic performance ever heard from a McIntosh tube amplifier. With an output of 300 Watts, it provides enough high power to drive even the most demanding loudspeaker. And thanks to our patented Unity Coupled Circuit output transformer, this full 300 Watts is available to 2, 4 or 8 Ohm speakers.

The MC2301 is the first McIntosh vacuum tube amplifier to use our Quad Balanced design. This design cancels virtually all noise and distortion in the audio signal. As a result, even when amplified to high levels the signal is effectively free of any distortion. Our fuse-less short-circuit protection circuit Sentry Monitor™ disengages the output stage before current exceeds safe operating levels and then resets automatically. Inputs for balanced and unbalanced cables are available to provide flexibility in connecting the rest of your audio system.

The attractive blue meter is flanked by two rows of output vacuum tubes that bring even more visual appeal to the front panel to go along with the knobs and brushed aluminum handles that all effortlessly blend with the polished stainless steel chassis. The MC2301 is well suited for stereo music systems.

Features

• 300 Watts Mono Power Output
• Balanced Design
• Multifilar Wound Output Transformers
• Wide Power Bandwidth
• Two Balanced Inputs/Outputs
• Remote Power Control with Meter Light Control
• Low Distortion from 20Hz to 20kHz
• Large Gold Plated Five-Way Binding Posts
• ½” Thick Glass Front Panel with Tube View
• Fiber Optic Light Diffuser Illumination

Specifications

• Power Output per Channel

  300W @ 2, 4 or 8 Ohms

• Number of Channels

  1

• Total Harmonic Distortion

  0.5% maximum harmonic distortion at any power level from 250 milliwatts to rated power, 20Hz to 20,000Hz
  (≤ 0.25% harmonic distortion at 1kHz)

• S/N below rated output

  117dB

• Dynamic Headroom

  1.2dB

• Damping Factor

  >15 Wideband

• Rated Power Band

  20Hz to 20kHz

• Frequency Response

  +0, -0.5dB from 20Hz to 20,000Hz
  +0, -3.0dB from 10Hz to 100,000Hz

CONTROL

• Remote Power Control

  Yes

• Multi-Channel DB25 Cable

  N/A

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Circuit Configuration

  Quad Balanced, Unity Coupled

• Circuit Design

  Vacuum Tube

• Mono Bridge

  No

• Mono Parallel

  No

• Output Type

  Unity Coupled Output Transformer

• Meters

  Yes

• Meter Light Switch

  Yes

• Balanced Input

  Yes

• Front Panel

  1/2" Glass with handles

• Illumination

  LED Fiber Optic

• Chassis Style

  Open Stainless Steel

CONNECTIVITY

• Speaker Binding Post Type

  Yes, 200 amp, 3-way

WEIGHTS & DIMENSIONS

• Unit Dimensions (W x H x D)

  17-3/4" (45.09cm) x 12-5/16" (31.27cm) (including feet) x 23" (58.42cm) (including front panel and cables)

• Unit Weight

  116 lbs (52.6 kg)

• Shipping Weight

  141 lbs (63.9 kg)

Support

• Datasheet
• Manual
• Power Amp Comparison Chart