logo
All goods Speakers
Electronics
Vinyl
Headphones
Hi-Fi Cables
Projectors
Furniture and Accessories
Electronics
Amplifiers
Tube Amplifiers
McIntosh Tube Amplifiers MC901

McIntosh Tube Amplifiers MC901

SKU: 3390

MC901

McIntosh has been perfecting vacuum tube amplifiers since the 1940s and solid state amplifiers since the 1960s. Our amplifiers have been used at many historic events including presidential inaugurations and Woodstock, as well as in landmark sound sys...
View all
Specifications
  • Weight 180 lbs (81.6 kg)
All specifications

Please call us for more information

We also offer you
Free selection of cables
0 GBP
Connection and setup
param-tool
Call an expert
McIntosh Tube Amplifiers MC901
McIntosh has been perfecting vacuum tube amplifiers since the 1940s and solid state amplifiers since the 1960s. Our amplifiers have been used at many historic events including presidential inaugurations and Woodstock, as well as in landmark sound systems like the Grateful Dead's Wall of Sound and Despacio. From that heritage comes a truly one-of-a-kind home audio amplifier only we could dream of, design and build as the ultimate solution for bi-amping loudspeakers: the McIntosh MC901 Dual Mono Amplifier.

The MC901 is a monoblock amplifier that drives a single speaker. But it is unlike any other monoblock amplifier. What makes the MC901 so unique is that it's two amplifiers combined into one. Adding to the uniqueness is that each amplifier is of differing design philosophies: the MC901 consists of a 300 Watt vacuum tube amplifier attached to a 600 Watt solid state amplifier on one unified chassis.

Four KT88 output tubes, two 12AT7 and one 12AX7A signal tubes are located on each the left and right side of the MC901. The 300 Watt vacuum tube portion powers the speaker's mid and upper drivers via eight KT88 output tubes, plus four 12AT7 and two 12AX7A signal tubes; the solid state section delivers 600 Watts of dedicated power to the power hungry woofers. The 300 Watt vacuum tube amp in the MC901 uses our patented Unity Coupled Circuit output transformer – the same technology McIntosh was founded on in 1949 – to deliver its full 300 Watts into almost any speaker regardless if it has 2, 4 or 8 Ohm impedance. Similarly, the 600 Watt solid state amp delivers its full 600 Watts into a 2, 4 or 8 Ohm impedance speaker via our Autoformer™ technology.

The back of the MC901 includes diagrams showing how to connect your system, and Solid Cinch™ speaker binding posts. As a Quad Balanced, dual mono amplifier, there are positive and negative connections for each speaker impedance of 2, 4 or 8 Ohms for both the vacuum tube and solid state sections. Vacuum tubes do not perform at their best when they are amplifying lower frequencies that are not being used by the loudspeaker. With the MC901, the vacuum tube amp will not be burdened with low end reproduction as the solid state section will drive these frequencies. The two amplifier sections of the MC901 are designed to work together in a synergistic relationship and are specifically engineered to assure that each section only amplifies its intended frequencies. Each amplifier section has its own discrete power supply so neither siphons power or performance away from the other. All of this results in easy bi-amping with unparalleled performance and sound reproduction from your speakers.

Prior to the MC901, bi-amping a speaker required two separate amplifiers. It also required an external crossover, along with a lot of trial and error, to properly configure the two detached amplifiers so they worked together as best as possible. The MC901 solves this issue thanks to its internal, adjustable crossover with the controls easily accessible on the top of the unit. These adjustable crossover filters allow you to optimize the performance of both amplifier sections to your listening preferences. Relative gain levels for each amplifier section can be adjusted from -6dB to + 3dB. A direct feed can also be connected to each amplifier section, thus bypassing the filters.

Like virtually all McIntosh amplifiers, the MC901 features an iconic "McIntosh Blue" Watt meter, which has come to be recognized around the world as a symbol of quality home audio. And just like the MC901 itself is a new design, so too is its meter with the introduction of our new DualView™ Power Output Meter. The DualView meter features two of our traditional, fast responding mechanical meters stacked above and below each other in a single meter window; one meter is dedicated to the 300 Watt vacuum tube amp and the other to the 600 Watt solid state amp. Each meter operates independently of the other and displays the real time power reading of each amplifier section.

The uncompromising level of fit and finish that is expected of a McIntosh product completes the MC901. It can be combined with a variety of preamplifiers, turntables, CD players, media streamers, speakers and other specialty products to form a complete home audio system.

Specifications
Features
Power Output per Channel
Solid State section: 600 Watts @ 2, 4 or 8 Ohms Vacuum Tube section: 300 Watts @ 2, 4 or 8 Ohms
Functions
Damping Factor
Solid State section: >40 Vacuum Tube section: >18
Frequency Response
Solid State section: +0, -0.25dB from 20Hz to 20,000Hz +0, -3dB from 10Hz to 100,000Hz Vacuum Tube section: +0, -0.5dB from 20Hz to 20,000Hz +0, -3dB from 10Hz to 70,000Hz
Total Harmonic Distortion
Solid State section: 0.005% maximum harmonic distortion at any power level from 250 milliwatts to rated power, 20Hz to 20,000Hz
Power
Rated power
Solid State section: 20Hz to 20kHz Vacuum Tube section: 20Hz to 20kHz
Dimensions
Dimensions ( W x H x D )
17-17/32" (44.5cm) x 13-3/8" (34cm) x 29-17/32" (75cm)
Weight
180 lbs (81.6 kg)
Opinions about McIntosh Tube Amplifiers MC901
Konstantin Kochnev
10.18.2021

Pros

Very high quality, outstanding performance.

Minuses

There are no and cannot be any minuses.

Review

The top of High End (a) in the audio system is the connection of acoustics by the BI-Adfing system. (Although there is also TRI-Figure) I must immediately say that the pleasure is not cheap. I have been using BI-Front (OM) for ten years and precisely according to the Mcintosh MC901 scheme, the lamp to the top and middle, a transistor to the bottom. Significantly improvement of the sound of the system. Of course, the Mcintosh MC901 is a monster and you can?t put it in a standard room, but who has their own house and free funds, then only to joy.

Translated from pult.ru
Original reviews

About brand
McIntosh McIntosh

The talented individuals at McIntosh are dedicated to design and build the finest quality home audio products in the world. In our 70+ years of experience, McIntosh has defined quality sound reproduction and set the standard for performance, reliability and service.A new McIntosh model takes many months or even years to go from initial concept to final product. Along the way, it is meticulously engineered and continuously refined until it meets our exacting standards. Then our employees' skilled handcraftsmanship is combined with our vast manufacturing capabilities to turn those designs into revered home audio products.

Find out more about McIntosh

Please call us for more information

We also offer you
Free selection of cables
0 GBP
Connection and setup
param-tool
Call an expert
About brand
McIntosh McIntosh

The talented individuals at McIntosh are dedicated to design and build the finest quality home audio products in the world. In our 70+ years of experience, McIntosh has defined quality sound reproduction and set the standard for performance, reliability and service.A new McIntosh model takes many months or even years to go from initial concept to final product. Along the way, it is meticulously engineered and continuously refined until it meets our exacting standards. Then our employees' skilled handcraftsmanship is combined with our vast manufacturing capabilities to turn those designs into revered home audio products.

Find out more about McIntosh
Advantages of PULT Electronics
Certified experts
Listening Room
Large selection
Simple Return
Free delivery from 0 GBP