ClassiK meets classIc:
Michael's drive his mint pair of Briks with yet another long-standing classic McIntosh amplifiers. And his cat is loving it, too! Check out those cool knobs.
His system also runs a home cinema gear as well as an HD based music server.
Michael comments: "...I saw the Briks at eBay felt in love. I made my bidding and finally I got them. There was a new question then: which amp could cope with the hard to drive loudspeakers? In my opinion the Majik-I wouldn't and a LK100 wouldn't, too.
So I looked around for an new poweramp. A LK280 with a Spark should be
powerful enough. Hm, this was not really satisfying to me. I looked around
again - and felt in love again. These blue eyes - I couldn't resist! I mean a
McIntosh MC2105 in a mint condition. What a great design! I bought this beauty
whithout any hesitation. I was a good deal. The MC2105 has encountered no
problem with the low impedance beasts. It drives them with a smile.
The preamp is a Cyrus AV Master 8.0. It's a nice thing, but not in a vintage
chain. Okay, I had to buy a vintage preamp to close the chain. The MC2105
needs a C26 or C28 amp. But these are solid state designs. And I want a
tube amp - and found it: a McIntosh C20 - another beauty! The C20 is really
wonderful! It has a warm and clear sound and the tubes glow in the dark. I
like the sound and my cat, too. ;-) Now the system is complete. But I plan to
modify the Briks to go active next time."
System updates:
10-May
- Old tweeters replaced by the recent Hiquphone OWI (2 matched pairs) -> in my
opinion a highly recommended upgrade
10-June
- McIntosh MC2105 replaced by a pair of vintage McIntosh MC75
Michael comments: "...I really love the C20. It is unbelievable that a nearly 50
years old amp sounds so fantastic! And I like the smooth and warm tube
character it brings to the music. So I desided to contact my dealer and asked
him for an adequate tube poweramplifier. He said, that he has a mint McIntosh
MC275 in stock - and a pair of as-new MC75 monoamps. That was exactly what I looked for. He mailed me pictures of the MC75 and I couldn't resist. Finally I
bought these outstanding pieces.
I wasn't sure that the MC75s would make a harmonic liaison with the Briks at
this time. But all my doubts were wiped away as I heard the first few tacts of
the music. The sound is marvelous! The bass seems to be deeper and the timbre
is smooth and warm. Okay, the music lost some brightness and speed. But the
sound is fat, deep, bold, warm, roomfilling and seems to made in one casting. I
really love it! The system is an "earcandy" - and an eyecandy, too, as you can
see.
The McIntosh MC2105 isn't retired. It is hooked to the rear channel speakers."
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