I never really cared for McIntosh amps with those "autotransformer" outputs.
The damping factor was really low on those things, like around 14.
And for such a "high end" product, 0.25% distortion isn't special.
Heck my Technics is rated for 0.008% distortion!
The damping factor was really low on those things, like around 14.
And for such a "high end" product, 0.25% distortion isn't special.
Heck my Technics is rated for 0.008% distortion!
Heck, i had few of those technics sporting three zeroes, and they sounded like crap. I am convinced some numbers matter, but when it comes to thd at full power, its the last spec which would ever correlate with sound quality.
I even purchased the same technics twice, because rave reviews, and it even had one more zero in distortion than yours, and it had beautifull fluorescent display, and it even had dual rail and evaluated speakers impedance, and so on...why the heck it sounded like crap. So i even bought second to make sure first not defective.
Do not take me wrong, i was and still am big fan of technics, had many pieces, few systems, but the quoted distortion was the last parameter ever to correlate with sound.
I even purchased the same technics twice, because rave reviews, and it even had one more zero in distortion than yours, and it had beautifull fluorescent display, and it even had dual rail and evaluated speakers impedance, and so on...why the heck it sounded like crap. So i even bought second to make sure first not defective.
Do not take me wrong, i was and still am big fan of technics, had many pieces, few systems, but the quoted distortion was the last parameter ever to correlate with sound.
I am sure you never cared for output transformers in those mcintosh amps. But the fact that output transistors see ideal constant impedance instead of ever changing impedance of the speaker probably escapes you. Grateful dead sure liked them.
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Stereophile measurements show 0.001% distortion at full 500 watts.
https://www.stereophile.com/content/mcintosh-mc501-monoblock-power-amplifier-measurements-0
https://www.stereophile.com/content/mcintosh-mc501-monoblock-power-amplifier-measurements-0
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The Greatful dead's MC2300 amps (I've serviced those models) are heavy twin-fan brutes, but nevertheless worthy of "on stage" and abuse.
Not for a living room in a home.
Stereophile, among other publications with reviews naturally tout a high end product to gain kickbacks from the mfr.
Common sense will show you that - it's a money game.