A complete vintage, early 1960’s McIntosh MC240 amp, with original cage, fully current matched plates with original GE & Telefunken quality tubes ( Total of (6) tested /matched GE 6L6GC, Tele ECC83 x4 & 1 Tele Smooth 12Au7). The amp tests great and sounds Left & Right sound wonderful, clean & quiet (only checked stereo mode, other inputs not tested) — see actual amp playing in video below; brought up on meter Variac and left at only 100 volts. Checked with music, played for 2 hours and swept 20-20,000 with function generator.
Appears all original except for 2 changed power caps (crucial Sprague bumblebee filter caps are present!) Other functions / inputs are still untested (as-is). Please watch / listen the video below, a bright light was shone onto chrome so you can see, it' chrome has some scars, though it still looks very nice! These beautiful 1950s & early 60’s McIntosh tube amplifiers really symbolize american exceptionalism. Lusted after nearly universally by all classes, nationalities, and creeds of audiophile — it’s a cliché to say you want one; who doesn’t? Not many other tube amps have simultaneously provided aesthetics, listening enjoyment while remaining a safe & pure financial investment. You could also say, very few audio items will be guaranteed this status 50 years from now. The MC line of stereo amps was, is and will always be an archetype of classy hifi gear. Giving you maximum quality per dollar. Yes, indeed you should consider classic Marantz & Western Electric if you want ultimate purist listening detail and midrange presence (best to avoid ultra-linear for that). Neither WE or Marantz will provide the ultimate statement & authoritative oomph in your living room … few other amps will do this. Don’t bother with 1990’s era re-issues — they will sound different and are not collector’s items … Reproductions are not the same as this; not an investment like these older MC240’s. Status symbolism aside, few other manufacturers insanely overbuilt & over-engineered their products. Fewer companies yet actually wound & potted their own iron (transformers). Back in the 1950s & 60’s MC amps were routinely found in sequestered sterile laboratory settings - where they found use for critical scientific work....much to the chagrin of established lab equipment manufacturers, like General Radio, HP, B&K and Kline/Hummel. In the lab, MAC amps were relished for that verifiable technical perfection, not the killer up-consumer market looks (or so they said!)
This particular amp was recently purchased (the previous local owner was lovingly using and only reluctantly sold). It’s not perfect, at all. It does strike a excellent balance though. While this amp presents well (as you can see in video & photos).
It’s 50 + years old, so there are numerous minor flaws. It will still look great in any home…. making it an everyday listener’s dream amp. On sides it has light corrosion and missing letters in various places and a few touched up scratches on the far right top transformer (photo …. most of these 50-year-old Macintosh amplifiers have cosmetics problems — this one wears them well. Transformers & cage have a minor scuffs & few scrapes that had at some point touched up, and they look NICE - no dings or dents most importantly. Chrome looks nice at distance, upon close examination you’ll notice it does have missing letters (no letters at all on the shinny top) and some mild pitting in places as well as light corrosion on sides ... again common to these old amps. Certainly better to always buy the original, the real McCoy you like this one a scars from the ages .... these original amps have the sound, character, you need in a collectors item; that you can listen to every day. It presents extremely well as it sits here - playing beautifully on our test bench…. This one in particular is begging to be used … definitely! Not to be placed high on one's shelf or sealed away and some wannabe museum collection. It will be really nice looking in your your house ... turned on & playing . Electrically it's complete & nice, overall extremely original, no upgrades or mods. Importantly & notably having all of the original Sprague bumblebee capacitors. You want these to be there, if at all possible … just like this one (see pic ). There's a reason people pay so much for original bumblebee capacitors (lots of original tested units can bring hundreds of $). They are crucial to the signature sound. Many complain that they are old and have drifted (as have the carbon comps) but as long as they're working okay it's most collector / users’ prefer never to change them. To be included with this amplifier or all of the essential documents that you'd want to; reprints of the Macintosh 240 FULL owners manual + the FULL service manual + maintenance manual + schematics + Howard Sams booklet with another full schematic and test voltages. This is the earlier incarnation of Macintosh 240. The type with octal sockets for line input output on the side. Peruse other examples here on eBay and you'll see. As I recall, this is the older model … and these plugs were intended for the original McIintosh preamps. For those of you who are looking for the perfect balance between a collectors item and a wonderful amplifier ... this is the one if five ever seen it! This is the one if I have ever seen it! It looks wonderful and displays beautifully, but it's not perfect and the years have done have taken their toll. This unit is exceptionally original. Just a couple replacement caps in the power section we're done. All of the original Sprague bumblebee capacitors are intact. While it's beautiful to look at its not perfect so you won't have to pay top dollar for a museum piece. Crucial pieces of Macintosh enjoyment or present with this set up, full package of McIntosh papers, all original vintage USA 6l6GC / Telefunken tubes. And, the original Macintosh cage in excellent shape. The amp weighs over 50lbs, and properly packed in double box, with extra rigid triwall cardboard and layer of cushion — shipped weight is over 62lbs. Overseas buyers welcome, but cost is high. EMS Express mail to ASIA / Europe is about $300. FeDex air freight ( best price under $250 discounted) available to HK, China & Korea , will be calcualted after sale.
Buy now with safety and avoid a bidders war. This amp will sell quickly. You can see it well .. in these many photos, and listen to it live in video. Will be packed well, in strong double-box for safe Domestic or OVERSEAS delivery. Fast shipping with full tracking info after payment.
