McIntosh MC 252 – High End Stereo Equipment We Buy

McIntosh is one of the most dependable brand names when it comes to high-end audio systems. For years the brand has been recognized by audiophiles throughout the world as equipment that delivers clear and consistent quality in music. McIntosh is probably best known for its amplifiers and preamps, but the company produces many other components and parts for stereo and home theatre.

What are the specs for the McIntosh MC 252?

Power output:
250 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo), 500 watts into 8Ω (mono)
Frequency response:
20Hz to 20kHz
Total harmonic distortion:
0.005%
Damping factor:
40
Input sensitivity:
1.6V
Signal to noise ratio:
112dB
Speaker load impedance:
2Ω to 8Ω
Dimensions:
17.5 x 9.4 x 14.8 inches
Weight:
95 lbs

What else to know about the McIntosh MC 252?

"The amp may be a bit heavy for some. I'm just glad I'm still young and can lift it LOL. But audiofiles typically like heavy stuff anyway. Also, you have to be careful when you lift it because of the glass on the front, salesman told me you can easily break it if you lift it by the glass. Very different sounding transistor amp. I demo'd about 4 different transistor amps including the one I already had on the same interconnects/speakers/preamp/CD_player. One amp cost nearly twice as much as this one. They all sounded similar, with subtle differences. Then I tried this one. Immediately noticable difference in the highs. My belief is that this is by virtue of the output transformers, which all tube amps have. The transformerless transistor amps all had an extra fuzz, kind of like a raspiness, in the high frequencies(like 5K and above) that just isn't in the source material. As soon as I heard this one I could tell the highs were right there. Natural. Everything was there but nothing extra, which is what an amp is supposed to do. My decision was made right then and there. The midrange is smooth and detailed. I can't comment on the bass as I'm using a subwoofer in conjunction with this amp. At first I didn't like the way it looked. But in time I came to enjoy it thouroghly. It gives me a throwback to the seventies when, as a boy, I first started getting into high-fi. My opinion is that McIntosh hit a home run with this one. And it'll be a sad day if they ever discontinue this one. Worth every penny of the 3.8 Killobucks I paid for it. No complaints." - AudioReview

Brief History of McIntosh

Long mapped-to Binghamton New York – the current headquarters and manufacturing center for McIntosh Labs – not many people know the brand was originally launched outside of the Nation’s Capital in Silver Spring Maryland, in 1949. In 1956, the brand built their original facility in New York, according to the official brand website.

Other McIntosh Products We Often Buy

Typically, StereoBuyers purchases mostly used amplifiers, especially the vintage amps and high-end McIntosh models such as the MC202 or MC252, and the C220 preamp, for example. We have also purchased many pre-owned tuners from McIntosh over the recent years, including the MR67 and MR78 models, for example.

StereoBuyers has purchased tens of thousands worth McIntosh brand equipment since 2014, with individual buys ranging from $100 to well over $50,000. If you are moving, ready to upgrade, or have McIntosh equipment you do not or will not be using, why not contact us today to find out if it is worth good money?

If you are interested in selling your used McIntosh equipment to us in the greater NYC area or Colorado, please click here to fill out a Free Quote Form and we will get back to you. If we agree on terms, we come to meet you where you want, and pay cash.

The following images show actual McIntosh equipment purchased by StereoBuyers.