McIntosh MC300 (1995-1998)
A high-power solid-state stereo amplifier with transformer-coupled outputs, delivering 300 watts per channel into 2, 4, or 8 ohms with minimal distortion.
Overview
The McIntosh MC300 is a stereo power amplifier built from 1995 to 1998, designed for high-current delivery across a wide range of speaker impedances. It uses a unique output transformer to maintain full 300-watt output into 2, 4, or 8 ohm loads, with peak current exceeding 85 amps. The amplifier supports both balanced and unbalanced inputs and can be configured for monaural operation in bridge or parallel mode, delivering up to 600 watts per channel.
Specifications
| Year of Production | 1995 - 1998 |
| Power output | 300 Watts x 2 Channels, 600 Watts x 1 Channel |
| Output load impedance Stereo | 2 Ω, 4 Ω, 8 Ω |
| Output load impedance Mono bridge | 4 Ω, 8 Ω, 16 Ω |
| Output load impedance Mono Parallel | 1 Ω, 2 Ω, 4 Ω |
| Rated output bandwidth | 20 Hz to 20 kHz |
| Total harmonic distortion | ≤ 0.005% (250 mW to 300W) |
| Intermodulation distortion | ≤ 0.005% (250 mW to 300W) |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz +0, -0.25 dB; 10 Hz ~ 100 kHz +0, -3dB |
| Signal-to-noise ratio (A-weighted) | 105 dB (below rated output) |
| Damping factor | ≥ 40 |
| Input impedance | 20k Ω |
| Input sensitivity | 1.4 V (Full) ~ 2.5 V (Click Position) |
| Power requirements | 100 V, 50Hz/60Hz, 0.6 ~ 12A (UL/CSA Standard) |
| External dimensions (including knob and terminal) | Width 445 mm x Height 179 mm x Depth 480 mm |
| Height (including feet) | 187 mm |
| Weight | 35.8 kg |
Design
The MC300 uses a unique output transformer to deliver continuous 300-watt output into 2, 4, or 8 ohm loads, with peak current over 85 amps. It features an all-stage complementary balance circuit to reduce noise and distortion, gold-plated output terminals for heavy gauge cables, and both balanced and unbalanced inputs. The amplifier includes Power Guard (non-clipping protection with THD <2%), Sentry Monitor for continuous current monitoring, auto-recovery thermal cutoff, and a turn-on delay. The front panel includes "Blue Eyes" Power Meters that display actual output power with fast response and a peak hold function. A front-panel switch selects peak hold mode, and rear-panel input level controls include a "click" position set to 2.5V for optimal matching with McIntosh preamplifiers. A power control in/out terminal allows system-wide power linking with other McIntosh components.
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