£16,495

MC451

The MC451 Dual Mono Amplifier joins the MC901 in offering the ultimate solution to bi-amping a loudspeaker.

MC451

Dual Mono Amplifier

NEW

  • Includes our Hybrid Drive technology that uses the best of vacuum tubes and solid state to produce the best sound performance
  • Designed with bi-amping loudspeakers in mind
  • 150 Watt vacuum tube amplifier and 300 Watt solid state amplifier on one chassis
  • Vacuum tube section powers mid and upper drivers
  • Solid state section drives power hungry woofers
  • DualView™ Power Output Meter

A Stunning Sound Experience.

The MC451 Dual Mono Amplifier joins the MC901 in offering the ultimate solution to bi-amping a loudspeaker. Like the MC901, the MC451 uses our Hybrid Drive technology that combines a separate vacuum tube and solid state amplifier onto one single chassis to produce the best possible sound performance from a bi-ampable speaker. Unlike the larger MC901, the MC451 has a more conventional McIntosh form factor and size, allowing it to fit into home audio systems, racks, and furniture more easily. Adding a pair of MC451s to your stereo system will allow your prized speakers to perform like never before.

The MC451 is comprised of a 150 Watt vacuum tube amplifier and a 300 Watt solid state amplifier, which is more than enough power to drive virtually all speakers.

The vacuum tube section drives the speaker's midranges and tweeters, while the solid state section drives the woofers. The 150 Watt vacuum tube amplifier is powered by four KT88 output tubes which are located under a removable wire cage, plus two 12AT7 and one 12AX7A signal tubes; it uses our patented Unity Coupled Circuit output transformer to deliver its full 150 Watts into almost any speaker regardless if it has 2, 4 or 8 Ohm impedance.

Similarly, the 300 Watt solid state amplifier delivers its full 300 Watts into a 2, 4 or 8 Ohm impedance speaker via our Autoformer technology.

The two amplifiers in the MC451 are designed to work together in a synergistic relationship and are specifically engineered to assure that each only amplifies its intended frequencies. The large but quiet toroidal transformer generates enough power so that neither amplifier robs power or performance from the other. All of this results in easy bi-amping with unparalleled performance and sound reproduction from your speakers.

Bi-amping your speakers with the MC451 is easy. No longer do you need fiddle with two separate amplifiers, an external crossover, and a lot of trial and error to properly configure the two separate amplifiers with often times only so-so results. The MC451 solves these hassles thanks to its internal, adjustable crossover. The MC451’s crossover tailors the output frequency range of each amplifier section to the attached loudspeaker. Simply set the CROSSOVER POINT knob on the back of the MC451 to the loudspeaker’s crossover point, then frequencies below the crossover point will be sent to the solid state amplifier and frequencies above it will be sent to the vacuum tube amplifier.

Specifications

ELECTRONIC SPECIFICATIONS
Power Output per ChannelSolid State section: 300 Watts @ 2, 4 or 8 Ohms Vacuum Tube section: 150 Watts @ 2, 4 or 8 Ohms
S/N below rated outputSolid State section: 118dB Vacuum Tube section: 112dB
Rated Power BandSolid State section: 20Hz to 20kHz Vacuum Tube section: 20Hz to 20kHz
Number of Channels1
Dynamic HeadroomSolid State section: 2.5dB Vacuum Tube section: 1.2dB
Frequency ResponseSolid State section: +0, -0.25dB from 20Hz to 20,000Hz +0, -3dB from 10Hz to 100,000Hz Vacuum Tube section: +0, -0.5dB from 20Hz to 20,000Hz +0, -3dB from 10Hz to 70,000Hz
Total Harmonic DistortionSolid State section: 0.005% maximum harmonic distortion at any power level from 250 milliwatts to rated power, 20Hz to 20,000Hz Vacuum Tube section: 0.5% maximum harmonic distortion at any power level from 250 milliwatts to rated power, 20Hz to 20,000Hz
Damping FactorSolid State section: >40 Vacuum Tube section: >18
CONTROL
Remote Power ControlYes
Multi-Channel DB25 CableN/A
CONNECTIVITY
Speaker Binding Post TypePatented Solid Cinch™ Speaker Binding Posts
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Circuit ConfigurationSolid State section: Push-Pull Complementary Vacuum Tube section: Unity Coupled
Mono ParallelNo
Meter Light SwitchYes
IlluminationDirect LED
Circuit DesignSolid State and Vacuum Tube
Output TypeSolid State section: Autoformer™ Vacuum Tube section: Unity Coupled Output Transformer
Balanced Input2 (1 Solid State or Mono, 1 Vacuum Tube)
Chassis StylePolished stainless steel & black painted steel
Mono BridgeNo
MetersDualView™ Power Output Meter
Front PanelGlass
WEIGHTS & DIMENSIONS
Unit Dimensions (W x H x D)17-7/8" (45.4cm) x 11-13/16" (30cm) x 21-1/2" (54.6cm)
Unit Weight133 lbs (60.3 kg)
Shipping Weight159 lbs (72.1 kg)