McIntosh Reissues Classic 60s Amps, Price Adjusted for Inflation

McIntosh celebrates 60 years of hi-fi with reissues of classic amps. Included are the MC75 monoblock tube amp (originally released back in 1961) and the C22 preamp (introduced back in 1962). The components circuitry has been updated since their 1960s originals hit the market – and of course their prices have been adjusted for inflation.

For decades I’ve made a hobby of raiding garage sales and used hi-fi shops, wading through dusty old outdated equipment looking for those proverbial gems in the rough. When you look past dusty old 8-tracks and abandoned Pro-Logic receivers you might fin something interesting once in awhile. 

On a very rare occasion I’ve actually found equipment made by that legendary high-end audio company, McIntosh. Ironically, because of the distinctive McIntosh old-school esthetic you can sometimes find them used but priced well below what you’d expect. Obviously it’s being sold by the uninitiated who mistakes a long-lost relative’s stereo collection from the attic for old junk. I’ve had the opportunity but lacked the peace of mind to take advantage. 

But who can blame the naive seller. If you’re used to only seeing new receivers at big box stores with black metallic finish, cluttered with logos and lights – you might be forgiven for thinking a dusty old, partially scratched two-channel McIntosh integrated amp isn’t worth a lot on the open market. Such has been the fate of more than a few that have wound up on the floor of a garage sale. Hopefully someone picked them up and they weren’t simply discarded. 

I’ve never owned a “Mac” but friends have.  I have to admit, although they sound flawless, even more than sound quality I revere the company’s esthetic and reputation, I’ve just never been able to justify the price. 

If you want to bring a few pieces of hi-fi history into your audio-room, but never scored a goldmine at local garage sales, now is your chance. 

The audio legend announced its 60^th anniversary limited-edition reissues just last week. The complete “Classic System” package will consist of two MC75, 75 Watt monoblock amps and a C22 preamplifier. It’ll include a special collector’s edition of the McIntosh book For The Love Of Music, signed by author Ken Kessler, McIntosh co-founder Sidney Corderman and McIntosh President Charlie Randall. 

Details on the updates to the historic systems are light but a few modern upgrades have been revealed. The company’s press release says it provided a few updates that’ll improve reliability while retaining the sonic character of the original. The MC75 amps will put out 75 watts into 2, 4 or 8 ohms and is built on a triple polished titanium stainless steel chassis, gold in color. Like the amps McIntosh says the preamp has also been modernized with a number of enhancements.

The C22 features balanced inputs and outputs a moving coil and moving magnet phono amplifier. It also features an IR remote control. 

The price for the complete kit is a heart-stopping $15,000. We’ll file this under one of those impractical purchases even at the best of economic times. But if you’re in the socio-economic bracket that doesn’t mind springing the big bucks you might want to hurry. McIntosh has only made 120 sets of this classic system.