McIntosh MC611 Quad Balanced Amplifier UK price
McIntosh have been in the business for over 65 years. They are the first choice for many audiophile and they have just introduced the new MC611 Quad Balanced Power Amplifier.
McIntosh are a force in prestigious home entertainment and ultimate-quality audio. That’s why I featured them in my latest piece for Oracle Time.
MC611 Quad Balanced Power Amplifier
McIntosh has launched the new MC611 Quad Balanced Power Amplifier. The new high-power monoblock amp offers a number of key updates and improvements over its predecessor, the MC601.
Firstly, there’s the doubling of filter capacity. This results in a dramatic 55% increase in dynamic headroom (from 1.8dB to 2.8dB) helping to improve the bass frequency performance.
Design
Of course, there have been some design tweaks.
The MC611 sits on a beautiful polished stainless steel chassis and features the timeless McIntosh aesthetic of a black glass front panel, illuminated logo, control knobs, and aluminium handles. There’s also that large 8-inch (20.3 cm) fast-responding blue watt-meter.
The eagle-eyed amongst you will have notice that the front panel features new direct LED backlighting. This hands the unit an improved appearance and colour accuracy.
Additionally, the audio Autoformer and power transformer are now contained in new glass-topped enclosures. The amplifier also features two McIntosh Monogrammed Heatsinks. Not only do they look cool, they keep the MC611 cool as they’re connected to advanced high-current output transistors. These help eliminate thermal equilibrium lag-time.
The back panel offers three sets of McIntosh Solid Cinch speaker binding posts. Here you get a set per speaker impedance.
McIntosh has kindly left additional space between each set to allow for easier speaker cable connectivity. It is these little touches that makes living with kit so much more pleasurable.
Further enhancements include heavier gauge internal wiring, upgraded circuit components and the addition of McIntosh’s eco-friendly power management system.
Proprietary Autoformer technology
The MC611 produces 600 watts of power – enough to drive virtually any loudspeaker. McIntosh’s unique Autoformer output technology ensures that the full 600 watts are delivered to the speaker. So, no matter the impedance, the MC611 will give its all.
More McIntosh tech
In addition to the improvements over its predecessor, the MC611 also features a range of further exclusive McIntosh technologies including: Power Guard, Sentry Monitor, a Quad Balanced design and Power Control.
Both balanced and unbalanced outputs are included to facilitate bi-amping or tri-amping loudspeakers; these can also be used to send the audio signal to a secondary system or to connect a powered subwoofer.
Pricing and availability
Orders can be placed now with authorised McIntosh dealers with shipping expected to begin in February (US) and March/April (UK).
The MC611 is priced at £19,995 per pair.
