Усилители мощности стерео — McIntosh MC1502

The McIntosh MC1502 is a stereo valve power amplifier built around eight KT88 output tubes. It was announced at USD 11,000 as the direct replacement for the MC2152 Limited Edition 70th Anniversary amplifier and became available in August 2020. McIntosh has since retired it, still offering remaining stock, and it carried a 3-year limited warranty. Its audio specifications match the MC2152, while the styling returns to a more classic McIntosh look with tactile knobs and black and steel accents.

Key specs that matter

Each channel delivers 150 W into 2, 4 or 8 ohms. Distortion stays at or below 0.5% at any level from 250 mW to rated output across 20 Hz to 20 kHz, and falls under 0.20% at 1 W. Signal-to-noise ratio is 112 dB below rated output, headroom for dynamic peaks is 1.2 dB and the damping factor exceeds 18. Frequency response holds within +0 and -0.25 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz and reaches 10 Hz to 70 kHz at -3 dB. With feet, the amplifier measures about 464 mm wide, 260 mm high and 533 mm deep, and it weighs 53.5 kg, or 61.2 kg in the carton.

Engineering and use context

The KT88 quartets drive the output stage, while each channel also uses two 12AX7A tubes for balanced and input amplification and two 12AT7 tubes for voltage and driver amplification. The tubes glow in their natural green and sit inside a 12-gauge stainless steel cage with black powder coating, and Air-Pipe cooling vents run under the KT88 bases. The patented Unity Coupled Circuit output transformers flank a central power transformer, and all three are housed in extruded enclosures with glass tops that show wiring diagrams. The chassis is polished stainless steel. Sentry Monitor tracks output current and, if limits are exceeded, flashes the signal tubes red. Tube lighting can be controlled from the front panel, and status indication changes from amber during warm-up to green in normal operation. Standby consumption is below 0.3 W, and the US version is marked for 120 V, 60 Hz at 5.5 A with a T8AL 250 V fuse.

Pairing

Balanced and unbalanced inputs are both provided, so the MC1502 can follow a preamplifier with XLR or RCA outputs. Input impedance is 20,000 ohms balanced and 47,000 ohms unbalanced. Speakers attach through patented Solid Cinch binding posts. A remote power control input and output allows the MC1502 to be switched on and off by a compatible McIntosh unit.

Alternatives

The McIntosh MC2152 is the stereo tube amplifier the MC1502 replaced, released for the brand's 70th anniversary in 2019 at USD 15,000.