Here is a picture of the back of my amp.

Nice amp. I was able to download the manual from the web. I see it has a 40 A max peak current, which is considerable. My Bel Cantos have a 27 A limit. Not that that's a hardship in any way.

However, I remain confused about McIntosh power ratings and what that output transformer is doing. The McIntosh manual does not specify output impedance. Maybe they are trying to duplicate the sound of their tube amps.

My understanding -- maybe I'm wrong -- is that amp output impedance causes the circuit to behave like a voltage divider, so that amp impedance combined with low speaker impedance causes the voltage delivered to the speaker to go down. Speaker impedance varies considerably over frequency. Since the speaker output is related to the delivered voltage, when you have an amp with significant output impedance you end up with speaker output that varies with frequency. Because of this, very low amp output impedance is desirable because the speaker output will be more constant over frequency. I've seen many amp measurements in Stereophile with their simulated speaker load that support this.

I do wish I had those cool power meters. I am often curious about how much power I'm running. I know the TRefs are very efficient, so I don't use much power. Because of this, my amps run so far below rating that they must have vanishingly small distortion. Which is probably one reason they sound so good.

Yup
Drool is Right!
I have a Dealer in Wichita. I do a lot of business with him, and I'll bet he'll make me a killer Deal. We will see what happens.

anthem wrote: Yup
Drool is Right!
I have a Dealer in Wichita. I do a lot of business with him, and I'll bet he'll make me a killer Deal. We will see what happens.

Oh no, anthem. Your credit card is about to take a big hit. Take your CD's and stuff you like and listen to it with that Mac. You are hooked. And yes those blue meters are so darn nice . I use to own a Mac system and loved it. Had it for 10 years and sold the preamp for $50 less than I paid for it and sold the amp for exactly what I paid. Great equipment.
Del

After reading Stereo5 various McIntosh MC152 posts and how good it sounded, I felt as if I had just finished reading a Penthouse Forum Letter -- cigarette included. Wow...I want a McIntosh MC152!

Last year for my Birthday (July) I treated myself to a pair of GE Triton Refs. What a glorious Birthday present. The T Refs are the finest speakers I've had the pleasure of owning. I've had zero regrets regarding their purchase, and each day I spend with them only gets better.

So, after a little thinking and a whole lot of soul searching, I've decided to wait until the end of June to order the McIntosh MC152, just in time for My Birthday. There's something about "The Wait" that turns me on...kinda like Christmas.

July, I am so looking forward to you!

Good for you, Anthem!!!

You really know how to celebrate birthdays!!!

Rick