COMPLETE RESTORATION SERVICE----MCINTOSH MC-75

MUST READ---MUST READ---MUST READ!!!!This listing is not for a McIntosh MC-75 amplifier at a fraction of its value. Not at all. This listing is for the service work required to make your MC-75 work like new again even though it is forty years old. So if you have an MC-75, or a pair of them, read on. If you have a different tube amp from the 1960's, then read on. Vintage tube amps are very wonderful things, but they simply cannot go any longer without this sort of work.

Lucky you. You have a pair of MC-75's. Perhaps you bought them many years ago, or inherited them, or you just bought them recently (choke...$$$)....which means that this is very important to you as few amplifiers are more premium and more sought after by collectors and music lovers alike than MC-75's. Well, however you managed it, you have something rare, so you must be clever enough to know that you need to have them restored to premium condition.

Yes, it is certain. They must be restored, there is no argument here, no room to discuss it. You have amplifiers that are worth a ton of money and the cost of enhancing their performance and reliability is a fraction of their worth. Don't try to tell me..."but they sound pretty good the way they are." I won't hear it, or I will look at you sadly thinking "yes and he/she leaves his/her Lexus out in the rain too". So there are three very persuasive reasons to restore them: 1. Performance. They will sound better with new caps. 2. Reliability. They are much less likely to burn up their transformers and become useless boat anchors. 3. Reputation. People will talk about how clever you are rather than saying all that other stuff, and don't think they won't know.

So with the vision firmly in your mind of showing these babies off to your friends, and while they are ooohing and aaahing, saying "Yes, they are wonderful and whats more, they are in freakin' perfect condition", you are probably wondering what it means to be "in freakin' perfect condition". What does perfection mean when it comes to the MC-75? Drum roll please! The short answer is: NEW CAPACITORS! Ok, that is the longer answer as well. Figure it this way. These amps are kind to their tubes so they last a long time, besides, getting new tubes is not difficult. The transformers almost never die, the rest of the chassis is very solid.....so the capacitors are the goat. Be certain of that!

There are two kinds of capacitors in these little jewels. First, there are large electrolytic caps in the power supply. They smooth out the incoming electrical energy to provide DC current which powers the unit. McIntosh did this using the large multi section can caps you see in the "before" picture. If you look in the "after" picture, you will see that we removed a couple of the cans to put in individual capacitors to replace their values. The caps chosen here are Nichicon electrolytics. They are very high quality capacitors, definitely better than the originals. Capacitor technology has come a long way in the last 40 years. With the Nichicon's in place, the power supply is very smooth indeed.

The other capacitors are coupling caps. They reside on the breadboard with all of the resistors in the network that provides the proper electrical environment for the setup of the tubes and the processing of the signal as it goes through the amplifier. In this case, we are very fond of the Mallory tubular caps. They are the yellow fellows you see in the "after" pictures. These tubular's are superior to the originals. They provide a clean and pretty processing of the signal. In short the amplifier sounds better because of them. The Nichicon's and the Mallory's cost more than other "off the shelf" options. But, what the heck, this is an MC-75. It justifies parts that are better than average.

After all of the caps are replaced, most of the work is done. The remaining steps are to clean and deoxidize the tube sockets and the gain control, and to get all the dust off it. While doing the cosmetic work, the lettering on the chrome chassis must be preserved. Once this is done, all normal operating parameters are tested. The MC-75 in the picture got to 90 watts at 1000hz before clipping. Not bad.

So there you have it. The elements of genuine excellent McIntosh performance are evident. It is now up to you to preserve your own personal credibility by sending in your MC-75(s) so that we may bring them up to beyond snuff. If you have any questions about this listing, send me an email, or call at 512-294-5635.  As always, thanks for reading.