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McIntosh MC830 1-Channel Solid State Amplifier

The new McIntosh MC830 1-Channel Solid State Amplifier, which the company is leading the likewise new McIntosh C8 2-Channel Vacuum Tube, is to present itself powerful and equipped with all important technologies of the American high-end hi-fi manufacturer McIntosh Laboratory Inc. Preamplifier aside.


As early as November 2017, McIntosh Laboratory Inc. presented the McIntosh MA252 AC Integrated Amplifier, a so-called Hybrid Stereo Integrated Amplifier, which thus combined tube technology in the preamplifier with solid state in the power amplifier in order to offer a particularly fine sound signature with simultaneous high performance. This solution now serves as a kind of blueprint for the new preamplifier and power amplifier combination presented by the US company in the form of the McIntosh C8 2-Channel Vacuum Tube Preamplifier and the matching McIntosh MC830 1-Channel Solid State Amplifier.

While the new McIntosh C8 2-Channel Vacuum Tube Preamplifier, as the name suggests, is based on the finest tube technology, the McIntosh MC830 1-Channel Solid State Amplifier designed for this preamplifier uses transistor technology. Together, they are intended to offer a classic combination of preamplifier and power amplifier. It goes without saying that all the technologies that McIntosh Laboratory Inc. can offer for amplifiers are also available here.

The McIntosh MC830 1-Channel Solid State Amplifier, designed as a Solid State with Direct Coupled Output Design, is capable of delivering 300 Watts of power to loudspeaker systems with an impedance of 8 Ohms, 480 Watts even if the loudspeaker systems have an impedance of only 4 Ohms. To ensure that this impressive performance can not only be heard, but also visually assessed, the new McIntosh MC830 1-Channel Solid State Amplifier is equipped with a particularly fast Dual Scale Power Meter, which can be found in the proven manner on the front panel, which is backlit, and is therefore once again an essential part of the amplifier’s design.

And speaking of optical features, another essential part of the new McIntosh MC830 1-Channel Solid State Amplifier is of course the specially shaped heat sinks, which appear when you look at the amplifier from above, in the shape of the manufacturer’s logo, McIntosh Laboratory Inc. refers to them as Monogrammed Heatsinks.

The circuit concept is also based on other patented technologies of the US company, such as McIntosh Power Guard Technology and McIntosh Sentry Monitor, two measures to protect the circuit itself, but also the connected loudspeaker systems.

A further exclusive technology from McIntosh Laboratory Inc., the so-called McIntosh Solid Cinch Speaker Binding Posts, ensures a consistently reliable signal connection between the amplifier and the loudspeaker systems, whereby gold-plated connections are used to protect against corrosion.

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  • McIntosh MC830 1 Channel Solid State Amplifier 06
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The new McIntosh MC830 1-Channel Solid State Amplifier offers an unbalanced input in the form of a RCA socket and a balanced input in the form of an XLR socket. In addition, there are so-called power control connections for central control of the preamplifier and the power amplifiers in a hi-fi chain. A selectable Auto Off feature allows the McIntosh MC830 1-Channel Solid State Amplifier to switch to standby mode after 30 minutes without a signal present.

The base of the solid housing is a stainless steel base with a front polished to a high gloss and chrome-plated. Two rotary encoders are available, one for the power meter and the other for the main switch. The superstructure above is black, with the generously dimensioned Power Meter enclosed by a glass front and the manufacturer’s logo emblazoned underneath. The structure is flanked to the left and right by the aforementioned heat sinks.

The new McIntosh MC830 1-Channel Solid State Amplifier, as well as the corresponding preamplifier McIntosh C8 2-Channel Vacuum Tube Preamplifier, will be available in specialist shops shortly.

Getting to the point

While the new McIntosh C8 2-Channel Vacuum Tube Preamplifier, as the name suggests, is based on the finest tube technology, the McIntosh MC830 1-Channel Solid State Amplifier designed for this preamplifier uses transistor technology. Together, they are intended to offer a classic combination of preamplifier and power amplifier. It goes without saying that all the technologies that McIntosh Laboratory Inc. can offer for amplifiers are also available here.

Manufacturer:McIntosh Laboratory Inc.
Distribution:Audio Components GmbH
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Michael Holzinger

Michael Holzinger, founder and editor-in-chief of HiFi BLOG and sempre-audio.at, has been working for years as a journalist in the fields of IT, photography, telecommunications and consumer electronics.

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