McIntosh, specialist in high-quality home entertainment products will be celebrating its 70th Anniversary in 2019. Since its founding by Frank McIntosh – a.k.a. Mr. Mac – in 1949, the company has experienced many milestones and achievements. To commemorate this anniversary, McIntosh has announced a special 70th Anniversary Limited Edition Commemorative System. £25,000 (with just one set coming to the UK).

The Commemorative System is comprised of two new audio products: the MC2152 70th Anniversary Vacuum Tube Amplifier and the C70 70thAnniversary Vacuum Tube Preamplifier. All the products in each CommemorativeSystem are specially marked and have matching serial numbers. A …for the love of music… McIntosh HistoryBook is also included and contains a certificate authenticating the entiresystem. Only 70 Commemorative Systems are being produced, making each a truecollector’s item.

For each of these 70 Limited Edition Commemorative Systems sold, McIntosh will donate $1,000 to global humanitarian organisation Save the Children. Founded in 1919, Save the Children will also mark a milestone anniversary in 2019 with the celebration of its centennial. In the United States and around the world, they give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm.

“We are honoured to be entering our 70th year of fulfilling Mr. Mac’s vision of bringing world-class home audio equipment to music and audio lovers everywhere,” says McIntosh president Charlie Randall. “We’ve been fortunate to be able to do what we love to do for so long. We couldn’t have done that without the support of all our customers, dealers and distributors, and I’d like to thank each one of them,” Charlie adds, “And since we have been so fortunate, we are delighted to be able to give back to those in need via a donation to Save the Children, a truly worthwhile charity dedicated to helping children everywhere.”

“We are grateful to McIntosh for making us a part of their 70th-anniversary celebration,” says Save the Children executive vice president and chief operating officer Carlos Carrazana. “Next year is also significant for Save the Children as we commemorate our 100th anniversary – a milestone that could not be possible without the support of partnerships like this.”

The products

The MC2152 70th Anniversary Vacuum Tube Amplifier is a 150W per channel stereo amplifier and features a new design to honour McIntosh’s seven decades of handcrafting some of the best home audio equipment available. While its design is new, the MC2152 incorporates the lessons the company has learned and the techniques invented in 70 years of audio engineering.

Utilising McIntosh’s patented Unity Coupled Circuit output transformer technology – the same technology the company was founded on in 1949 – the full 150W can be delivered to almost any pair of speakers regardless of whether they have a 2, 4 or 8 Ohm impedance.

The attractive new design of the MC2152 is highlighted by a bead-blasted black anodized aluminium chassis accentuated with matte finish, carbon fibre side panels. The front panel showcases a back lit laser-cut McIntosh logo flanked by classic McIntosh knobs. The vacuum tubes are covered by a 12-gauge stainless steel wire cage with a black powder-coated finish. To the back, are the two Unity Coupled Output Transformers with the power transformer centered between them. All three transformers are housed in glass-topped extruded enclosures displaying the wiring diagram for each transformer. A 70th Anniversary badge is laser–engraved into the top plate of the enclosures.

The MC2152 uses eight KT88 output vacuum tubes plus eight small signal tubes comprised of four 12AX7A and four 12AT7 vacuum tubes; half of the tube complement is assigned to each audio channel. The 12AX7A vacuum tubes are for the Balanced and Input amps, while the 12AT7 tubes are for the Voltage and Driver amps. The LEDs under the eight small signal tubes can be set to three illumination settings: Off (which allows the tubes natural amber glow to be visible), Green or Blue – a new colour option unique to the MC2152. The Sentry Monitor technology monitors the output current and shuts the amplifier off if it ever exceeds safe limits.

On the back are both balanced and unbalanced inputs, along with McIntosh’s patented Solid Cinch speaker binding posts to securely connect speaker cables, and an input and output for the company’s Power Controltechnology that will automatically turn other connected McIntosh components on and off.

C70 70th Anniversary Vacuum Tube Preamplifier

To go along with the MC2152 is the C70 70th Anniversary Vacuum Tube Preamplifier. The C70 harkens back to yester year with an all analogue design and a retro look. The glass front panel is inscribed with special McIntosh 70th Anniversary lettering.

The C70 features one 12AT7 and five 12AX7A vacuum tubes that are visible through a glass panel on the top cover. All control operations are done via knobs and rocker switches. Modern LED indicators will denote input selection and volume level. The C70 has seven inputs consisting of two balanced inputs, three unbalanced inputs, and one each of Moving Coil and Moving Magnet phono inputs. For outputs, there are two pairs each of balanced and unbalanced connections.

On the front panel, bass and treble tone controls are included and can be adjusted in 2dB increments via rotary knobs. Rotary knobs are also used to adjust the impedance and capacitance for the phono inputs. In addition to controlling the listening level, the volume knob can also adjust the relative volume balance between the left and right audio channels. A quarter inch headphone jack powered by McIntosh’s High Drive headphone amplifier is included and features the proprietary Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD)technology. HXD brings added dimension to music in a natural sounding way but can be turned off depending on preferences. Five rocker switches are used to control: tone control on/off; change between mono and stereo mode; HXD on/off;and to turn the independent output 1 and output 2 on/off.

The C70 sits atop a polished stainless steel chassis and features the McIntosh black glass front panel, illuminated logo, control knobs,and aluminium end caps. Proprietary Power Control technology is included with four ports that can automatically turn other connected McIntosh components on and off. Data ports are also present and can control basic functions of connected McIntosh source components such as CD players via the C70’s remote control.

Orders for the 70th Anniversary Limited Edition Commemorative System can now be placed with Authorized McIntosh dealers with shipping expected to begin in December (USA) and Jan/Feb (UK).

Retail price of the 70th Anniversary Limited Edition Commemorative System £25,000

After the 70th Anniversary Limited Edition Commemorative Systems are sold out, the MC2152 70th Anniversary Vacuum Tube Amplifier and the C70 70th Anniversary Vacuum Tube Preamplifier will be available separately. MC215270th Anniversary Vacuum Tube Amplifier: £16,000, C70 70th Anniversary Vacuum Tube Preamplifier: £9,000.