McIntosh MC3500 MKII monophonic power amplifier
McIntosh has just announced the launch of a updated version of its legendary MC3500the power stage that exclusively sounded the legendary Woodstock rock festival, celebrated in 1969 and considered by many as the most important in history, marking an entire generation. Under the name MC3500 MKIIMcIntosh’s new amplification electronics are a monophonic valve block which meticulously respects the particularities of its predecessor, while equipping it with the most brilliant technological developments of the legendary American firm. With a power output of 350 watts continuous into 8, 4 or 2 ohms, the MC3500 MKII incorporates everything McIntosh has learned in tube amplifier design since the 1960s, meaning it has been brought to the forefront. day both in quality of manufacturing and componentswithout giving up such distinctive elements of the New York brand as the output transformer Unity Coupled Circuitwhich was already equipped with the original model.
Features with those of the 6LQ6 used in the original MC3500. Like the 6LQ6, the EL509S is very rugged thanks to the robustness of its cathode and associated heating element, which allows it to handle plate current peaks greater than 1 amp. Like its predecessor, the MC3500 MKII includes a fully balanced attack section that uses three 12AX7 valves and one 12AT7 valve. The first 12AX7 is the differential input amplifier, the second is the separator/driver stage for the voltage amplifier and the third is the voltage amplifier itself, while the 12AT7 is the separator/driver stage for the EL509S output tubes . All of the valves mentioned are located behind the supply and output transformers and are covered by a thick stainless steel protective cover finished in black, the shape of which has been specifically designed to facilitate access to the valves. exclusive Solid Cinch connection terminals by McIntosh. The electronic part of the MC3500 MKII is completed with sophisticated electronic protection made up of two great McIntosh classics: the Power Guard Screen Grid Sensor (SGS) and Sentry Monitor.
Specifically, the Power Guard SGS Prevents premature failure of the vacuum valves by monitoring the grid current of the power valves and attenuating the input signal in real time if the current is excessively high. For his part, the Sentry Monitor monitors the output current, deactivating the amplifier if it exceeds safe operating limits. Like the original MC3500, the new McIntosh includes a analog vumeter, although centered on the front panel instead of being located in the left area of it. Specifically, it is a DualView variation whose upper scale shows the power output in watts and decibels, while the upper scale shows the warm-up time. In terms of connectivity, the MC3500 MKII includes not only a balanced and an unbalanced input, but also a balanced and an unbalanced output for facilitate the realization of multi-amp configurations. Like all McIntosh creations, the MC3500 MKII is built entirely by hand in the American town of Binghamton.
