McIntosh MC255 5-Channel Solid State Amplifier
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McIntosh MC255 5-Channel Solid State Amplifier
- 250 Watts x 3 Channels; 200 Watts x 5 Channels
- TripleView™ Power Output Meter
- More than 100% increase in Dynamic Headroom
- Dynamic Power Manager®; Power Guard®
- Designed for home theaters
Give your home theater the power it deserves with the MC255 5-Channel Home Theater Power Amplifier. The MC255 features our striking new TripleView™ Power Output Meter that independently indicates the real time power reading of the amplifier’s three front channels. Instead of three separate meter windows each housing a single meter as found on our previous 5-channel home theater amplifier, the easy-to-read, 15” (38 cm) wide TripleView features three of our traditional mechanical meters in a single meter enclosure.
While a totally new design, each of the three peak responding pointers in the TripleView meter have the same enticing motion that McIntosh meters are known for and function at the same high level as any of our meters. The enchanting look and welcoming glow of the TripleView meter is sure to draw interest from friends and family, but its trademarked blue lighting can be turned off so as not to compete with your TV or movie screen.
Besides the new TripleView meter, the MC255 has received many other performance upgrades to deliver an unforgettable cinema experience in your home theater. Filter capacity has been increased by 50% which has more than doubled dynamic headroom from 1.7dB to 3.6dB – a key feature in a home theater amplifier – as well as improving the performance of low frequencies. When using just the front left, center and right channels, power output has been increased by 25% from 200 Watts per channel (WPC) to 250 WPC. When using all 5 channels, each will receive a healthy 200 WPC. Regardless of how many channels are used, the full 200 or 250 Watts is delivered to either 4 or 8 Ohm speakers via our Dynamic Power Manager® (DPM) technology.
The MC255 runs cool and quiet thanks to four of our McIntosh Monogrammed Heatsinks™ which are connected to advanced high current output transistors that efficiently and silently cool the amplifier; as a result, noisy cooling fans that can interfere with the movie soundtrack are not needed. A quiet, specially wound toroidal isolation power transformer also helps keep noise to a minimum. Speaker terminals have been updated to our standard gold-plated binding posts that prevent corrosion and ensure a quality signal is sent to your home theater speakers.
The MC255 can be used to power a conventional 5-channel home theater; it can be paired with either our MI128 or MI254 digital amplifiers in home theaters that have additional surround sound speakers for use with object-based 3D audio formats such as Dolby® Atmos, DTS:X™ and Auro-3D®; or it can be used in a two zone configuration with the three front channels used at 250 WPC in one zone and the two surround sound channels used at 200 WPC in a second audio zone in your home.
The MC255 bears the classic McIntosh design of a black glass front panel with the TripleView meter, illuminated logo, control knobs, and aluminum end caps.
Specifications
| Electronic Specifications | |
| FTC Power Output Rating | 250 W |
| Power Output per Channel | 3 Front Channels only: 250 W into 4 or 8 ohms All 5 Channels: 200 W into 4 or 8 ohms |
| Number of Channels | 5 (can also be used as a 2-zone amplifier with 3 channels in zone A and 2 channels in zone B) |
| Total Harmonic Distortion | 0.005% |
| S/N below rated output | 108dB |
| Dynamic Headroom | 3.6dB |
| Damping Factor | >70 @ 4 ohms >140 @ 8 ohms |
| Rated Power Band | 20Hz to 20kHz |
| Frequency Response | +0, -0.25dB from 20Hz to 20kHz +0, -3dB from 10Hz to 100kHz |
| Control | |
| Remote Power Control | Yes, 5 or 3 + 2 Channel |
| Multi-Channel DB25 Cable | No |
| Connectivity | |
| Speaker Binding Post Type | Standard |
| General Specifications | |
| Circuit Configuration | Push-Pull Complementary |
| Circuit Design | Solid State |
| Mono Bridge | No |
| Mono Parallel | No |
| Output Type | Direct Coupled with Dynamic Power Manager® |
| Meters | TripleView™ Power Output Meter |
| Meter Light Switch | Yes |
| Balanced Input | 5 |
| Front Panel | Glass |
| Illumination | Direct LED |
| Chassis Style | Inverted |
| Weights & Dimensions | |
| Unit Dimensions (W x H x D) | 17-1/2" (44.5cm) x 9-7/16" (23.9cm) (including feet) x 21" (53.3cm) (including front panel and cables) |
| Unit Weight | 89.5 lbs (40.6 kg) |
| Shipping Weight | 122.5 lbs (55.6 kg) |
Caring for your Speakers and Amplifiers
To Keep your equipment safe these are some best practices to note. Please be advised that this is only to reduce the risk of misuse and is not an exhaustive list.
Speakers
- Speaker terminals are marked red and black, ensure your amplifier to the speakers are wired on the same colours
- Ensure no loose speaker wire from the red touches a loose wire from the black as this will lead to a short circuit and damage either the speaker, the amplifier or both.
- Not all speakers are designed to play at max volume, kindly consider the pairing of your amplifier and speakers
- Speaker cabinets cannot be replaced please handle with care.
AV & Stereo Amplifiers
- If your amplifier has HDMI ports, ensure all devices are off before plugging in the HDMI cable
- Turn off the amplifier before swoping out or adding speaker cable
- Amplifiers generate heat, place them in a well ventilated space. if possible avoid having anything on top of the unit.
- adding a surge protector can assist with power dips which are likely to damage your devices. Isotek and Furman are industry standard.
- Dusty environments can sometimes lead to accumulation of dust in the electronic components that might affect heat regulation
Shipping & Returns
- Free shipping on orders over R500 within the country.
- Standard delivery within 2–5 business days. Delays will be communicated. This might vary slightly depending on your location.
- Return items in original condition for a full refund. (unopened state)
- Returns that are open/unboxed will be subject to a handling fee. Refunds will only be processed after testing the unit.