McIntosh has announced the launch of the MC451 Dual Mono Power Amplifier, a compact mono amp that benefits from the manufacturer’s proprietary Hybrid Drive technology, where valve and solid-state amplification is seamlessly combined in one unit to deliver best of both worlds.
This unique technology enables users to drive a loudspeaker’s critical tweeter and midrange drivers with lush valves, but also provide the more demanding bass drivers with the power, control and dynamics of solid-state.
The MC451 Dual Mono Power Amplifier follows the success of McIntosh’s much larger MC901 Dual Mono Power Amplifier. Portraying a more compact design that its MC901 sibling, the new MC451 is much easier to integrate into existing audio systems. Built on one chassis, the MC451 offers 150 watts from its valve section plus 300 watts from its solid-state output.
A flexible solution, the MC451 benefits from user-selectable solid-state and valve output stages that can be selected using a ‘balance’ control knob. This enables users to match genres to preferred amp technology, for example, jazz using more valves or rock using solid-state.
Hybrid Drive technology allows users to adjust the internal crossover to determine where the bass, mid and high frequencies integrate between valve and solid-state power.
Additional inputs for the valve and solid-state sections are also provided for use with external crossovers.
Other McIntosh patented technologies used in the MC451 include Power Guard and Power Guard SGS, Sentry Monitor, Autoformer, Unity Coupled Circuit, Solid Cinch speaker binding posts, Monogrammed Heatsinks, plus a DualView Power Output Meter.
Orders can now be placed for the MC451 Duan Mono Power Amplifier with shipping expected to begin in January for US and Canada and the rest of the world shortly thereafter. The MC451 is priced at £16,495.