McIntosh MC462 Power amplifier

McIntosh MC462 Power amplifier

Experience the stereo charm with the MC462 amplifier. The MC462 replaces the acclaimed MC452 as McIntosh's most powerful stereo amplifier. Like the MC452, it has a whopping 450 watts per channel. With McIntosh's Autoformer technology, all 450 watts are available to all speakers, whether their impedance is 2, 4 or 8 ohms. One MC462 amplifier is enough to power a world-class audio system.

The new generation MC462 power amplifier has received numerous updates compared to the previous model. The most significant change is that the filter capacity has been increased by almost 50%, resulting in a remarkable 66% increase in dynamic headroom from 1.8dB to 3.0dB. This allows the MC462 to easily handle dramatic changes in dynamics and effortlessly reproduce your favorite music with virtually no distortion. As the filter capacity increases, the bass performance also improves. An environmentally friendly power management system turns off the amplifier after a certain period of time when no input signal is detected. In addition to all this, the internal wiring and circuit components have also been updated.

Aesthetically, the MC462 retains all the hallmarks of a McIntosh amplifier, with the addition of a few key modern improvements. The front panel now has a direct LED backlight, which improves appearance and color accuracy. Two Autoformers and one power transformer are housed in new enclosures topped by one machined cover with glass hatches. On the back of the amp are four Monogrammed Heatsinks that combine with advanced high current output transistors to help eliminate thermal balance lag.

The amplifier contains numerous McIntosh technologies:

• Power Guard monitors and adjusts the input signal at the speed of light, making real-time adjustments to prevent potentially damaging speaker clipping.
• The Sentry Monitor is a fuseless short-circuit protection circuit that switches off the output stage before its current exceeds a safe operating level and automatically resets when operating conditions return to normal.
• The Quad Balanced design eliminates virtually all noise and distortions that may be hidden in the audio signal.
• Power Control can be used to turn other connected McIntosh devices off and on.
• Patented Solid Cinch speaker binding posts, which allow speaker cables to be attached easily, but firmly. The posts are gold-plated to prevent corrosion and ensure a high-quality signal through the speaker cables.

"An extraordinarily well-engineered, exceptionally powerful amplifier... Highly recommended – insisted on, even." - Stereophile

Manufacturer's product page (EN)

Technical information:

• Power Output per Channel: 450 Watts @ 2, 4 or 8 Ohms
• Number of Channels: 2
• Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.005%
• S/N below rated output: 122dB
• Dynamic Headroom: 3.0dB
• Damping Factor: >40 Wideband
• Rated Power Band: 20Hz to 20kHz
• Frequency Response:
  • +0, -0.25dB from 20Hz to 20,000Hz
  • +0, -3.0dB from 10Hz to 100,000Hz

General:

• Circuit Configuration: Quad Balanced
• Circuit Design: Solid State
• Mono Bridge: No
• Mono Parallel: No
• Output Type: Autoformer™
• Meters: Yes
• Meter Light Switch: Yes
• Balanced Input: 2
• Front Panel: Glass with handles
• Illumination: Direct LED
• Chassis Style: Polished stainless steel & black painted steel
• Speaker Binding Post Type: Patented Solid Cinch™ Speaker Binding Posts

Dimensions:

• Width: 44.45cm
• Height: 23.97cm
• Depth: 57.2cm
• Weight: 52.3kg