IN MINT CONDITION - POWER SUPPLY RECAPPED - IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER
With only 2634 units made, the MAC1500 is arguably the best tubed receiver ever made (some will argue Fisher takes this honor) but definitely the best one McIntosh ever produced.
The tube amplifier section is similar to the renowned McIntosh MC225 which we vote the best amp from this brand. The MC225 is also considered by many to be the best tube amplifier ever manufactured.
The tube tuner section is similar to the McIntosh MR67, considered by many to be among the best tube tuners ever made.
The preamp section is another great McIntosh component.
While the word best evokes strong emotions among audiophiles, knowledgeable audio experts and technicians agree that the quality of this handmade beauty is unparalleled.
McIntosh tube gear from this era was handmade and is famous for being gentle on the tubes, leading to incredibly long tube life.
Another interesting feature is the headphone section of this receiver which has a separate, specialized winding designed for using high-end headphones. This feature exists in no other receiver I can find in the literature (borrowed from an eBay listing).
The McIntosh MAC1500, introduced in 1965, is essentially a hybrid amplifier with a solid state preamp section, tube output section, and tube FM tuner. It's a fairly rare piece of equipment as only around 2634 units were made for domestic US use only.
McIntosh later produced the MAC1700 which featured a solid state preamp and output sections and tube tuner. The later MAC1900 became a full solid state unit.
The MAC1500 puts out 30 watts per channel and is also known for having one of the better headphone sections of any receiver. It apparently has special secondary transformer windings specifically for the headphone output, as opposed to the usual resistor placed in the speaker output circuit.
