McIntosh Announces Increased Headroom MC312 Amp

McIntosh this week announced another 2-channel power amplifier, a successor to its highly-lauded MC302, but with a number of performance enhancements. With shipping expected to kick off in October, it can be yours for a SRP of $7,000.

McIntosh claims the MC312 has received numerous improvements over its MC302 predecessor, most notably that its filter capacity has been doubled, increasing dynamic headroom by 27% from 1.8dB to 2.3dB. This increase means the MC312 will be better suited to handle ‘wide dynamic swings.’ Distortion prevention and bass performance should also benefit from the increased filter capacity. Like the MC302 that it replaces, the MC312 is a 300 Watts per channel stereo amplifier which can support 2, 4 or 8 Ohm impedance speakers care of the company’s own ‘Autoformer’ technology.

The MC312 sticks to McIntosh’s long-standing and famous design aesthetic, but has also received some key design updates. Direct LED backlighting illuminates the front panel for improved color accuracy, while the audio output Autoformers still straddle the power transformer but are now located in new enclosures capped by a single cover containing glass inserts that show the wiring diagram for each transformer.

Other updates include the addition of Monogrammed Heatsinks and the company’s eco-friendly power management system. Numerous circuit components and internal wiring have also been upgraded. Balanced and unbalanced outputs have been added to enable bi-amping or tri-amping speakers. They can also be used to connect to a secondary system if the preamplifier doesn’t have enough connections, or to connect a powered subwoofer.

The MC312 includes many of McIntosh’s exclusive technologies, such as Power Guard, Sentry Monitor, Power Control, and patented Solid Cinch speaker binding posts. The MC312 has a polished stainless steel chassis and features the recognizable McIntosh black glass front panel, illuminated logo, control knobs, aluminum end caps and a pair of fast responding blue Watt meters.

Orders for the MC312 can now be placed with Authorized McIntosh dealers with shipping expected to begin in October.

Martin, a seasoned journalist and AV expert, has written for several notable print magazines. He’s served in key roles at Lucasfilm’s THX Division, NEC’s digital cinema division, and has even consulted for DreamWorks. Despite his illustrious career, Martin remains rooted in his passion for cinema and acting, with notable appearances in several Spielberg films, Doctor Who, and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. He currently resides in San Francisco.

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