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I own Bliss Hifi, a high-end audio boutique and these McIntosh MC501 monoblock amplifiers are being listed as a consignment sale on behalf of my client. He is the original owner and purchased these units new. They are in excellent condition for their age with no notable wear. These amplifiers are part of a 16-channel home theater system that has been taken down as my client prepares to move to a new home.

The units come with original packaging, owner’s manual, and power cords.

The MC501 is one of those designs that makes you understand why McIntosh has been building amplifiers for 75 years. Five hundred watts per channel with the Autoformer means you’re getting all of that power into any speaker load from 2 to 8 ohms without the amplifier breaking a sweat. The sound is classic Binghamton: powerful but never aggressive, effortlessly composed even during the most demanding passages, with a tonal richness and natural warmth that makes long listening sessions a pleasure rather than a chore. The fully balanced quad-differential circuitry delivers a signal-to-noise ratio that is 124dB below rated output, which means you’re hearing music emerge from absolute silence. That 3D glass faceplate with the blue illuminated meter is arguably the best-looking front panel McIntosh ever produced, and the compact depth makes placement easier than you’d expect from amplifiers this powerful. Power Guard prevents clipping before it happens, and the Autoformer ensures that even brutally difficult speaker loads won’t cause the amplifiers to compress or strain. At 91.5 pounds each, these are serious amplifiers built to last decades. The current MC601 replacement costs $19,000 per pair for an extra 100 watts per channel. If you need massive, reliable, beautiful monoblock power and want an amplifier that will still be running flawlessly 30 years from now, the MC501 is exactly that.

Happy to answer any questions. Thanks for your consideration.

Check my stellar feedback and buy with confidence. This listing includes free insured freight shipping across the CONUS. As this is a passthrough sale that I am brokering on behalf of my client, I prefer to accept payments via PayPal F&F, Venmo Gift, or personal check, but this also gives you the opportunity to attain this at my lowest possible price. Credit card payments are also possible for a 3.1% convenience charge.

More about the units:

The McIntosh MC501 is a monoblock power amplifier manufactured by McIntosh Laboratory from 2003 to 2012. Handcrafted in Binghamton, New York, each MC501 delivers 500 watts minimum continuous average power from 20Hz to 20kHz into 2, 4, or 8 ohm loudspeakers, with peak power capability exceeding 1,200 watts into low impedances. The amplifier features McIntosh’s proprietary Autoformer output coupling, which ensures full rated power delivery into any speaker impedance from 2 to 8 ohms while maintaining the lowest possible noise and distortion performance.

The MC501 employs fully balanced quad-differential circuitry from input to output. Two matched power amplifiers operate in push-pull configuration with their outputs combined in the McIntosh Autoformer. This double-balanced topology cancels virtually all distortion, achieving total harmonic distortion and intermodulation distortion levels of 0.005% maximum at any power level from 250 milliwatts to rated output. The wideband damping factor of 100 at 8 ohms provides exceptional control over speaker driver motion.

Power Guard circuitry continuously monitors input and output signals, dynamically adjusting input levels to prevent clipping. With up to 14dB overdrive at 1kHz, Power Guard ensures total harmonic distortion does not exceed 2%, preventing the harsh distorted sound that can damage loudspeakers. Sentry Monitor protection circuits guard against thermal runaway and short-circuit conditions. Thermal sensors monitor heatsink temperature, and automatic turn-on delay with soft-start inrush protection ensures reliable long-term operation.

Both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs are provided. Input sensitivity is 2.1 volts unbalanced and 4.2 volts balanced for rated output. Input impedance is 10,000 ohms unbalanced and 20,000 ohms balanced. Signal-to-noise ratio is 97dB A-weighted, equivalent to 124dB below rated output. Remote power control via 12-volt trigger input allows the amplifiers to be turned on and off from a compatible McIntosh preamplifier or processor.

The front panel features McIntosh’s signature 3D design with a thick tempered glass faceplate, illuminated blue power meter with fiber-optic backlighting, and the iconic McIntosh logo with green fiber-optic illumination. The meter can operate in real-time mode, hold on peaks, or be turned off for dark-room viewing. The chassis is constructed from polished stainless steel with a mirror finish. Massive gold-plated binding posts provide separate 2-ohm, 4-ohm, and 8-ohm output terminals for optimal impedance matching via the Autoformer.

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