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I own Bliss Hifi, a high-end audio boutique, and I am listing this McIntosh MC452 on behalf of a repeat client. He is the sole owner and purchased it new. It is in very good cosmetic condition for its age and perfect working order. It has one small dent in the one transformer housings, and slight scratches on the rear, but otherwise it presents in perfect condition. This amplifier was part of a 16-channel home theater system that has been taken down due to a move.

The amplifier comes with its original power cable, manual, and original packaging.

There is a reason the MC452 remains one of the most sought-after stereo amplifiers on the used market years after its discontinuation. It sits at a rare intersection of raw power, musical refinement, and bulletproof reliability that very few amplifiers at any price can match. The 450 watts per channel are delivered with a composure and ease that makes demanding speakers sound effortless, but what sets the MC452 apart from other high-power amplifiers is how graceful it sounds doing it. There is weight and authority in the low end without bloat, a midrange warmth that never tips into coloration, and a top end that is open and extended without a trace of fatigue. It sounds big in the way that only a McIntosh of this caliber sounds big: room-filling and immersive, with a soundstage scale that pulls you into the music rather than pushing it at you. The noise floor is effectively nonexistent, which means microdynamics and spatial cues emerge with a clarity that rewards close listening. And those iconic blue meters glowing in a dimmed room remain one of the great visual pleasures in all of audio. McIntosh amplifiers are legendary for their longevity and resale value, and this one has decades of faithful service ahead of it.

Check my stellar feedback and buy with confidence. This listing includes free insured freight shipping ($450 value) 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 unit:

The McIntosh MC452 is a Quad Balanced stereo power amplifier manufactured in Binghamton, New York from 2010 to 2018. It delivers 450 watts per channel into 2, 4, or 8 ohm loads with less than 0.005% total harmonic distortion at any power level up to rated output. The Quad Balanced circuit design consists of two matched amplifiers per channel operating in push-pull, with their outputs combined through McIntosh’s patented Autoformer output transformers. The Autoformers provide an ideal impedance match between the amplifier output stages and speaker loads of 2, 4, and 8 ohms, ensuring full rated power delivery regardless of the connected speaker impedance. Peak output current capability is 75 amps, with over 200 joules of energy storage.

The output stage utilizes ON Semiconductor ThermalTrak transistors, which incorporate an integrated thermal sensor in each device for continuous temperature monitoring. This enables precise bias control, cooler operation, and lower distortion compared to conventional output transistor designs. McIntosh’s Power Guard and Sentry Monitor protection circuits are included: Power Guard prevents clipping by dynamically adjusting input levels before audible distortion occurs, while Sentry Monitor protects the output transistors from short circuit and abnormal load conditions without the use of current-limiting fuses.

Inputs include one balanced XLR pair and one unbalanced RCA pair, selectable from the front panel. Signal-to-noise ratio is 122dB (balanced) and 118dB (unbalanced), both A-weighted below rated output. Frequency response is 20Hz to 20kHz (+0, -0.25dB) with a damping factor greater than 40. The front panel features two LED-illuminated fiber-optic blue watt meters indicating peak power output up to 1,800 watts per channel. McIntosh’s patented gold-plated speaker binding posts accommodate bare wire, spade lugs, and banana plugs, with separate terminals for 2, 4, and 8 ohm taps. A 12V trigger input and output are provided for system integration. Dimensions are 17.5 x 9.44 x 22″ (44.45 x 23.97 x 55.88cm). Weight is 110 lbs (49.9 kg).

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