McIntosh MAC 1900 Receiver - THE Classic MAC To Own!

The MAC-1900 was introduced in the early ’70s and remained in the company’s line through 1978 but it wasn’t the company’s first receiver. That hard-fought honor was reserved for the 30-watts-per-channel MAC-1500 in 1965. It was replaced by the MAC-1700 receiver a couple years later, which upped power output to 40 watts and filled the receiver slot until the MAC-1900 came along.

“The MAC-1500 combined some transistors and many tubes,” Zelin says. “It sold quite well. Next came the MAC-1700, which was all solid-state except for a tube FM tuner. It was a big hit.”

Then came the MAC-1900, upping with ante with an all solid-state modular design that put out 55 watts a side (into 4 and 8 ohms). It initially sold for $799 before the price was bumped to $949 ($5,500 in today’s dollars). Despite the price, “it sold like hotcakes,” Zelin recalls. “It was the first piece of McIntosh (oops...MAC) gear I ever sold. It did everything well and was modular. Each board could be unplugged for easy servicing. They sold many thousands of them — probably close to 10,000.”

The MAC-1900 was also the last receiver to bear the MAC moniker.

“Mr. McIntosh retired and Gordon Gow put the McIntosh Lab name on its late ’70s successor, the MAC4100. I'm sure Mr. McIntosh was not happy! It was a tremendous success” and it remained in the line through the mid-’80s at a price that was twice that of the MAC-1900.

Longtime audio professional/enthusiast Steve Feinstein, who I met when he worked for Boston Acoustics back in the ‘90s, called the MAC-1900 "arguably the first 'high-end' receiver of the modern equipment era” in an article he wrote several years ago. No question.

This stature helps explain the receiver’s value in today’s collector’s market. They are still, to this day, considered to be THE definitive classic MAC collector's component. Its performance is STILL staggering and its rated 55 watts per/channel seems tame compared to modern integrated specs. 

This particular 1900 has been totally restored by Audio Classics in Upstate NY, they, along with our own master tech team, are the definitive McIntosh restoration houses. Before AC got this it was already an incredibly clean 1900 and had been cherished in one household since 1976. Those of you looking for that vintage MAC component to anchor your classic system, guys, THIS IS THE ONE. You will NOT find another like it and knowing it's been fully serviced is the confidence green light you've been waiting for.

Come have a listen here at the Andover shop.

McIntosh MAC 1900 Classic Receiver: $1899.00 plus shipping and sales tax when applicable