2. amps-preamps
  3. 1108575006

Mac MC240

Dear experts,

I'm going to get a MC240 which I have been looking for a long time :). I'd like to ask your expertise...
1. What is the small switch at the front bottom next to the power cord used for?
2. For the small tubes (12ax7, au7 and bh7), what's your favourite combination of brands?
3. What's your favourite speaker cable to match this amp?

Thanks.
eugeneli
eugeneli OP
18 posts
 
Thanks Chang. For the Amperex 12au7, do I need the bugle boy or just amperex from USA (or Holland) is good? For the power tubes, I'll stick with my RCA 6L6GC black plate. Did you do the silver cable yourself? Or actually you have some for sale?

Thanks again.
s23chang
615 posts
 
We have 4 MC240s among our friends. The bugle boy nor Amperex (both made in Holland) makes no difference. If you want the best 12AU7s then go with Amperex 7316 tubes.
Cleaner without loosing the nice sounding. Even the Telefunken 12AU7s are nice too.
Reason why we didn't like the RCA 6L6GC bk plate vs say RCA or GE 7027A is the lower freq control. The RCA 6L6GC bk plate sounded very loose and lack of control for lower frequency response. The 7027As are much tighter and more dynamic and it is not thin sounding.
Yes, I'd designed and made my own silver cable after went threw over a dozen speaker cables and 50 interconnect RCA cables.
Just a hobbiest not a businessman.

Hope this helps.
eugeneli OP
18 posts
 
Thanks again Chang. (By the way, are you the Chang of the "Chang" filter?) I'll have a look in my tubes drawer and see whethe rI have the 7316 (most probably not), then I'll take your advise to try the Telef diamond bottom 12au7. Really.....I have tried the RCA bk plate, but with another amp, they didn't sound as you said and I really enjoyed the low. It could be the 240 is "sweet" and "thick" itself and if using the bk plate, it will be toooooo fat and as exactly as what you said. For the 7027A, is it a driect replacement of 6l6gc (plug and play)? I'll look for them.

Thanks again.
s23chang
615 posts
 
Yes the 7027A are direct replacement in the case of MC240.
Telefunken 12AU7s are more smooth and refined but less dynamic and punchy when compared to Amperex 12AU7s.
jsujo
348 posts
 
I have GE grey plate for the 12BH7, Sylvania is one pair of of 12AX7, the other is Tungsram, the 12 AU7's are RCA clear tops, and the output tubes 6L6GC are mundane made in USSR tubes...

I would say that I didnt hear that much difference rolling these signal tubes...I will try the latest Svetlana C wing for the output tubes..

I have MC40's.
More to discover