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Unknown condition makes £3,700 a little hard to justify: it sits above the £3,505 75th-percentile asking price from 25 comparable listings, so this is an ambitious ask rather than a bargain. It could still be reasonable for a genuinely mint, boxed example with remote, paperwork, and reassuring provenance, but ordinary used condition should command less.
The MA252 remains an appealing hybrid: its valve preamp brings some warmth and character, while the solid-state output stage delivers a useful 100W per channel into 8 ohms and 160W into 4 ohms. It also offers balanced and unbalanced inputs, moving-magnet phono, tone controls, headphone output, and a subwoofer connection. Before paying the premium, confirm the tubes, meters, display, remote, and speaker terminals are all working, and check that your speakers are not an especially difficult load.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
McIntosh Laboratory, founded in 1949 in the United States by Frank H. McIntosh and Gordon Gow, embodies a storied heritage of American audio innovation. Originally based in Silver Spring, Maryland, before relocating to Binghamton, New York, where products are still handcrafted today, the brand emerged from a commitment to superior sound reproduction. From powering President Lyndon Johnson's inauguration to the Grateful Dead's Wall of Sound at Woodstock, McIntosh has shaped pivotal moments in music history and pop culture, earning its place as a cultural icon.
The company specializes in a comprehensive lineup of high-fidelity components, including renowned amplifiers—particularly its revered tube models for their warm, enveloping sound—along with solid-state power amps, stereo tuners, loudspeakers, turntables, music streamers, processors, and digital-to-analog converters. This breadth supports both two-channel stereo systems and multi-channel home theaters, delivering immersive experiences in music and film. Iconic blue watt meters on their gear have become globally recognized symbols of precision and power.
Positioned firmly in the high-end market, McIntosh commands respect among discerning audiophiles for its uncompromising quality, luxurious build, and timeless design. Far from mid-tier or niche boutique, it stands as a premium benchmark, favored by legendary musicians and producers across decades, blending vintage allure with modern performance for those who demand the ultimate in sonic fidelity.
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