The McIntosh MC303 is the kind of three-channel amplifier that makes you quietly rethink every compromise you've ever made in a home theater system. Three hundred watts per channel — delivered into 2, 4, or 8 ohms without apology, courtesy of those legendary Autoformers — means that whatever you throw at it, front-left, center, and right all get the same unhurried authority. But it's not just a home theater beast: in music, there's a weight to the bottom end, a smoothness through the mids, and an effortless top-end extension that puts it firmly in the company of McIntosh's finest two-channel offerings. The triple bank of glowing blue watt meters barely flicker under real-world loads — which tells you everything about the headroom on tap. At 155 pounds of polished stainless steel and glass, it's as much sculpture as amplifier, and it sounds every bit as serious as it looks.
Production
2008-present
Condition
9/10
Serial No.
ADC1503
Orig. MSRP
$14,000
Restoration
- THD and Power at factory spec for all 3 channels
- Lights and meters functioning properly
Factory Specs
FTC Rated Power Output 300 W per channel
Power Output per Channel 300 W into 2, 4, or 8 Ω (all three channels simultaneously)
Peak Power Output (Music Bursts) Up to 1,200 W per channel regardless of speaker load
Peak Output Current 60 A
Number of Channels 3
Total Harmonic Distortion 0.005%
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (below rated output) 112 dB
Dynamic Headroom 1.8 dB
Rated Power Band 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Frequency Response (–0.25 dB) +0, –0.25 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Frequency Response (–3 dB) +0, –3 dB from 10 Hz to 100 kHz
Circuit Configuration Push-Pull Complementary Autoformers™
Circuit Design Solid State
Output Type Autoformer™ (McIntosh proprietary output transformer)
Damping Factor >40
Energy Storage >200 joules
Input Sensitivity (Unbalanced/RCA) 1.7 V
Input Sensitivity (Balanced/XLR) 3.4 V
Input Impedance 10 kΩ
Balanced (XLR) Input Yes
Power Guard® Yes — limits input signal in real time to prevent audible clipping and speaker damage
Sentry Monitor™ Yes — fuse-less solid-state short-circuit protection; auto-resets when fault clears
Remote Power Control Yes (5 V trigger input)
Mono Bridge No
Mono Parallel No
Meters Triple bank of blue Peak-Reading Watt Meters (one per channel); switchable
Illumination LED Fiber Optic
Front Panel ½" thick glass with custom machined and anodized aluminum handles
Chassis Inverted; mirror-polished stainless steel
AC Power Requirements 120 V AC, 10 A
Dimensions 17-3/4" W × 12-3/8" H × 22" D (including feet and front panel/cables)
Weight 155 lbs (70.3 kg)
Shipping Weight 180 lbs (81.6 kg)
Documentation
McIntosh MC303 Owner's Manual
The History of McIntosh
Founded in 1949, McIntosh is known for offering distinguished home audio systems that deliver the ultimate experience in music and film. Offering products for two-channel stereo sound systems and multi-channel home theaters with surround sound, McIntosh continues to define the ultimate home audio entertainment...
[ Read More ]
Liner Notes
The McIntosh MC303 is our most powerful multi-channel amplifier to date, providing 300 Watts into each of 3 channels. It features our renowned Autoformer™, which allows its full 300 Watts of power to be delivered into 2, 4 or 8 Ohm speakers with the lowest noise and distortion performance possible.
The MC303 was designed with the intent to drive a home theater's front left, front right and center channels. As most of a movie's soundtrack is delivered by these three channels, the powerful MC303 provides all the power needed for an amazing in-home theater experience. For surround channels, combine the MC303 with our MC312 or MC152 amplifiers and fully immerse yourself in your movie collection. For music lovers, the MC303 can be used in tri-amping configurations on compatible speakers, such as our XRT1.1K or XRT2.1K.
The MC303 shares many notable McIntosh technologies that are found in our other home audio and home theater products, including Power Guard® that prevents over-driving of the amplifier and the resulting harsh sounding clipping that could damage your speakers. Sentry Monitor™ is our fuse-less short-circuit protection circuit that disengages the output stage before current exceeds safe operating levels and then resets automatically when operating conditions return to normal. Inputs for both balanced cables and unbalanced cables are available to provide flexibility in connecting to the rest of your system. A triple bank of blue watt meters provides instant recognition of power output (the meters may be switched off for theater use if they conflict with the television or movie screen).
Aesthetically, the MC303 is every bit as McIntosh as any of our products. A polished stainless steel chassis, classic black glass front panel, knobs and custom machined aluminum handles all come standard.
Shipping
To ensure safe arrival, we often use private couriers. These are transporters in Sprinter Vans or pulling covered trailers often moving art and antiques across the country. Absolutely the safest way to ship short of you picking it up yourself. This piece ships to the contiguous United States for a flat rate of $420, which includes our packaging and our insurance. Of course, we'll ship anywhere in the world, just drop us a line and we'll give you an estimate – even if you're just curious.
Stock No.
15395201908957
