McIntosh MC152

McIntosh MC152: used price, how it fits the MC202 and MC252 line, and what to check before you buy

By HiFi Registry Staff · Published November 1, 2026

In short: The MC152 is the smallest solid-state stereo amplifier McIntosh currently makes: 150 watts per channel into 2, 4 or 8 ohms through an output autoformer on each channel, in a 6 inch tall chassis that weighs 75 lb. It was shown at CEDIA in September 2014 at $4,500 and now lists at $6,500 in the US. Dealer-certified used examples have sold at $4,566 and $4,659 in the last year or so, with a third asking $4,499. HiFi Registry's recorded sales for this model are in the table further down the page. Prices checked November 1, 2026.

Lineage: MC202 to MC252 to MC152

There is one version of the MC152 and it has no direct predecessor. McIntosh's last sub-300 watt stereo amps were the MC202 and MC252, both gone by 2006. From then until 2014 the smallest stereo amp in the solid-state line was the 300 watt MC302, so the MC152 arrived as a new entry point rather than a replacement. These three are still what a buyer looking for a smaller McIntosh amp with autoformers actually chooses between.

Source: McIntosh's legacy product pages, the MC252 owner's manual and the MC152 product page. Autoformers carry across all three generations. The big difference is that the two older amps can be combined into a mono pair and the MC152 cannot.

Specs that matter

• 150 watts per channel into 2, 4 or 8 ohms, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, 0.005 percent THD; push-pull complementary solid-state output stage
• Dynamic headroom 2.0 dB; damping factor above 40 wideband; signal to noise 118 dB below rated output balanced, 115 dB unbalanced
• One output autoformer per channel, so the full rating holds into 2, 4 or 8 ohm speakers
• Power Guard clipping protection and Sentry Monitor short-circuit protection, both standard McIntosh
• Inputs: one stereo balanced (XLR) and one stereo unbalanced (RCA), with a rear Input Mode switch to select which is live. Power Control in and out jacks for McIntosh system switching
• Pass-through outputs: none. The owner's manual lists the rear panel as inputs, speaker terminals, power control and the auto-off switch only
• Mono bridge: no. Mono parallel: no. McIntosh's spec table says so explicitly
• Two blue watt meters with a meter light switch; black glass faceplate with silver end caps; LED fiber optic illumination; enclosed steel chassis
• 75 lb (34 kg) unpacked, 85 lb shipping; 17.5 x 6 x 21 inches including feet, front panel and cable clearance
• US list: $6,500 at authorized dealers (November 2026); $4,500 at launch in 2014, $5,500 in between
• Warranty: 3 years from purchase, original owner only, terminates on transfer, valid only on units bought from an authorized McIntosh dealer

Hi-Fi World's bench test (Noel Keywood, October 2015) measured about 253 watts into 8 ohms and 225 watts into 4 ohms from a sample rated at 150, with 0.005 percent distortion in the midband and no visible crossover products. Sensitivity was 1.6 V unbalanced and 3.2 V balanced for full output. The magazine rated the sound "Outstanding" and called the amp "keenly priced" at £4,995 in the UK.

Used prices

HiFi Registry's recorded sales for the MC152 are in the table below this guide. What the wider market shows, as of this writing:

• Dealer certified pre-owned, US: TMR Audio has sold two single-owner, roughly five year old examples at $4,566 (cosmetic 8 of 10) and $4,659 (cosmetic 9 of 10), both with factory packaging. A third, two-owner unit with minor nicks is on offer at $4,499. Against the current $6,500 list that is 69 to 72 percent. SkyFi Audio has an 8 of 10 example at an undisclosed price with a one year shop warranty and no McIntosh coverage.
• Private sales, Europe: one example in Germany was asking EUR 4,130 from July to September 2026 and expired without a recorded sale. European list is higher than US, so do not read this across directly.

One distortion to watch: list has risen 44 percent since 2014, and dealer listings quote whichever MSRP applied when the amp was new ($4,500, $5,500 or $6,500). Compare against the current $6,500 figure, not the one on the listing.

What to check before buying

1. Shipping. At 85 lb boxed the MC152 is a one-person carry but a heavy parcel. Insist on the original factory packaging, which both TMR sales included. A drop shows up as cracked glass or a shifted chassis.
2. Front glass and faceplate. McIntosh excludes cosmetic items from warranty. Look for chips at the corners and marks on the inner glass around the meters, which SkyFi noted on its example. The top cover often carries round marks from the feet of whatever sat on it.
3. Meters and lighting. LED fiber optic illumination, so dim or uneven light is a fault, not age. Confirm both meters track together on a mono signal and the meter light switch works.
4. Speaker terminals. The twist-lock posts tighten finger-tight plus a quarter turn with the McIntosh wrench. A post that spins or will not lock is a service item. Ask whether the wrench is included.
5. Input Mode switch. Check sound through both balanced and unbalanced inputs by flipping the rear switch. A seller who has only used one set may not know the other works.
6. Auto-off. The power save feature turns the amp off after a period without signal and is bypassed when a Power Control cable is connected. An amp that shuts down with signal present or will not wake is a fault.
7. Protection circuits. Power Guard stops clipping at the input and Sentry Monitor shuts the output down on a short. Neither should trip in normal use. "Goes into protection sometimes" describes a problem, not a feature.
8. Serial and purchase date. The warranty is 3 years from original purchase and ends on transfer, so a used MC152 has no McIntosh coverage regardless of age. A dated receipt from an authorized dealer still shows the amp is not grey market.
9. Do not plan on mono. Two MC152s cannot be bridged or paralleled. More than 150 watts per channel means a larger stereo amp, not a second MC152.

Who it is for, and what else to consider

The MC152 is for people who want the McIntosh autoformer stereo amp, meters and glass in a rack-friendly 6 inch chassis one person can move, driving speakers that do not need 300 watts. Hi-Fi World's measured 253 watts into 8 ohms shows the rating is conservative, and the autoformer means a 4 ohm speaker gets the same 150 watts as an 8 ohm one.

If you need more power in the same family, the MC312 (300 watts) and MC462 (450 watts) are the steps up, each heavier and more expensive used. A used MC302, built 2010 to 2018, doubles the power for not much more money. Natural partners are the C47 and C49 solid-state preamps, the two McIntosh photographs with it, or the C8 tube preamp at similar size. If one box appeals more, the MA252 hybrid integrated covers similar ground with a tube front end and no autoformers.

Frequently asked questions

What is a used McIntosh MC152 worth? Dealer-certified examples in the US have sold at $4,566 and $4,659 against a $6,500 list, with another asking $4,499. Private sales should come in below that; see the recorded sales table for what has actually changed hands on HiFi Registry.

When did the MC152 come out and what did it cost? McIntosh showed it at CEDIA in September 2014 and shipped it that fall at $4,500. Most reviews and references date it to 2015, its first full year on sale. US list has since risen to $6,500.

Did the MC152 replace the MC252? Not directly. The MC252 ended in 2006 and McIntosh went eight years without a stereo amp below 300 watts. The MC152 reopened that slot in 2014, slimmer, lighter and without mono modes.

Can the MC152 be bridged to mono? No. McIntosh's specifications list both mono bridge and mono parallel as not supported. The older MC202 and MC252 could be combined into a single 400 or 500 watt channel; the MC152 cannot.

How heavy is the MC152? 75 lb (34 kg) out of the box, 85 lb shipping weight. The chassis is 6 inches tall including feet.

Does the MC152 have pass-through outputs? No. The rear panel has balanced and unbalanced inputs, speaker terminals and Power Control jacks only. Bi-amping or a subwoofer feed has to come from the preamplifier.

Does the McIntosh warranty transfer to a second owner? No. The 3 year warranty covers the original purchaser only, ends on transfer, and applies only to units bought from an authorized McIntosh dealer.

Related

• A Buyer's Guide to McIntosh
• McIntosh comps: MC252, MC202, MC302, MC312, C47, C49, C8
• Live McIntosh listings on HiFi Registry
• Sell your MC152 on HiFi Registry, $25 flat, no commission

Written by HiFi Registry Staff. Not a review: HiFi Registry has not owned or auditioned this unit unless the text says so. Price ranges describe open-market sales and dealer asking prices observed on the review date and are not offers to buy or sell. How we research these guides