McIntosh MC275

McIntosh MC275: used price, versions, and what to check before you buy

By HiFi Registry Staff · Published November 1, 2026

In short: The MC275 is a 75 watt per channel KT88 tube amplifier that McIntosh has built, in one form or another, since 1961. A used Mk VI, the version in production today, has been changing hands on the open market for roughly $5,000 to $6,500, against a current US list price of $7,500. Original 1960s units and the 1993 Gordon Gow Commemorative Edition trade in their own ranges and should not be averaged in with the modern amp. HiFi Registry's recorded sales for this model are in the table further down the page. Prices checked November 1, 2026.

Versions and years

The "Mk" labels are informal and were applied inconsistently in the early years, so sellers describe the same amp differently. Serial prefixes are the reliable tell.

Source: Audio Classics' MC275 differences document, cross-checked against McIntosh's current product page. McIntosh says the amp was discontinued in 1971 as the industry moved to transistors, so you will see 1970 and 1971 both quoted as the end of the original run; the serial table ends in 1970.

Specs that matter (Mk VI)

• 75 watts per channel into 4, 8 or 16 ohms; 150 watts bridged mono into 2, 4 or 8 ohms
• Four KT88 output tubes, three 12AX7A, four 12AT7
• Unity Coupled output transformers (McIntosh's output autoformer design, present on every version)
• Balanced and unbalanced inputs
• Sentry Monitor fuse-less protection; small tubes light amber at power-up, green when ready, red in front of a failed output tube
• 67 lb, 16.5 x 8.5 x 12 inches
• US list: $7,500 at authorized dealers (November 2026)
• Warranty: 3 years, not transferable, valid only on units bought from an authorized dealer

Earlier versions: no balanced input before the 50th Anniversary redesign, no Sentry Monitor, no power switch on the original or CE.

Used prices by version

HiFi Registry's recorded sales for the MC275 are in the table below this guide. What the wider market shows, as of this writing:

• Mk VI: mostly $5,000 to $6,500 for a clean, complete example with the original tubes or a documented retube. That is 67 to 87 percent of the current $7,500 list, which is unusual retention for any amplifier and the reason the MC275 is the reference case for McIntosh value.
• Mk V and Mk IV: typically a step below the Mk VI, with the Mk V's RoHS-era parts and the Mk IV's lack of Sentry Monitor the usual reasons buyers pay less.
• Gordon Gow Commemorative: sought after for the chrome chassis and the badge. Condition of the chrome moves the price more than anything else.
• Originals: collector territory. Price depends on chrome, originality of transformers and whether it has been competently serviced. An unserviced 60 year old amp is a project, not a bargain.

Treat any blended MC275 average with care: it mixes amps built 60 years apart. HiFi Registry will report sold prices by version once enough version-tagged sales are recorded.

What to check before buying

1. Identify the version from the serial number, not the seller's description. Use the table above. "Mk II" and "Mk III" in particular get used loosely.
2. Output tubes. The MC275 does not have user-adjustable bias. Ask whether the KT88s are the factory set or a matched replacement quad, and how many hours. A retube is a few hundred dollars; budget for it if the answer is vague.
3. Hum and noise at idle with inputs shorted. Some transformer hum is normal on a tube amp of this size; audible hum through the speakers is not.
4. Chrome and stainless condition. On originals and the CE, pitting or peeling chrome is expensive to fix and hard to hide in photos. Ask for pictures under direct light.
5. Transformers. Confirm the output transformers are original on a vintage unit. Replacement transformers are not a defect, but they change what the amp is worth to a collector.
6. Binding posts on the Mk V. Early Mk V units shipped with small plastic posts. Later metal posts are preferable if you run heavy cable.
7. Service history. For anything pre-Mk IV, ask who did the last service and what was replaced. Coupling caps and power supply electrolytics are the usual items.
8. Warranty. A Mk VI under 3 years old from an authorized dealer may still carry warranty for the original owner only. It does not transfer. Buying from a non-authorized source voids it regardless of age.

Who it is for, and what else to consider

The MC275 suits speakers of 88 dB sensitivity and up in normal rooms, and a pair in mono suits most things short of the hardest loads. People buy it for the Unity Coupled output stage and the way it holds its value, and they live with 75 watts.

If you want McIntosh tube power with more headroom, the MC1502 (150 watts per channel) and the MC2152 (150 watts, the 70th Anniversary design) are the step up. If you want the MC275 sound in a single box, the MA252 and MA352 hybrid integrateds use a tube front end with solid-state output. Outside McIntosh, at the same used money, VAC, Audio Research and Conrad-Johnson stereo amps of similar power are the usual comparisons, with different sonic priorities and much lower resale consistency.

Frequently asked questions

What is a used McIntosh MC275 worth? A current-production Mk VI mostly sells used between $5,000 and $6,500. Older versions trade on condition and originality; see the version notes above and the recorded sales table for what has actually changed hands.

How do I tell which MC275 version I have? Check the serial prefix. ABP is Mk VI, ABH is the 50th Anniversary, WM is Mk V, VN is Mk IV, E-series from 1993 is the Gordon Gow Commemorative, and a five-digit or E-suffixed number is an original.

Does the MC275 need biasing? No. The output stage is fixed-bias and McIntosh does not provide a user adjustment. Use matched KT88s.

Can the MC275 run in mono? Yes. Two units bridge to 150 watts each into 2, 4 or 8 ohms. Mk VI and 50th Anniversary units also support mono parallel.

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

Is the MC275 still made? Yes. The Mk VI has been in production since 2012 and lists at $7,500 in the US as of November 2026.

Related

• A Buyer's Guide to McIntosh
• McIntosh comps: MC1502, MC462, C22, MA252
• Live McIntosh listings on HiFi Registry
• Sell your MC275 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