The Mactone XX-440 preamp and MH-120 in my Tannoy Westminster Royal SE loudspeakers based audio system.
Fellow Tannoy owners will want to take note that the Mactone XX-440 preamplifier and MH-120 amplifier are an exceptional pairing with my Tannoy Westminster Royal SE loudspeakers.
At times, the big Westminsters can be a bit fussy about associated components, due to the revealing nature of the 15-inch Tannoy Dual Concentric's horn-loaded tweeter, that is located in the middle of the woofer.
Mactone XX-440 line preamplifier.
The Mactone XX-440 preamplifier and MH-120 amplifier combination provide a smooth, rich, refined, and naturally warm tonal balance, that I found to be a superb tonal pairing with my Westminsters.
Mactone MH-120 amplifier.
The MH-120 amplifier's 65 watts of output power easily drove my sensitive West's, and in combination with the XX-440, reminds me of what I imagine particularly refined versions of classic audio components to perform like.
Matsumoto-san started building Mactone audio components in 1964, just a few short years after the introduction of the vintage classic McIntosh MX110Z preamplifier-tuner (1962), and MC240 stereo amplifier (1960), for example.
Those original Mactone components may have been designed during the "Golden Age" period for audio in the 1960s, but now with 59 years of continual circuit innovation and refinement by Matsumoto-san, I'd say the current Mactone XX-440 and MH-120 offer particularly refined performance, a luxurious sound quality that is evocative of the musicality of the best in Golden Age designs, but also exceeds their level of refinement and overall performance in every way.
Given what I was hearing from them, I was curious about the circuit designs for the Mactone XX-440 preamp and MH-120 amp, and asked importer Steve Mishoe (In Living Stereo) if he could tell me a little more about them.
Here's what Steve was able to find out:
Inside the Mactone XX-440 preamplifier.
"The XX-440 preamplifier, like all Mactone products, is completely point to point wired. The main goal for all the Mactone preamplifiers is to lower output impedance and increase bandwidth via a single-ended push-pull circuit (SEPP)."
Inside the Mactone XX-440 preamplifier.
"This is an output transformerless design popularly known as an OTL. The output is divided into two levels with 12AU7 tubes operating in parallel. In other words, the overall circuit consists of 4 parallels and a total of 4 SEPP circuits."
Inside the Mactone XX-440 preamplifier.
"However, since it is a positive and negative one-sided power supply, the output goes through a capacitor. The initial stage uses cathode coupling and phase inverting via the 12AU7. Loop negative feedback is not applied, and the power supply uses a choke."
Mactone MH-120 amplifier without the vacuum tube protective cage.
"The MH-120 power amplifier uses high-quality transformers and point-to-point wiring in the circuit. Mactone likes to use KT-120 output tubes because of their excellent linearity and high power output. The KT-120 has better dynamics and tonality than the KT88. The circuit also uses low negative feedback."
Inside the Mactone MH-120 amplifier - check out the point-to-point wiring. Nice!
"If negative feedback is applied, frequency characteristics are increased, but sound quality is not desirable. The presence knob has the least amount of negative feedback (2 db) in its first setting (all the way to left) and increases to 4 db in its middle position. The third position has 4 db of NFB at 50 Hz."
Personally, I love that Matsumoto-san included the presence control on the Mactone MH-120 amplifier. It's very useful for tailoring the overall tonal balance to complement the variable fidelity you find in recorded musical performances.
Mactone XX-440 pre & MH-120 amp.
Thanks to Steve Mishoe for providing an overview of the Mactone XX-440 pre & MH-120 amp circuitry.
A few words about the vacuum tubes used in the circuits of the Mactone XX-440 line preamplifier and MH-120 amplifier:
Mactone MH-120 amplifier's utilizes a quad of Tung-Sol KT120 power tubes, an EH 12AU7 input, and a pair of EH 12BH7 drivers.
The Mactone MH-120 amplifier (above) utilizes an Electro-Harmonix 12AU7 input, and a pair of Electro-Harmonix 12BH7 drivers. A quad of Tung-Sol KT120 vacuum tubes are utilized as power tubes in the MH-120, which are known for their long life and exceptional audio performance.
The Mactone XX-440 line preamplifier (below) utilizes Electro-Harmonix 12AU7 vacuum tubes in its circuit.
The Mactone XX-440 preamplifier circuit uses six EH12AU7 vacuum tubes.
Ok, that's all for now, but there will be much more to come about the Mactone MH-120 amplifier and XX-440 line preamplifier.
Previous posts in the Mactone series of articles:
Today's Fresh Catch: The Mactone MH-120 amplifier and XX-440 preamplifier!
HERE
The Mactone family: Introducing Kenjiro Matsumoto, son Teiichi, and grandson Daichi!
HERE
First Listen: Impressions of the Mactone XX-440 preamp and MH-120 amp!
HERE
As always, thanks for stopping by, and may the tone be with you!
