Has anyone ever compared these two amps? Assuming the MC275 is new and the
Citation II is redone with modern resistors, signal and PS caps and
populated with new tubes, any opinions about which of these two might
perform better? I've got the rebuilt Cit II and need another similar power
amp, so I am trying to decide whether to re-do an old original Citation II I
have, or skip the hassle and try something new.

Kevin Killebrew
Austin, Texas

The original Mac 275 was a tremendous amp in its day and a lot of them
were used for lab benches, research projects, MI and pro audio
uses-many were used for home organs and in churches-things common solid
state PA amps do today. Their "first hundred milliwatts" is like most
high global feedback amps, plus their power supply is just over
marginal from an audiophile standpoint-but that they are taken
seriously at all (and properly so) given their handicaps is a sign that
Mac were on to something.

(One could IMO really build a fine amp with new Mac iron-new _classic_
Mac iron, not the Mickey Mouse 'reissue' Mac peddles now.)

For home listening I think the HK Citation II is a really excellent
vintage design. It's not better than something you could build from
scratch, it's not better than reworked VTL and ARC or c-j amps I've
heard-I would not pay a vintage premium for it. But its OPTs are very
good and it sounds fine.

Sowter is now offering an Acrosound 350. If it's to spec, building the
classic Acrosound circuit with it will probably be magnificent.