McIntosh MPC1500 Power Controller

The McIntosh MPC1500 Power Controller (Power Conditioner) is designed to give a high-performance audio system something every component depends on but few people think about: clean, stable and protected AC power.

Modern electrical lines are filled with noise generated by appliances, lighting systems, computers, switching power supplies and countless other devices connected to the grid. At the same time, expensive audio components remain vulnerable to voltage surges and other power-related problems.

The MPC1500 Power Conditioner addresses both.

At its heart is a massive, specially wound toroidal isolation transformer designed to filter unwanted AC line noise while electrically isolating connected components. McIntosh then adds fast-acting, non-sacrificial surge protection, six high-quality AC receptacles, programmable power control and real-time voltage and current monitoring.

For a serious McIntosh system—or virtually any high-end audio system—the MPC1500 provides a dedicated foundation for powering and protecting the components you've invested in.

Clean Power Starts with Isolation

The centerpiece of the MPC1500 is its large toroidal isolation transformer.

Rather than simply passing incoming AC power through a conventional filtering circuit, McIntosh specially winds the transformer to act as a low-pass filter, helping remove unwanted high-frequency noise riding on the AC line.

That matters because your audio system shares the electrical grid with everything else in your home—and ultimately everything else connected to the utility.

Computers, chargers, LED lighting, appliances, motors and switching power supplies can all introduce electrical noise.

The MPC1500 is designed to provide your audio components with a cleaner electrical environment so they can operate as intended.

Serious Surge Protection Without a Sacrificial Design

Power protection is just as important as power conditioning when the system connected to it may represent a substantial investment.

The MPC1500 incorporates a quick-acting surge suppression module that activates when incoming voltage rises approximately 2 volts above nominal operating levels.

Instead of sending excess voltage to the ground line—where McIntosh notes it could potentially find another path into connected audio equipment—the MPC1500 slowly and safely dissipates the excess voltage through the neutral line.

More importantly, the system is non-sacrificial.

Many conventional surge protectors use components that degrade as they absorb surge events and eventually require replacement. The MPC1500's protection system is designed to continue operating without requiring its suppression module to be replaced after a surge.

That's a significant advantage for a product intended to protect reference-level audio electronics.

Six Medical-Grade AC Receptacles

The U.S. version of the MPC1500 provides six medical-grade NEMA 5-15R duplex receptacles.

That gives you plenty of connectivity for a complete system, including components such as:

• Preamplifiers
• Network streamers
• DACs
• CD/SACD players
• Turntable power supplies
• Phono preamplifiers
• Integrated amplifiers
• Power amplifiers
• Home theater processors

Two receptacles remain always on, while the remaining four can be configured using the MPC1500's Power Control system.

This allows the power sequence of compatible components to be tailored to the system.

Power Control for a Complete McIntosh System

The MPC1500 is particularly useful as part of a larger McIntosh system.

Four of its six receptacles can be controlled using the rear-panel Power Control switches, allowing connected components to turn on and off as part of the system's power sequence.

LED indicators on both the front and rear panels display the current status of each receptacle.

Instead of treating power management as an afterthought, the MPC1500 becomes an integrated part of the system.

Watch Your Power in Real Time

Those unmistakable McIntosh blue meters aren't just there for decoration.

On the MPC1500, one meter displays incoming AC voltage, while the second displays the actual current draw of the connected equipment.

That gives you an immediate visual indication of both the incoming power and how much current your system is consuming.

It's a clever use of one of McIntosh's most recognizable design elements—and genuinely useful information for a power controller.

Built Like McIntosh Equipment

The MPC1500 looks right at home beside McIntosh amplifiers, preamplifiers and source components.

The front features the classic black glass faceplate, illuminated McIntosh logo, blue meters, aluminum end caps and traditional control knobs.

But its 87-pound weight tells you what's happening inside.

Most of that mass comes from the substantial isolation transformer and the kind of power-supply hardware required to handle a complete high-end audio system.

This isn't a glorified power strip in a fancy enclosure.

It's a serious piece of electrical equipment.

1,440 Watts of Power Capacity

The U.S. 120V MPC1500 is rated for a maximum load of:

12 amps / 1,440 watts

That provides substantial capacity for a high-performance audio system while maintaining the benefits of isolation and protection.

For systems incorporating extremely high-current monoblock or reference power amplifiers, total system demand should still be considered when deciding which components should be connected through the MPC1500.

At The Grid, we can help determine the proper power architecture for larger McIntosh systems.

McIntosh MPC1500 Specifications

Product Type: AC Power Controller / Isolation Transformer

Electrical Specifications

Output Voltage:
120V AC nominal – U.S. version

Power Requirement:
120V AC, 60Hz

Maximum Current:
12 amps

Maximum Power:
1,440 watts

Load Regulation:
±2.5%

Power Protection

AC Line Protection:
Specially wound toroidal isolation transformer

Surge Protection:
Quick-acting, non-sacrificial surge suppression module

AC Outlets

U.S. Version:
6 medical-grade NEMA 5-15R duplex receptacles

Always-On Receptacles:
2

Programmable Receptacles:
4

Monitoring

Meters:
1 x AC Voltage
1 x Current / Amperage

Meter Lighting Control:
Yes

Dimensions

Width: 17.5"
Height: 7.625" including feet
Depth: 22" including front panel, knobs and cables

Weight

Unit Weight: 87 lbs.
Shipping Weight: 105 lbs.

The Grid's Take on the McIntosh MPC1500

A system built around McIntosh electronics can easily represent tens—or hundreds—of thousands of dollars in equipment.

Power shouldn't be the weakest link.

The MPC1500 does two jobs that matter: it helps isolate your equipment from unwanted AC line noise, and it provides serious protection against potentially damaging power surges.

But what we particularly like about the MPC1500 is how McIntosh approaches those jobs.

There's a real toroidal isolation transformer inside. The surge protection isn't sacrificial. You can see incoming voltage and system current draw in real time. Four outlets can be integrated into the system's power-control sequence. And the entire unit is engineered to integrate visually and functionally with McIntosh electronics.

At 87 pounds, the MPC1500 weighs more than some integrated amplifiers. That tells you a lot about what you're actually buying.

For a substantial McIntosh two-channel or home theater system, we'd consider power planning part of the system design—not something to address afterward.

At The Grid HiFi & Home Theater, we can help determine whether the MPC1500 is appropriate for your system, calculate total power requirements and configure the proper power and control architecture for your components.