The 1900 will drive the Paradigm's. Look for measurements or call the manufacturer of the speakers to determine how well the amp and speakers might mate. You would like to know the low impedance point and the electrical phase angle of the speaker system. This will begin to tell you whether the speakers are in need of more current than the Mac cares to deliver. No matter what those numbers indicate the Mac should do well with the speakers at moderate volume levels. The 1900 will sound slightly warm and sufficiently musical compared to some of the new equipment available. Whether this is to your taste is completely up to you and the equipment you are pairing with. However, if you know you like up front, in your face sound, the Mac is probably not your best choice.

If the amplifier hasn't been serviced recently and most especially if the amp has sat dormant for several years, you should proceed with caution. Simply plugging the amplifier into a 120Volt outlet and throwing the switch could lead to problems in a few weeks time when the caps begin to fail. If you haven't used this amplifier for awhile, take it to a shop and ask them to bring it up to full power with a Variac while monitoring its current draw. Caps dry out and leak and this precaution is not going to absolutely prevent any failure of aged parts but it might prevent a disaster in the form of other components being sacrificed to serve the need of the leaky capacitor gods. If you like the sound of the Mac, have a good tech go through and clean all the connectors and pots. If you don't like the Mac, put it up for sale on Audiogon and get some money for a good out of it as there are plenty of people who do like the sound of vintage McIntosh.

Seeing the vintage Mac pic made me think of my Crown IC150/DC300 that's sitting in the garage for too many years.

The thing that keeps me from resurrecting the unit is fear that it will cost more for parts and service than I can justify.

Are amps, like speakers and computers, simply a disposable that aren't worth fixing (cuz they can be replaced with way better kit for less money than they can be repaired)?

Any techs who could shed light on costs of rehabbing a Mac or Crown?

keith

Call Audio Classics.

http://www.audioclassics.com/

I second that. They are good people. Everyone there is knowledgeable and passionate about Mac. They can probably even provide you the perfect packing for shipping at a reasonable price. Very important.

I have several older McIntosh pieces and love them all. Mac authorized repairs are available nearly everywhere. Even Blose speakers sound better with a Mac.