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McIntosh - is it that great?

I'm just curious if McIntosh gear is all that great. How does their older power amps compare to new products from other high end manufactures? Are there any products I should stay away from. I like the idea of owning vintage McIntosh stuff. Most of their stuff seems pricy. Is it because it's that good or do people just like to collect their products. thanks for you opinions--Matt
mattman
rwright
14 posts
 
I have a Mac C28 pre amp with a 200watt x2 8ohm Mac stereo amp bought in 1977. The sound is still smooth with a fantastic sound stage. I still use my set of B&W DM6's with them have never a a minute of trouble from both pre amp and amp and the B&W's.I have been around since the advent of HI FI sound and the Mc still leads the pack
rwright
14 posts
 
Its funny you say that i have the exact same equipment and bought it in 1977 also. I used B&W DM6's with it but i now use B&W Matric 802 the damn system still hums
looie
10 posts
 
I always thought the slight edge in the sound was due to my horn speakers. But now, with a McIntosh preamp, the edge is gone! - After about 30 years, and preamps ranging from Heath to EICO to JBL to Yamaha to AGI to Quad to ARC.
tubeaholic
2 posts
 
I recently dumped a mint SX-828 receiver for a Mac 1900, world of improvement, dumped a Nakamichi ST-7 tuner for a Mac MR-74...this 74 is so far and away better sounding it
blew my mind.
captlee
3 posts
 
It depends on speakers, pre-amps, and cabling. The Mac 602 bettered the ARC Ref 300 MK2's on the mid-tweet panels on my Genesis 2's, but when I bought Wilson MAX2,s the Mac didn't work well at all. Now it's back to ARC tubes and all is nirvana again.
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