Mcintosh MC500 or Accuphase P800

You will most likely get more synergy by using a Mac amp with the c46 preamp.

Bob

I thought about brand synergy too...
but I have heard the P800 once and the MC500 never.
I did hear the MC1000 but I do not know if the MC500 would be as good...

I haven't heard the MC1000, but I have heard the the MC500 with B&W Nautilus 802. The combination is excellent, as to my ear the MC500 "warms-up" the B&Ws a tad, together making really good synergistic balance. The 500 has plenty of power, and I would doubt you need to go to the 1000.

My experience with Accuphase products in general is they are more detailed than McIntosh gear, but flatter and more "technical" sounding. From your description of listening preferences, it seems that McIntosh would be a better match.

"I did hear the MC1000 but I do not know if the MC500 would be as good..."

The 500 would be almost as good as the 1000's. (I owned them both at the same time.)

Basically if you liked the 1000's, you'll like the 500 so, short of getting to listen to both amps and deciding then, you have a known vs a gamble. I'd go with the known.

Regarding Left Eye's comments, I went from a McIntosh ss amp to Accuphase, and found the result to be quite the opposite. To be fair, though, I have one of their Class A amps. I've never heard one of their A/B amps.