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Is McIntosh still a good choice?

When I was a teenager I was really into stereo equipment. I eventually bought a complete system and thus moved on to other interests in life. At the time McIntosh was highly respected. My grandfather owned several McIntosh pieces and I revered them with their blue glow. Now it's time for me to become an audiophile again and I'm upgrading my system. I still have reverence for Mac equipment and love it's industrial design. Is McIntosh still highly respected, or have they become passe? Should I still consider a Mac integrated amp? I'm also exploring an Arcam A85 integrated. I'll be driving a pair of Paradigm Studio/20s. Thanks!
478872
hififile
227 posts
 
I own the Mcintosh MA6450. I had "many" other amps over the years, many of which were & are fine pieces. However the Mac is my favorite.

The sound is great! I love the control features, the meters, the build quality, and the factory support.

You will pay more for the Mac, but it is worth every penny!

Happy Listening!
Bennett
sean
6,229 posts
 
Personally, i might look at Mac for tubed gear but definitely not SS power amps. I do not agree with their design philosophy of using output transformers for SS amps. There are as many or more technical reasons for NOT doing that as there are for doing it. My main consideration though is that i do not like the sound that they produce. Once again, that is a personal preference.

I think that Bob Bundus mentioned having some of the BIG Mac SS amps and not being too overwhelmed with them either. Let's see if he chimes in. Sean
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ljgj
955 posts
 
Until you own a Mac SS and listen to it over a period of time particularly with the latest designs you may have a thing about the transformers - but one thing I have realized from many many years of owning them and Krell. Levinson, Electrocompaniet and others is the Mac brings music in better with a more natural presence and fatigue free over longer listening periods than many of these. Many amps claim a tube sound with their SS designs but Mac uses what it takes in SS to actually do so. Their tube amps have been what others have been trying to copy for years. Buy that 6900 or go even further with the 2102 and C42 combo and then just enjoy the music!
lfb44
28 posts
 
I've certainly been happy with the Mac equipment that I've purchased or heard over the years. A couple of the earlier messages in this thread mentioned reservations about Mac CD and DVD players. I'd like to hear more about that. Its not been my experience - although admittedly I did recently pair an MVP841 CD/DVD unit with an outboard DAC and found enough of an improvement to warrant keeping it.

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lucianissimo
1 posts
 
hi! mac was good ,still good and in future for shure good as the best!tubes or solid state,they make music!
keep your mac and be happy with!all best from germany
and enjoy!ciao luciano
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