2. amps-preamps
  3. 139660-110055

Time for a Pre change? Need the wisdom...

I bought a mac C 41preamp and a pair of AA 10T’s. 

There is a harsh edge riding on the high end... I cant get rid of it.  I have changed everything out and still cant remove it...... I have the opportunity to buy a Parasound A21 and a P6....  What’s the feeling here on this era of Mac? I have had people I respect and in the business prefer the Parasound over the Mac. 

Is the Mac on the bright side and is the P6 in the same ballpark. I have emailed AA about the harshness... maybe xover or maybe bad tweets? It’s killing me. I feel if I clean house (amp- pre) with new equipment I will have a better chance at getting to the relaxing listening days again.

All opinions are welcome... I have a thick skin as I know everything... lol
captbeaver
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
2,766 posts
 
@erik_squires ……………………………..

I can't comprehend that you find Mac bright, but not your class D amps.  I am the opposite, Class D has always sounded bright to me, but not Mac.  How is it possible that you and I hear so differently?  I am doubtful that my hearing is that rolled off  although I am 65.
rbstehno
916 posts
 
I have never heard a Mac be bright sounding, even their SS offerings. I would say you can almost go too much to the warm side with some Mac products
caphill
496 posts
 
McIntosh amps and preamps are well known for being warm tonally even their SS amps. I've never heard any Mac gears that are bright or harsh sounding.

@captbeaver
What is your power amp?
erik_squires
5,268 posts
 
Sorry, let me restate.
I have never paid a lot of attention to Mac's so I personally don't have a strong opinion, but one that I have heard from others. That the one time I did any critical listening with Macintosh gear and it was terrible does not mean they are or that they all are.
My recommendation to the OP was to look elsewhere for just such a reason.

I find my current Class D amps exactly as bright as Parasound A21/A23 amplifiers.

I apologize if I gave anyone the impression I felt I knew a great deal about the sound of Macintosh gear because  I really don't.

Best,
E
dorkwad
317 posts
 
I've had VMPS RM40 ribbon speakers that are highly detailed and transparent.  I went the same route as you seem to be going.  Changed to Teo Game Changer II ICs.  Then went to double Teo GCII ICs.  Each change brought more organic sound and more beautiful.  The double ICs are simply freakin' awesome.  They WILL change your mid about the importance of cables in the system.  It is as big a change as a major component upgrade.  Lastly, I went to Cerious Technology Graphene Extreme speaker cables.  It took the sound a little further in the same direction.  On all the wires, I had silver wires from Darwin and Amadi on all the ICs and SCs prior to this.  They were much better in all ways than several different cables I had used previously.  Cerious has now come out with the Matrix version of the CTGE speakers cables that is even better as all frequencies, but it is now silver wired--that MAY be a problem in your system.  By the way, I have Nuforce Ref 9 V3 SE mono amps that are Class D and sound beautiful in the system.  They have the TDSS level 3 upgrades done to them.
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