[Formerly YB-2]

Originally Posted by o0OBillO0o

I can't make up my mind between the MA6600 and the MA7000. Both offer great features.

Tubes are out of the question because I do not want to have to replace them over and over-even if they get 4000hrs!

Bill

While you could not possibly go wrong with either of those integrated amps (loved my MA6600), changing tubes every 4-5000 hours is like once per year, maximum. And then only the power tubes, as the small signal tubes last 10,000+ hours. If you turn your system off when not in use you easily get 2-3 years of life out of the power tubes and at least twice that from the small signal tubes. Changing tubes takes all of 10-minutes in all of the McIntosh tube amps or the MA2275 (not my first choice but popular with many) and is very simple. More involved with the C2200/2300 as a cover must be removed to access the tubes. Your Klispch will work perfectly well with tubes or solid-state.