#81
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The blue and green
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Bill in the Hills OUR VINTAGE MAC: MAC4100, MAC4200 | AMPS: MC452, MC300 | MAC PRE/PROS: MX151, MX130, MX121 | B&W SPEAKERS: (2) N802s, (2) N805s, (1) HTM3S | NEWER EQUIPMENT: Oppo 203 & 105D, Sony X800M2, Denon CDR-W1500 | VIDEO DISPLAY: 65" LG OLED | IMPORTANT NOTE: Zero High-speed internet connections |
#82
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popular...schmopular. Thing is that it's historically been the best and most reliable and that goes back past even the 50 years I have owned. Other than a tuner alignment and some (well documented) MSXXX issues, I have not had one piece of Mc equipment ever have to go to the shop. I know nothing else that delivers that kind of value and I typically have kept each piece I have owned 8-10+ years.
Last edited by sgbroimp; 10-21-2020 at 12:17 PM. Reason: typo |
#83
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For me, McIntosh is a benchmark company... why?
-High Quality, USA made (could be any other first world country for me, just not China, Vietnam, etc). -Great sound -Built to last, and proven to do so -Super sexy looks, very understated, yet not all at the same time -Price is very reasonable for the market segment it serves Again I own good stuff, such as a dCS Rossini with clock, and I've owned high end Sony before, Nakamichi and other stuff... but for me McIntosh is a reference system, and while I don't like everything they make, certainly in the amplification department they're in the top of the top for me. |
#84
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Thank you for your answer. The Triangle Quatuor also need lots of current (amperes) so in this regard are the same as the B&W. Can you quantify (of course in a subjective way) how big was the difference between 1.2 and 452? For example if we say the 1.2s are at 100% sound quality the 452 were at 80% or towards 50%? |
#85
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Kuky... Welcome to AA!
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Ivan FLORIDA MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES CAPE COD MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES |
#86
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You know what they say, “once you go Mac, you’ll never go back”
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McIntosh C2300 preamp, MC601 monoblocks (x2), Vandersteen 2CE Signature II Speakers, Marantz AV8802a preamp processor, Marantz MA500 monoblocks amps, Small Audio Manufacture (SAM) Turntable, Polk Audio Center, Rear Left and Rear Right speakers, SVS Front High Left and Front High Right speakers, Chrysalis Bass Matrix-12 Sub woofer. |
#87
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That’s always a tough question but if I had to put a figure on it my gut feel would say somewhere around 30% improvement. The difference for me was quite significant and well worth the investment - just a pity it wasn’t a 30% increase in price as well, but that’s typical as you move up the chain with things in audio... |
#88
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I have been into high end audio for about fifty years. I remember Mac way back when. Then really didn’t see it in the high end circles I explored until the last ten or twenty years. I Love the look. I have gone down to listen a number of times, really wanting to like it, but not found it not to my taste. I think I get it. To me it sounds like it would be really great for rock. To me it sounds very bass heavy, powerful, reminiscent of JBL / ‘70s rock... like in the muscle car category. That sound coupled with the looks I can see would be appealing to some. I can see how the brand would be polarizing as well, it is a very unique sound. Ultimately audio choice is about what appeals to you. Sounds like it appeals to quite a few people here.
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George Main: Aurender W20SE music streamer, ARC REF 9SE DAC / CD, Linn LP 12, Koetsu Rosewood SignCartrige, ARC REF 3 Phono Stage, ARC REF 6SE Preamp, ARC 160s amp, Sonus Faber Amati Traditional Speakers,Transparent Ultra IC & SC Library:Aurender N100, Ayre QB9 2020 DAC, Woo WA5-LE amp upgraded tubes, Focal Utopia HP, Sennheiser 800s HP, LCD HP. |
#89
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Most iconic......... absolutely. Most popular.......... likely. Best......... as high quality as any. However, as I look back over the many pieces of McIntosh gear I've owned over the years (far more than any other brand) I realize that it was not the most musically satisfying. Other than the MC75, MC275, MC500, MC2200 & MVP861 (all of which I would happily own again), none of the others was in my system longer than 6-12 months. That tells me that I prefer the sound of other brands. But, that's me and, obviously, YMMV. Whatever floats your musical boat is the correct choice.
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Glenn... Canton Reference 9 Clearaudio SM Pro Focal Bathys JLA 10" Dominion Kuzma Stabi S w/MC & MM Magnepan 1,7i McIntosh MA8950 & MR88 Oppo 203 Roon Nucleus Rose Hifi RS150B Shunyata Gemini-4 Sony ST-A6B, TA-F6B, ST-J75 & PS-X75 Sorane SA1.2 & TA-1L Stillpoints LP1v2 WW Pt, Au & Ag |
#90
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I'll say this... It might not be the best anymore, but for a long time it was the best brand of audio equipment you could buy... just like Rolex brought high end watches to popularity but are by no means the be-all and end-all of watch making, McIntosh is a high end product that is on par or better than most... but certainly not the best..
That said, I've lusted after a McIntosh based system since my early 20's.. 30 years later, like other dreams I had as a young man, I managed to make it happen and I've got no regrets... Of course I wanted the best, but I couldn't justify (nor sanely afford) brands like D'Agostino for my amplification ... but I did get the best in the digital domain by going with dCS. |
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