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McIntosh Audio A Tradition of Excellence

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  #11  
Old 11-13-2021, 12:44 PM
Charles Charles is offline
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To Maks and Ivan, thank you so much! This was totally unplanned. When I saw the original post I said to myself, Wow!! Incredible! My next thought was, "I want one." I went to bed expecting to wake up having second thoughts. Nope. And it does eliminate any possibility of a 2.1KW. I'm never going to sell these amps. Even in terms of a pure investment, these amps are worth it because they will never be updated or changed. They are frozen in time. Instant classics.

Best

Charles
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  #12  
Old 11-13-2021, 01:11 PM
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FreddieFerric FreddieFerric is offline
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My hats off to you sir! Congrats on this purchase. Looking forward to your review once you've had them up and running.
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  #13  
Old 11-13-2021, 01:28 PM
Charles Charles is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FreddieFerric View Post
My hats off to you sir! Congrats on this purchase. Looking forward to your review once you've had them up and running.
Freddie, thank you so much! I'm agape over this amp. The old 3500 needed a fan. It is absolutely remarkable Mac can achieve 500 watts without a fan in such a compact frame and no fan. The AR 160 mono block requires a fan, and it produces 140 watts for the same price (30K a pair). This is the thing Mac can do that no one and I mean no one can remotely do. They obtain special extremely potent output tubes and leapfrog the competition leaving them in the dust. The S/N ratio of the amp is 120 dB! The best AR can do is 110 dB at .5% distortion. The 3500 distortion is .3% and damping factor of > 25. AR is 14. Both are almost identical in size.

Best

Charles

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Charles Updated System: Wilson McIntosh Audioquest
New gear on order: Plinth of X material built by Wilson with rubber cushions or cushions of V material to get my Thor off the floor. Plinth supported by Wilson Acoustic Diodes. McIntosh MC3500 MK II mono power amp, one per channel
Most recent updates: AQ Diamond USB replaces AQ Coffee; Wilson Audio Specialties Alexx replaced by Wilson Audio Specialties XVX Chronosonic; new subwoofer crossover; new Galaxy Grey Thors Hammer; Wilson Pedestals; heating and cooling completely reworked and reinsulated resulting in a much quieter, cooler, and more efficient room (cost about 10,000.00). McIntosh MCT 500 SACD/CD transport. Wilson Audio Acoustic Diode for XVX Chronosonic. WEL Signature digital Coaxial cable for MVP 881/D1100 digital connection replacing the optical connection.
Amps: McIntosh 1.25KW’s (3) set on floor on custom made cultured marble slabs
Preamp and DAC: McIntosh D1100
Sources: McIntosh MCT 500 SACD/CD Transport, MVP881 BR player, MVP851 DVD player, MR87 tuner, Marantz 510LV Laser Disc player, ASUS laptop USB (JRiver Media Center 23)
Speakers: Wilson Audio Specialties XVX Chronosonic
Sub-woofer: Wilson Audio Specialties Thor’s Hammer (1) horizontal lie and Wilson Watch Controller (abbr: WC)
Cables main system: Audioquest WEL Signature speaker cables and balanced IC (preamp to amps); WEL Signature AES/EBU balanced digital IC for CD playback; WEL Signature digital coaxial cable for MVP 881/D1100 digital connection; Audioquest Diamond optical (1) for tuner, (1) for MVP 851 DVD player, and (1) for LD player for total of (3); Audioquest Diamond USB cable; McIntosh MCT cable for SACD playback; Dragon power cords (5 HC cords and 3 source cords for total of 8); Thunder HC power cord for MR87 tuner
Cables subwoofer system: Audioquest Redwood speaker cable (1); Wolf balanced subwoofer IC from WC to amp; Wind balanced IC from preamp to WC; Hurricane HC (2) and Dragon HC (1) power cords
Power conditioners: Audioquest Niagara 7000 (1) and Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines with no. 10 wire straight out of fuse box
Isolation: Wilson Pedestals for D1100; MVP 881 BR player; MCT 500 transport; MVP 851 DVD player
Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD) solid walnut cabinet on large casters; holds all sources and preamp; also, Niagara 7000; 11 feet minimum distance from speakers
Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes
AC: Dedicated to this room only, an ultra-high efficiency and quiet recently installed Ruud split system 3-ton heat pump.
Room (mancave): 40’L x 15.5’W A-frame; max ceiling height 8’ min 5’; wall within wall construction built of 2 x 6’s; built over garage with custom hardwood floor with gym seal with over 40 Lowes stiffened wooden I-beams supporting floor; complete isolation from rest of house

Last edited by Charles; 11-13-2021 at 01:31 PM.
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  #14  
Old 11-13-2021, 01:29 PM
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Vintage Pete Vintage Pete is offline
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Charles.....a huge congratulations sir!

Like everyone else here, I too very much look forward to your review. Keep us posted!
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Main System: VPI Prime Signature TT in Rosewood, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Stillpoints LP1 V2, McIntosh: MP100, MR78, MCD1000 Transport on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, MDA1000 D/A Converter on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, MS750 Music Server, C40, MC501's (3), Soundcraftsmen: DC2215 Eq/AS1000 Real time analyzer, DBX 3BX II, Carver C9, Nakamichi Dragon, Crown SX724, Crown D-75A (as headphone amp), Sony XBR55X900E 4K TV, JBL L220A's, JBL B460, Sumo Delilah active crossover, WireWorld Silver Eclipse audio interconnects, WireWorld Starlight and Silver Starlight Coaxial Digital interconnects, Wireworld SuperNova 7 Toslink digital interconnect, WireWorld Aurora 7 and Silver Electra Power cords, Wireworld Silver Eclipse 8 speaker cables, Terk AF-1 Powered Antenna, Oppo UDP-205 4K Blu-Ray Player, Bryson BUC-1 USB Converter, Wireworld Gold Starlight XLR Digital interconnect, PS Audio Direct Stream Power Plant 12 on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, PS Audio Dectect, FuruTech Flux-50 NCF Inline Power Filter, Add-Powr Wizard EM Field AC Line conditioner; Stillpoint Ultra SS's under (3) McIntosh MC501 Amplifiers

Florida Room/Art Studio System: Harmon Kardon T60 TT/Ortofon 2M Black, McIntosh: MR77, C32, MC2205; Crown Power Line Four, Wyred for Sound DAC-2 Digital to Analog converter, Soundcraftsmen AE2000 Eq, JBL 4313B's, JBL 2241-based Sub, JBL BX63A Active Crossover, Oppo BDP-105D Blu-Ray Player, Samsung 5500 Series 32" Smart TV, Terk AF-1 Powered Antenna

Master Bedroom System: McIntosh: MX120 Theater processor, MC206 6-channel amplifier; MR74 AM/FM Tuner, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, JVC HM-DH40000U D-Theater Digital VHS, Phase Technology PC80 Towers (now used as stands), (2) JBL 4401's, (1) JBL Studio 6IW speaker, (2) JBL Studio 6IC speakers, Sony XBR-49X900E UHD TV, Panamax 1000 Line Conditioner, (2) JL Audio E110 Subwoofers, Wireworld Solstice speaker cables, Wireworld Aurora Power cords, Wireworld Equinox and Solstice speaker cables and various other flavors of Wireworld and Audioquest cabling

Office System: Marantz 150 Tuner, Crown DL 2, Crown EQ 2, Crown SA 2, Crown D-75A (as headphone amp), McIntosh MCD7009 (as transport), DBX 3BX Series II, Oppo BDP-103 Blu-ray player, JBL 4401's, JL Audio E112 Subwoofer, Samsung 5500 series 32" Smart TV, Wire World Oasis audio interconnects, Wire World Solstice speaker cables, Wyred for Sound DAC-2 DSDse Digital to Analog converter, Wireworld Starlight Coaxial Digital Interconnect, Sennheiser HD800 Headphones, Sennheiser HDVA600 Headphone amp, Wireworld Silver Eclipse Balanced Interconnects, Wireworld Platinum Starlight USB Cable, Add-Powr EAU-2 AC Harmonic resonator

High Resolution Source: HP Omen 17" Gaming Laptop
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  #15  
Old 11-13-2021, 02:22 PM
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crwilli crwilli is offline
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Charles, Congratulations. How do you plan to use them? Biamping your XVX (not sure if you can) or as an option vs your 1.2KWs ?
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Main Equipment: Kharma Elegance dB11-S, JL Audio F113v2 X 2, Block Audio Line & Mono SE Amplification, Bricasti M21 DAC, Antipodes Kala K-50 Server
Power: Shunyata Everest 8000, Sigma XC v2, Sigma NR v2, Block Audio PCs, Defender, ADDPowr Wizard
Grounding: Shunyata Altaira CGS - 4 X Alpha CGS cables,
Network : Supra Cat 8+, Twin (Nenon) Modified Buffalo GS2016 Switches, Keces P3 LPSU,
Cables: Wireworld Platinum 8 USB, Wireworld Platinum Eclipse 8 Speaker cables, 6M & 1M Tubulus Concentus ICs,
Other: Multiple GIK products, Stillpoint Apertures, Stillpoint Minis and Ultra SS, Three 20 Amp lines, Furutech GTX - Gold outlets, Adona Rack
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  #16  
Old 11-13-2021, 02:33 PM
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Charles, well done. Exciting acquisition. Enjoy and keep the AA gang posted on your listening impressions. Cheers for a speedy delivery.
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Esoteric: D-02X & G-01X,
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Paradigm: Persona 7F, C5v3, ADP3,
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  #17  
Old 11-13-2021, 03:44 PM
pigman pigman is offline
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Congratulations on the choice, looking forward to your review of these beasts.
Aaron
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  #18  
Old 11-13-2021, 04:44 PM
audioquest4life audioquest4life is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles View Post
Buffalo Bill, Thank you so much. Think about this: 18" x 21.625" x 11.825" (W x D x H) = 500 continuous watts and 900 dynamic watts. My friend says (and believe me he knows) with a 2301 you get 300 watts continuous in a slightly larger space (slightly larger dimensions) but no more. And that's with a fan!

The new 3500 is about as close to Tony Stark's Arc Reactor as it gets in real life. For its size it is incredibly powerful.

p.s. the old 3500 needed a fan to obtain its massive power output of 550 watts.
The MC2301s do not have fans. I was rereading what you typed and I may be not quite comprehending what you stated here about fans. Are you inferring that you need a fan for your system to keep it cool or something else? Or, if you were to go with a tube setup, such as MC2301 or 3500s you might need fans to keep the system cool. I ended up adding a mini split HVAC unit to assist with keeping the room and system cool when I have marathon listening sessions with all of the tube equipment on. It helps greatly and I do not see a need for a fan for my situation, but it sounds like you need some good breathing room for all of your stuff and calling to go along. Wow!

I really can’t wait to see what reviewers say about them and people in the field who become owners say as well. Plenty of us will be following your journey. Have fun.
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  #19  
Old 11-13-2021, 05:12 PM
Charles Charles is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by audioquest4life View Post
The MC2301s do not have fans. I was rereading what you typed and I may be not quite comprehending what you stated here about fans. Are you inferring that you need a fan for your system to keep it cool or something else? Or, if you were to go with a tube setup, such as MC2301 or 3500s you might need fans to keep the system cool. I ended up adding a mini split HVAC unit to assist with keeping the room and system cool when I have marathon listening sessions with all of the tube equipment on. It helps greatly and I do not see a need for a fan for my situation, but it sounds like you need some good breathing room for all of your stuff and calling to go along. Wow!

I really can’t wait to see what reviewers say about them and people in the field who become owners say as well. Plenty of us will be following your journey. Have fun.
Audioquest, I though someone on AA said the 2301's had fans. I looked in the OM and thought I saw fans. My MVP 881 has a fan and sometimes manufacturers even Mac don't like to mention it. You can hear fans when they kick in and they add noise to the system. I'm glad the 2301 doesn't have a fan. I was surprised to hear they did and glad I misunderstood. I will be keeping the 1.25's but will for the foreseeable future be using the 3500's. Of course I will keep the 1.25KW connected to my Thor but the two on either end will be given a long rest. I like you have spent a huge amount of money on keeping my room cool. I had a new extremely efficient heat pump installed, all my walls reinsulated and boarded up from the rear with OSB board, and all the duct work replaced. It was a monumental effort for heating and cooling for such a relatively small space.

Best

Charles
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  #20  
Old 11-13-2021, 05:15 PM
Charles Charles is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vintage Pete View Post
Charles.....a huge congratulations sir!

Like everyone else here, I too very much look forward to your review. Keep us posted!
Pete, thank you so much!

Charles
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