McIntosh comps
- Thread starter Cosmicmes
- Start date
There are infinite ways to parse the question with an infinite number of answers.
Suffice to say, there is only one McIntosh for all that McIntosh entails.
o0OBillO0o
Active Member
The other world of McIntosh companies manufacturer good comparable amps.
Much appreciated.... THX
A Zen Master speaks, I will deep meditate. Thanks, I hear you. Maybe a Hattorri Hanzo sword, then?
Thanks for your help. I want to make sure that I don't go out running half-cocked, possibly paying more for less.
Nucities
Active Member
I'm a newbie vintage McIntosh owner but I grew up listening to a 1700 at my grandparents house. I've always loved the McIntosh sound and searched for an affordable way to get close. I found no unit that did that better than the Sony STR 6060FW. I'm sure many will scoff at that but I've listened to them side by side through the same system and my ears would be hard pressed to hear the difference....sonically similar. Clean without being bright, smooth without being colored or muddy. Unaffected....musical. I love my MA 5100 but for the money I don't think there is a better receiver than the Sony STR 6060FW
twiiii
Lunatic Member
I had DC 150, 150 a, 3- DC 300A, PSA2 and all of them needed to be serviced on regular 8 to 10 year intervals over a thirty year period. Caps of all types need to be replaced every 10 years or so and out puts changed. And when I sold them and traded them to Audio Classics the 300 A's didn't meat specs, so I took a hit. Well none of the amps met specs in fact. Mean while my old Mac amps are still plugging along after 47 years. The newer amps of course are just like new. (2-207's and a 206). When Crown was owned by the church all I had to pay for was shipping to the factory. They repaired them at no cost no matter the age and returned them at no charge. When Harmon took over the hand witing was on the wall, $$$$$$$$$$$, so that was the final push to return to an all Mac systems. Tri-amping and bi amping uses a lot of amps. Can you imagine having to find space for 10 7200's. I could get by with 5 7200's and 5 7100's. maybe 202's would take up less space, but I'm happy with what I have. I knew when the 7200 was introduced the Crowns had met their match and then some. But I was happy and monies were going toward two other pursuits, photography and RVing . But in 2008 I had retired and was home a lot more so I called Frank and we started updating my equipment and repairing units that were showing age.
The reason I got away from Mac amps in the first place was my woofers sound ed soft and Fuzzy as Frank Gow used to say with 2100's 2200's and 2255's. The Crown amps bi and then tri amping curred that though the midrange was a little hard and the highs on the brittle side. The 207 amp fixed everything down to 70 Hz or so. The bottom octave and half isn't as tight as with the Crowns but it is more musical.
I would think Bryston might give long term performance like Mac. I have only heard a few and they remind me of the BGW sound. I don't know about Threshold , Boulder and some of the others. Of the other brands friends of mine Haflers seem to hold up well. They're pushing 35 years without issues. Marantz amps depending on the vintage do well, too. I guess if I were flush with money I'd have 6 MC 3500's. Its really the only tube unit I would be willing to go thru the trials and tribulations of tube ownership with.
The reason I got away from Mac amps in the first place was my woofers sound ed soft and Fuzzy as Frank Gow used to say with 2100's 2200's and 2255's. The Crown amps bi and then tri amping curred that though the midrange was a little hard and the highs on the brittle side. The 207 amp fixed everything down to 70 Hz or so. The bottom octave and half isn't as tight as with the Crowns but it is more musical.
I would think Bryston might give long term performance like Mac. I have only heard a few and they remind me of the BGW sound. I don't know about Threshold , Boulder and some of the others. Of the other brands friends of mine Haflers seem to hold up well. They're pushing 35 years without issues. Marantz amps depending on the vintage do well, too. I guess if I were flush with money I'd have 6 MC 3500's. Its really the only tube unit I would be willing to go thru the trials and tribulations of tube ownership with.
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Hmmm, interesting. I used to wonder if my ears could tell the difference, after a certain point when I was thirty. Now that I'm almost sixty, I'll keep your post in mind. THX!
GOOD LORD!!! A lot of things to consider. I hope to get into a high-end store this week, and pray that my ears can tell the difference after almost sixty years of use, lol!!!
I saw that Amazon has some "deals" on some Arcam's audiophile grade pieces (well that's what "say"). One offering is the P-49/C-49 for $6825.00, for a savings of almost three grand. There are other deals, well, this ain't my first rodeo. I'm strongly leaning towards McIntosh, but I didn't marry my first Girl, either. And yes, I'm putting together my primary audio room having done my A/V room. I have a pair of Klipsch Cornwall III still in the box as a starting point. Somehow, I finally heard my first McIntosh amp today, the MC275. I have to say, I felt as though I've been listening to an old Magnavox console over the past forty years, and felt as though all the money spent would have been better spent on toilet paper. Well, Hell, I'll get over That feeling, but it won't happen again! So any ideas from you guys would really be appreciated. Funny thing, when I "came up" the wisdom around the campfire was, "spend the bulk of your budget on speakers, and get a decent amp, etc". But wow, was I blown away (going back next week to eat some more Humble Pie, my wife isn't into the audiophile "thing").
Hmmm, you sound less than enthusiastic
Thanks! They are beautiful looking, the stats are impressive, but I'm a good 1.5 + hours drive to the closest dealer. After listening to the McIntosh MC275 today, I feel like Frodo, after bearing the Ring.....
I've heard nice things about accuphase. I have very little experience with it though. I also don't know how they price out compared to similar products. I imagine ,given enough time and money, you might find a mixture of brands and products through trial and error that might match up well. I think the intent of the OP question , whether there is a single product line that does so? i'd say no
