TomBig58
Super Member
I did a lot of asking around before I got it. New retail is $8500, but dealers don't ever charge that, I think. Every one I talked to wanted me to come in to get the "best price" I'm not much for haggling so I decided to get a used one. With most high end gear, the guy who walks out of the store with it takes the biggest hit. Mac gear seems to never depreciate after the initial hit.
The MC 452 is still a current model and is their most powerful stereo amp. So they command a premium in the used market. $6k is about what a perfect example, with box and manual, goes for. I've heard of less, maybe a few hundred less is common, below that is a "scroe".
I traded a MC 275 VI and some cash. I may have overpaid by a couple hundred but I got to test it out and trade the guy on sight, which to me is a value. The seller has a good reputation and stacks of used McIntosh gear. He's one of us, sort of. My expense with the trade was around $5700.
That's more than I ever thought I would spend, especially considering the rest of my rig was pretty much free or next to nothing. A combination of things let me buy it, first off is I had $30k in cash I made selling a huge CD collection (thank you Kenny) that I got for $500. I wanted to treat myself, so I got the MC 275 used for a fantastic deal. Next, I realized that having a bunch of vintage receivers is cool to look at but does little else. I have some primo, TOTL models that I got for pennies that are worth a thousand dollars or more. Strike while the iron is hot, make your money, buy your dream amp with the proceeds. That's the method to my madness.
Sorry about the long-winded reply, I felt the need to explain to convince myself it is money well spent. And it is, the amp will probably never be worth much less than what I have in it.
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Well played, sir! I'm convinced.