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Best way to spend $4,000 on amp?

Bushikan said:
@62caddy, You are a threat to the fabric of this country and the future of audio and, especially, to my upgrade habits and commodity-driven mindset. Mostly, though, please don’t ever divulge this concept of yours in the company of my wife.
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But this concept could be useful I'm thinking every season change, Fall decorations, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, etc etc. :dunno:
 
Jeez... For $4k, there's a LOT of great gear available new that would happily power those KEFs! Some examples...

Parasound HINT 6 $3,200
Rotel RA-1592 MkII $3,200
Music Fidelity M6si $3,000
 
Cogito said:
Jeez... For $4k, there's a LOT of great gear available new that would happily power those KEFs! Some examples...

Parasound HINT 6 $3,200
Rotel RA-1592 MkII $3,200
Music Fidelity M6si $3,000
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But the OP has repeatedly requested McIntosh. And prefers a power amp. So my recommendation is use that $4K to purchase a nice vintage McIntosh Power Amp and use your MAC4100 as the Preamp. Then, when funds allow, find yourself a nice McIntosh Preamp and put the MAC4100 on Bedroom duty.
 
BilboBaggins said:
But the OP has repeatedly requested McIntosh. And prefers a power amp. So my recommendation is use that $4K to purchase a nice vintage McIntosh Power Amp and use your MAC4100 as the Preamp. Then, when funds allow, find yourself a nice McIntosh Preamp and put the MAC4100 on Bedroom duty.
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This ^^^^^
 
34dean said:
I’m looking to spend $4,000 on a preowned amp, either integrated or pre. What is my best value play? Pairing with KEF 104/2 speakers and Basis turntable.

Thanks!
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The MA252 will do everything you want, as long as you are all analog. If you are also interested in streaming digital and don't care much about not having a tube preamp section, you might want to look at a MA5200. It's fully solid state with a very respectable internal DAC, digital inputs, and the same headphone and phono sections as the MA252. Its performance is very close to that of the MA252, in my opinion and should be within your budget on the used market.
 
jayvis said:
The MA252 will do everything you want, as long as you are all analog. If you are also interested in streaming digital and don't care much about not having a tube preamp section, you might want to look at a MA5200. It's fully solid state with a very respectable internal DAC, digital inputs, and the same headphone and phono sections as the MA252. Its performance is very close to that of the MA252, in my opinion and should be within your budget on the used market.
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I spoke with Steve at AC this morning and that is the model he recommended as well. I am researching at this very moment.
 
Mac has never had their act really all together. Great pre-amps in the 90's didn't have MC inputs, C-34 and 40 for instance. Later preamps they left off the loudness control, the processor loops and the record input selector with out a MC input. Then they added the MC input but would leave off other desirable controls . The 10 KHZ control for instance. If I had the space I would update from the C-34 to a 40. and I already have a MP 100 to solve the MC issue. The other choice is to buy HO MC cartridges and I have done that too. But the MP 100 sounds better than the phono section of my C-34. being on a budget I would look for a C-29 and a MC 7200 or MC 7300. 29 is very quiet with the advanced volume control and has very few mechanical issues. I had mine almost 30 years with the only issue being cleaning and exercising the mechanical switches and tone controls. Depending on the speaker design you might prefer the MC 7200 direct coupled amp or the slightly more Powerful 7300, for less power the MC 7150 or very efficient speakers the slim 7100. They should have all been thoroughly checked and updated by a dealer when you buy. I suggest Audio Classics. I worked for a dealer that sold Mcintosh for many years until after Clarion started their hijinks. As we had been dealing with Audio Classics for parts when the factory didn't have them or when a customer wanted a rare Mcintosh piece back in the 80's and 90's I have continued the relationship with them as a customer after I retired in 2003. Shipping prices can be an issue, but then they warrant what they sell and will even replace an item if that will yield the best result. My MCD 550 got damaged in shipping and another was sent the same day I received the damaged one. I didn't have to wait 7 to 10 days before they received the damaged one first and then wait another 7 to 10 days for the replacement. If you can afford second or 3rd day air they will do that also. When I got my MX 151 it came promptly and then I returned my MX 119 as a trade . BuT UPS lost the unit for over a month but I still got my agreed on credit for the MX 119, the day UPS picked up the unit. Paying for shipping on the XRT 28's having to be delivered by a truck with a lift gate is another great story.
 
@TSmith8605 hit the nail on the head. I’d spend most of the $4000 on a better turntable and phono cartridge. The best preamp and amp will only be able to reproduce what you feed it. Source upgrades can make a huge impact on sound quality.
 
Onebean said:
@TSmith8605 hit the nail on the head. I’d spend most of the $4000 on a better turntable and phono cartridge. The best preamp and amp will only be able to reproduce what you feed it. Source upgrades can make a huge impact on sound quality.
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Just did that. Basis 2001 with Rega RB900 tonearm. Very happy with my new deck.
 
Guys the OP has $4k that he specifically wants to use to buy some new Mc gear. Not because he has any issues with his current 4100(at least that's being disclosed) but because he wants to, and he can. Shouldn't be very difficult to understand, particularly in this group.

My advice would be to go with AC and ask them the $4000 question. Because they stand behind their gear with a warranty, and anything you get will be in generally excellent, ready to go shape when you get it. Unless you're buying from somebody that you know, and have a good tech available to you, or you're able to work on gear yourself, this would be the safest way to go about this, IMO.
 
34dean said:
Anyone familiar with the sound quality of the phono section of the MA5300?
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In general, McIntosh has never skimped on the phono sections that they include in their receivers, preamps and integrated amps. They aren't considered to be state of the art, but they are usually more than enough for the average vinyl lover. Although the phono sections of the MA252, MA5200, and MA5300 only accommodate MM cartridges and have fixed cartridge loading, I think you'll enjoy a noticeable improvement over what you've been used to. If you're a vinyl junkie and have a mega buck turntable and cartridges, you'll probably want something higher up the McIntosh line or a separate phono preamp like the stellar MP100 to extract the most from those components.
 
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