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difference between Mcintosh, Pioneer, Sansui?

I would be carefull about making assumtions When comparing McIntosh, or other High End Amps to the more popular Pioneer, Sansui, Marantz, Yamaha ect. While it is safe to say the Mac's are generally more expensive, I'm Sure that the other Brands Flagship models could more than hold their own with the better Mac's. That shouldn't surprise anyone, They may have been just as large and expensive too.

It's like Chevrolet vs Cadillac. Of course most Cady's are superior to the Chevrolet. Think Chevrolet Cruise here. But Chevrolet's Flagship...the Corvette Stingray will run circles around the Cady's. Well maybe not around the CTS-V, but it will still best it.

I must say, untill I visited an Audio store in Niagra Falls Canada, I wasn't a Big Fan of Mac's. But when I saw and heard what must have been $60,000 worth of Audio Gear Including $28,000 Quadral Aurum Titan VIII Speakers and TOTL McIntosh Mono Blocks, Preamp, Turntable and CD Player how can you not be impressed. I'll tell you it sounded every bit as good as it looked (and it looks Magnificent) and way better than the cheap, $25,000 systems I here around here.

Funny...the Monitor Audio Silver Rx-6 Speakers I liked so much looked like Minimus 7's compared to these Monster Towers.
 
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No, you guys are right...

I have to compare apples to apples. Its not fair to compare this 45wpc 1968 McIntosh MA-5100 against a Sansui G-33000 or Pioneer SX-1280, which are absolutely gorgeous units and I wish to add them both to my collection one day, that is if the wife don't kill me first.

I was comparing this McIntosh MA-5100 to my Realistic STA-2100, Pioneer sx-838, QX-949a or my Sansui 3000A of the same era.

Rhetor, I'm not saying your idea is not a good one, just that finding a person close to me in Toronto that owns a McIntosh MA-5100 are maybe slim. I know what your saying though, thanks :-)
 
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Can't even count the number of Sansui, Pioneer, Marantz, etc., etc. amps that I owned prior to buying my Macs. The chase ended, and the auditioning stopped after that. Still own some mighty fine Japanese gear, but I haven't hooked any of it up in several years now, it's all stored away.

The Macs are set-and-forget, they just do what they are supposed to do. I know that if I ever upgrade, I'll get a decent price for my old gear; the cost of using these amps for years is almost free, if you look at it that way. It's also nice to know that Mac Labs still has parts for my stuff even after 40 years. Can't find much NOS around for my monster Pioneer or Marantz 2500... ;) Still, to each their own. :)
 
You don't see a lot of folks going back to 70's Sansui or Pioneer after they go to McIntosh stuff. I can't think of any real way to quantify that something is 3x better sounding than something else, OTHER than someone being wiling to pay 3x the price; that doesn't hold true in every case,though. I've heard expensive gear that I wouldn't own at 1/10 the price.
 
i dont know, went to a person's house one time and heard the perfect tone. and hidden in his closet was sansui 3000a which connect to speakers in den.:scratch2:
 
redrooster said:
Did you try the speakers that came with the MacIntosh system with the Sansui amps?
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Nope I used Sansui SP-5000s first and it sounded awesome. But with all the bad rapping I bought JBL L250. I used those for a month but they just didn't cut it. So the sansui's came back in to help the L250s.

I didn't want to give up on the 250s so I bought another amp to drive them. So now the 250s get 400w of McIntosh MC 402. The SP-5000s get the two MC 275 Mk VI mono blocked @ 180w

Now I have the best of all worlds. Highly detailed JBLs for some music and the 5000s to kick you in the chest and rock out.
 
wow, a lot of mixed opinions here!

I guess its all subjective. I have to say right now I'm getting great sound from My Pioneer QX-949a quadraphonic and Sansui 3000a. They are nice! but like any enthusiast/hobbyist, i'm searching for better and better sonics all the time. I have never heard a Mac in person. Only youtube.

who knows, i may be disappointed with this McIntosh MA-5100 preamp/amp but right now I can't afford $1000's. I thought $480 was pretty good for a Mac.
 
bktheking said:
I don't, I had a ma6100 and got rid of it- was nothing spectacular to my ears.
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Had a 4100...and also got rid of it. Have 1900 but due to space...it's in the Closet (yes...it is Very Smooth).

What I listen to the most is Luxman LV-109, R-117, L-110U(after my recap), C-02/M02, Sony STR-GX10ES, KA-1100SD and Kenwood Basic M2A.

I cannot see why one would only listen to 1 Brand...:scratch2:
 
jamiecantar said:
wow, a lot of mixed opinions here!

I guess its all subjective. I have to say right now I'm getting great sound from My Pioneer QX-949a quadraphonic and Sansui 3000a. They are nice! but like any enthusiast/hobbyist, i'm searching for better and better sonics all the time. I have never heard a Mac in person. Only youtube.

who knows, i may be disappointed with this McIntosh MA-5100 preamp/amp but right now I can't afford $1000's. I thought $480 was pretty good for a Mac.
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What speakers do you have?

Because I'm not seeing what you're trying to do here. You have three receivers and looking to buy a lower level MA-5100 integrated Amp.

Is there a way of generating funds to buy in higher up the food chain? Otherwise I think you might be going sideways on your choice.
 
Look Mac is what you said ,,it's the USA Harley Davidson in audio compared to metric bikes out there ( marantz,pioneer,kenwood,etc etc) now with that said Harley is not the best bike out there the same goes for Mac intosh !! Look I have owned both Mac and I still have a Harley ,I love music and if you go broke trying to buy a Mac and you can't afford the speakers or interconnects ,will guess what your listening room is silent ! Enjoy music and what you can afford ,period!!
 
Looking at what you're working with except the SPEAKERS!, and the cost of Mcintosh.

You might be best served stepping up higher in Sansui. Sell off some of the other things to help build better sonics.

Sansui TU-717 & AU 717
Sansui 8080, 9090, 8080Db,9090Db,
Sansui AU-919

What Speakers do you have?
 
In my collection right now I have;

Receivers:
----------
Realistic STA-2100
Pioneer QX-949a Quad
Pioneer SX-838
Sansui 3000a

Speakers:
----------
Altec Model 9 series 2
Altec Model 7 series 2
JBL 4311 wx-a
Sansui Sp-2000
Sansui Sp-200
Pioneer HPM-60
Advent 2 way 'The Originals'
Dynaco A-25's
Polydax 2 way's
Tannoy CR-650's

Turntables:
-----------
Realistic LAB-400 (Shure M97xe)
Rotel RP-830 (nagaoka mp-11)
Dual 1219 (Shure ??)
Technics SL-1300 (Audio Technica ??)

Reel to Reel:
------------
AKAI 280d-ss quad
Sony TC-355
Roberts 770x

Plus so so much more, I have to start selling some stuff. thats why im trying to pear it down to a few very good pieces and liquidate the rest.
 
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jamiecantar said:
In my collection right now I have;

Receivers:
----------
Realistic STA-2100
Pioneer QX-949a Quad
Pioneer SX-838
Sansui 3000a

Speakers:
----------
Altec Model 9 series 2
Altec Model 7 series 2
JBL 4311 wx-a
Sansui Sp-2000
Sansui Sp-200
Pioneer HPM-60
Advent 2 way 'The Originals'
Dynaco A-25's
Tannoy

Turntables:
-----------
Realistic LAB-400 (Shure M97xe)
Rotel RP-830 (nagaoka mp-11)
Dual 1219 (Shure ??)
Technics SL-1300 (Audio Technica ??)

Reel to Reel:
------------
AKAI 280d-ss quad
Sony TC-355
Roberts 770x

Plus so so much more, I have to start selling some stuff. thats why im trying to pear it down to a few very good pieces and liquidate the rest.
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There it is there nothing against you or your desire.

A lot of people will say McIntosh is expensive or they can't afford it. Bla bla bla, and then like you will have 50 other components.

I say keep doing what you're doing if you like it. Otherwise sell 50 pieces and then buy into mac with two quality pieces.
 
That's the plan, gonna keep my fav's and liquidate the rest. So far the JBL's and the Pioneer QX-949a is a keeper, rest is up for grabs.

Which McIntosh do you recommend?

cheers :yes:
 
jamiecantar said:
That's the plan, gonna keep my fav's and liquidate the rest. So far the JBL's and the Pioneer QX-949a is a keeper, rest is up for grabs.

Which McIntosh do you recommend?

cheers :yes:
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I'm no expert and to give you some thing off the top of my head is not right. What I would do is start dumping gear and start a post in the McIntosh forum to get ideas. You will probably be needing around 2500 maybe for a Preamp and a power amp. We know you already have that $400+ saved not buying the MA-5100.

As you can see you want to get some components you won't outgrow right after you buy it. Some of the things you have accumulated will not sell right away. Also mostly CL sales.

They will help you a lot, a very nice bunch over there.
 
pete_mac said:
Yep, I'm in the same boat.

Call me shallow, but there's gotta be some physical attraction there before I'll make the commitment to a piece of gear (much like women, I guess! ;) )
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Ugly you say Pete......Hmmmmmm
Not this Blue eyed Brunette....:thmbsp:
7tuz.jpg


jamiecantar said:
That's the plan, gonna keep my fav's and liquidate the rest. So far the JBL's and the Pioneer QX-949a is a keeper, rest is up for grabs.

Which McIntosh do you recommend?

cheers :yes:
Click to expand...

If you want to step into the world of McIntosh, I would personally wouldn't bother with a mid or entry level unit such as a 5100, definitely shoot higher.
I had a great Sansui collection including a G9000, G22000 and I have sold them all in favor of what I heard from my McIntosh's.......then the collection grew....But the G22000 put up a fair fight with the C32/MC2205 I had at the time.....But in the end, the musical lushness and clear yet creamy McIntosh sound just sailed on past the Sansui....NOT that the Sansui was bad, its not, its a great sounding unit, but for ME, the Sansui was somewhat clinical, not as "musical" to my ears as the McIntosh.....

I think I good place to start is with a pre-amp like a C32, C33, C34. Then pair it up with an amplifier like a MC2205, MC7270.

As others have said, if its not your bag, then sell it on, you wont lose money on it....
I think with your current thinking you are only side-shifting, I dont think its going to be a situation where the 5100 will totally blow away any of those Japanese Rice blower receivers you have currently.....
Not everything McIntosh makes and has made is absolutely TOTL.....
 
Kev I knew you would have a nice little package for the OP. Kind of what I was thinking with the MC2205. Now thats a nice looking amp:thmbsp:

MC2205.jpg
 
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