Is it just me?.... Regarding mc462

[bsandovalb]

... from reading through the web, I see lots of praise for the MC452, but it seems not too much talking for the MC462... probably because most of the people looking for a ¨bad ass¨ stereo amp from Mcintosh jumped on the 452 when it was released...

But how do they compare performance/sound wise against each other? ... in addition, is there a way to ¨wake up¨ a 452/462 from a non Mcintosh preamp that does not have a trigger output?....

I am tempted to go for an MC452 as they are getting cheaper... or should I be patient and wait for a pair of Monoblocks (mc501?/mc601)... Would be paired to a Levinson no. 380s preamp (no intention to upgrade here) to put a fully balanced set up... been moving some equipment to the office and want to simplify my main stereo set up.... currently using the Levinson with a Sansui BA5000 and love how it sounds, but wondering if a 452/462 or 501/601 (only if I can find a pair with a great price /most unlikely) would really improve over what I have at the moment.... I like ballsy and detailed sound (the BA is delivering, but of course there is always room for improvement).

Speakers are Usher BA10 and/or Martin Logan CLS2... the BA5000 would be paired to JBL 4333a if moved to the office...

Just looking for opinions from the experts, I am in no rush and happy were I am... keeping my eyes open if anything shows at the right price....

 

[damacman]

I'm not sure that I've heard anything definitive from anyone that switched from the MC452 to the MC462, just the normal - I've upgraded and therefore it's better - stuff. [Same for 302 > 312, 601 > 611 . . . ] It looks to me like McIntosh spent a bit more money in the power supply of the MC462 in an effort to give the amplifier more headroom. That could be helpful if one were driving speakers which presented a difficult load to the amplifier.

The BA5000 seems to be on par with an MC2300 as it looks like it was designed by Sansui to compete with it. [I've never heard one myself - they're about as scarce as hen's teeth here in the US. How you came across one in Costa Rica is mind blowing.] Several here are MC2300 / MC452 owners. We have a thread just below this one with that title you should read for comparisons between those two amplifiers from such owners.

 

[twiiii]

The 452 was a completely new design from Mcintosh. Fully balanced with great sound, the new tracking transistors, and easily a match for two 501's in some peoples opinions and I have to agree. I don't know if a 452 can match a 501 driving a 4 ohm load off an 8 ohm tap, but the sound of a 452 is a step up from the 402 which was basically a 352 with more output transistors and a slightly larger power supply. If the power of a 452 isn't up to the job I would be amazed. I mean the next step in a pair of 1.2K. Thats a big step. The only reason you would want two 601's is for the perfect lack of Crosstalk, and if driving loads that really strain power supplies of a 452. and maybe why Mac felt they needed to upgrade a little here or there while taking advantage of small part advances..The difference between a 452 and a 462 are nothing like the advancements the MC 2125, had over the MC 2105. The distortion was lower, signal to noise better, Power Guard was added and the unit was smaller physically. None of these large steps in advancements apply to the differences between a 452 and a 462.

 

[markd51]

Lots of good Amps out there.
If you have your heart set on the big blue meters, and wishing you'd like to have a MC-452, then my best advice is try to hear one first if you can. I might suspect the MC-462 will not differ that much if at all as far as sonic characteristics-signature, nor much of a noticeable audible difference in power output.

That IMO will either strengthen, or perhaps even lessen your desire.

Other considerations are its size and weight. It's a very heavy Amp, and a fairly deep one too that sometimes may not properly fit on a standard depth audio rack. I know, as I once seriously considered this Amplifier.

Prices for a mint used example have become more sane, and somewhat more affordable.

Might be verboten to speak of other brands in this section, but if you can live without big blue meters, Bryston has been making some very good equipment as of late. A brand that often in the past never got a lot of praise, more thought of as Pro-DJ Equipment.

They also have the best warrantee in the business if that's an important criteria to you giving you some peace of mind. The 20 year warrantee is transferable, provided the equipment was originally bought from a authorized dealer, and you have the paperwork to prove it.

I know that buying such an expensive piece of equipment is something one hopes to do once, and do right, as the acquisition will often be one that you'll have to, or should say "wish to" live with for a long length of time.

It would be like wishing to buy a certain vehicle, but then buy another, you'll often be kicking yourself later.