MA12000: New Hybrid Integrated

[Dave B.]

Tube pre; SS amp.

https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/integrated-amplifiers/MA12000

Man, they gotta get rid of those cup holders!

Dave

 

[gtech]

Looks very interesting, and I agree with the cupholder comment.
Aaron

 

[thevinoman]

$14,000 MSRP.....yikes

 

[charne@sprin]

In the land of bank-account-draining high end gear, which seems to get reviewed regularly in Stereophile for instance, $14k for this MA12000 seems like a deal in Brooklyn. If McIntosh were to come back with a trade-in-trade-up program, I'd want to take a close look.

 

[MACKIE1975]

Well, it is a C53 + C2600 + MC312

 

[62caddy]

If McIntosh were to come back with a trade-in-trade-up program, I'd want to take a close look.

If that's the only thing holding you back, may as well head out to your dealer now because he ultimately decides what your equipment is worth on trade - with or without an official "trade in program".

 

[L-82]

Boy my MA-7000 is starting to age, I’m 5000 below this new baby (MA12000 - MA7000)

 

[charne@sprin]

If that's the only thing holding you back, may as well head out to your dealer now because he ultimately decides what your equipment is worth on trade - with or without an official "trade in program".

The over the phone trade offer for my sitting-in-the-closet-out-of-service MA5200 is actually pretty good.

 

[kevzep]

Man, they gotta get rid of those cup holders!

Couldn't agree more, they look ridiculous, a real turn off for me......

 

[jayvis]

For a brand that prides itself on its aesthetics, they screwed the pooch with the trim ring. The whole industrial design team and upper management must have been high when they approved it, and then forgot about it. Most likely would be pretty easy to delete.

 

[Dave B.]

For a brand that prides itself on its aesthetics, they screwed the pooch with the trim ring. The whole industrial design team and upper management must have been high when they approved it, and then forgot about it. Most likely would be pretty easy to delete.

The current-generation Mac "look" is angular, which projects strength and massiveness. The "halo" throws a big soft clinker into the entire impression. The contrasting color begs for attention. I think they should make it a snap-in piece that could be user-removed. Small black rubber grommets could fill in the holes. That thing is really irritating.

Dave

 

[charne@sprin]

My only aesthetic issue, really, is how would an MR88 tuner look perched on top of that MA12000 (with a little added clearance provided by four black hockey pucks). No one (meaning me) would ever see the "halo."

 

[Logan_Nolag]

I seem to be in the minority but I really like the look of the "cupholder."

 

[BANDWIDTH]

In the land of bank-account-draining high end gear, which seems to get reviewed regularly in Stereophile for instance, $14k for this MA12000 seems like a deal in Brooklyn. If McIntosh were to come back with a trade-in-trade-up program, I'd want to take a close look.

Well - there are Mac dealers that offer a trade-in to trade-up program.

 

[BANDWIDTH]

It's similar to a favorite car line - when the next generation platform comes out - many people eschew the design in favor of the last one. Time goes by. The "new look" actually starts to look "good". And the older ones still look good! Corvette comes immediately to mind.
I find the current generation of Mac components "industrial chic" - much like an old Crown RTR machine. And they still look great after decades....

 

[charne@sprin]

So the preamp section of the MA12000 is powered by four 12AX7A tubes. How often in normal use (six to seven hours a day) would they need to be replaced?

 

[jayvis]

My only aesthetic issue, really, is how would an MR88 tuner look perched on top of that MA12000 (with a little added clearance provided by four black hockey pucks). No one (meaning me) would ever see the "halo."

Place a source component on top of a big McIntosh Amplifier? Not recommended.

 

[62caddy]

So the preamp section of the MA12000 is powered by four 12AX7A tubes. How often in normal use (six to seven hours a day) would they need to be replaced?

Back in the '60s, original Telefunkens could/would last for many decades. Some would argue indefinitely if the unit was never turned off. Anecdotal accounts suggest that modern tube quality is spottier than it had been during tubes' heyday but it's really difficult to substantiate one way or the other without reliable data.

 

[CohibaJoe]

$14,000 MSRP.....yikes

^^^ What he said ^^^

 

[62caddy]

Maybe they should've called it the MA14000.