Mac MC602
- Thread starter 730waters
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
damacman
Resident Psycho
Nobody here owns one. It’s my understanding that this particular amplifier was voiced to sound like a Mark Levinson amplifier that McIntosh borrowed from Audio Classics - which means it’s quite unique indeed as Mc doesn’t voice amps. The weight (155lbs) is likely a reason why more don’t own ‘em.
jayvis
Addicted Member
That's extremely odd if true. Please enlighten us on where you heard that McIntosh did this.
damacman
Resident Psycho
It’s been said multiple times here over the years. Maybe Ryan @AudioClassics1 could chime in.
jayvis
Addicted Member
Not saying that what you heard is bogus, but I find it to be very suspect that McIntosh would be insecure enough to try to "voice" a component to match a competitor's sound qualities. It's unsettling that they would also choose Levinson as a target. I've always considered them to be too dry for my tastes.
I have owned Mac equipment for a while and have never listened to any Levinson equipment so I wouldn't have any idea of them try to mimic Levinson. I have listened to Mac equipment through friends for over 40 years and I enjoy the sound of the older amps and feel that the MC602 would be a good fit sound wise with my system. Mac's have their unique sound and I feel can't be beat. I have talked to a friend of mine that listened to the MC602 about 8 to 9 years ago and he said it has a great sound.
damacman
Resident Psycho
I’d personally love to hear one in my space. I did almost buy one a few years ago.
As for the ML rumor, I sure as hell am not the one that started it. It would be interesting to see if it has merit.
damacman
Resident Psycho
Call Audio Classics and ask Ryan. I’d love to know ...
damacman
Resident Psycho
kevzep
Its all about the Music
I do not believe from the amplifier engineering perspective McIntosh takes, that they would "voice" an amplifier at all.
McIntosh design, engineer, and build the best performing amplifiers possible, they don't build them then reverse engineer them to sound like something else, it makes no sense at all.
I agree with Chris on this matter......
Speaking of Ugly amplifiers, Krell take 1st prize there!!
McIntosh design, engineer, and build the best performing amplifiers possible, they don't build them then reverse engineer them to sound like something else, it makes no sense at all.
I agree with Chris on this matter......
Speaking of Ugly amplifiers, Krell take 1st prize there!!
You know there is a story out there about the ML engineer's checking out how neutral the McIntosh autoformers really were......and when I was in Roger's inner sanctum decades ago there were other speakers there for evaluation as well as some prototypes.
So Mac evaluating a different amp on the bench, sure, but trying to do a Bob Carveresque revoiceing........bloviation.
So Mac evaluating a different amp on the bench, sure, but trying to do a Bob Carveresque revoiceing........bloviation.
damacman
Resident Psycho
So, you called Audio Classics? I have no idea ...
BTW, that was my story about ML and the autoformers as it was told to me over dinner at a proceed event by an engineer that participated in it with Mark ...
damacman
Resident Psycho
Boy are we spinning away from the OP's questions......I my self would want mono blocks instead of the stero unit.
As the OP says in the first few words" I am working on picking one up" you better engage a few friends and a couple bottles of single malt to compesate them for the help in picking one up.
I could give you a true story about Gow acquiring a product to preview and run through engineering but that would drift this even further off the OP's track.
As the OP says in the first few words" I am working on picking one up" you better engage a few friends and a couple bottles of single malt to compesate them for the help in picking one up.
I could give you a true story about Gow acquiring a product to preview and run through engineering but that would drift this even further off the OP's track.
SomeGeoffGuy
Active Member
I am not in the stereo business, I am in the automotive engineering business. But we constantly benchmark the competition. It is a sound business practice. I would be shocked if somebody at McIntosh WASN'T testing out the competition - especially speakers where the sound signature can vary drastically.
As for OP's question, I heard a set of MC611's at Axpona a few months ago, (running B&W 800D3's off a C2600) and it was the best sounding system I have ever heard. That's my bucket list system. If you want that much power, I would say go separates too, based on that.
-Geoff
As for OP's question, I heard a set of MC611's at Axpona a few months ago, (running B&W 800D3's off a C2600) and it was the best sounding system I have ever heard. That's my bucket list system. If you want that much power, I would say go separates too, based on that.
-Geoff
jblnut
Don't Overthink It
Ah HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I posited a question last year about this exact topic. I asked how/if McIntosh voices their amps and the response I got back was mostly along the lines of "of course NOT - they design by specs alone".
So they DO voice their amps after all. Was/is this the only one ? I somehow doubt that....
jblnut
damacman
Resident Psycho
We really should corroborate the story ... I’ve personally never even laid eyes on one.Ah HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I posited a question last year about this exact topic. I asked how/if McIntosh voices their amps and the response I got back was mostly along the lines of "of course NOT - they design by specs alone".
So they DO voice their amps after all. Was/is this the only one ? I somehow doubt that....
jblnut
kevzep
Its all about the Music
No, not ah ha, there is no evidence McIntosh voice their amps to sound like other manufacturers amps, for that you need to go to the Carver site.Ah HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I posited a question last year about this exact topic. I asked how/if McIntosh voices their amps and the response I got back was mostly along the lines of "of course NOT - they design by specs alone".
So they DO voice their amps after all. Was/is this the only one ? I somehow doubt that....
jblnut
McIntosh design and build amplifiers which reproduce music as accurately as possible, this "voicing" nonsense would get in the way of that, simple....