I was waiting on the UPS truck today like a kid waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve. I was beginning to think that damn UPS truck would never arrive. I was on the computer, checking the tracking numbers when I heard the truck coming up the driveway. They're here. My brand new MC501's are here! 
Thank goodness for helpful neighbors, because these babies are hefty. I had to pull my entire rack apart and relocate every piece in order to get both the 501's on the bottom where I wanted them to sit. The turntable had to go from the top of the cabinet so there would be room for the C2200. I don't know what I'm going to do with the turntable now. I may not put it back in the system at all. Every piece of equipment had to go up a space or two, and my MC352 (all 107 lbs of it) went downstairs to the recording studio. Now, on to unpacking these brutes, and getting them set in place in the cabinet. Man, they look so good. It didn't take long to connect the balanced Tributaries Silvers to the inputs and connect the Kimber 8TC speaker wires to the amps. Oh yea, the moment of truth is here. I pressed the C2200 Standby/On switch, and I was up and running, meters glowed bright, no smoke, so far so good. These are very impressive looking amplifiers.
I slipped a CD into the tray on the new MCD301, set the volume on the C2200 at 48, and pressed play. WOW. I mean WOW! Right out of the box the 501's took command of my PMC EB1i speakers. Musicians and instruments simply appeared in my living room. Holy mackeral. Without even ten minutes of break-in, these amps are singing. I am impressed. I have been instructed that 50 hours is the approximate point at which the synergy of all the internal components begin to transcend into the mystical zone that exemplifies the soul of the McIntosh 501. I am duty bound to log 50 hours on these amps as soon as possible, a task I willingly accept. It will be a pleasure. A tough job, I know, but someone has to do it. I am positive, as the amps bloom, so will I. That warm orange glow you'll see on the southerm skyline will probably be me.
I will give the pair of MC501's a week or so, then once again report my impressions. I hate to repeat myself, but at this point all I can say is WOW! Will the MC352 ever see duty in my main system again? As good as it is, it is very unlikely. The 501's are here to stay. :yes:
Thank goodness for helpful neighbors, because these babies are hefty. I had to pull my entire rack apart and relocate every piece in order to get both the 501's on the bottom where I wanted them to sit. The turntable had to go from the top of the cabinet so there would be room for the C2200. I don't know what I'm going to do with the turntable now. I may not put it back in the system at all. Every piece of equipment had to go up a space or two, and my MC352 (all 107 lbs of it) went downstairs to the recording studio. Now, on to unpacking these brutes, and getting them set in place in the cabinet. Man, they look so good. It didn't take long to connect the balanced Tributaries Silvers to the inputs and connect the Kimber 8TC speaker wires to the amps. Oh yea, the moment of truth is here. I pressed the C2200 Standby/On switch, and I was up and running, meters glowed bright, no smoke, so far so good. These are very impressive looking amplifiers.
I slipped a CD into the tray on the new MCD301, set the volume on the C2200 at 48, and pressed play. WOW. I mean WOW! Right out of the box the 501's took command of my PMC EB1i speakers. Musicians and instruments simply appeared in my living room. Holy mackeral. Without even ten minutes of break-in, these amps are singing. I am impressed. I have been instructed that 50 hours is the approximate point at which the synergy of all the internal components begin to transcend into the mystical zone that exemplifies the soul of the McIntosh 501. I am duty bound to log 50 hours on these amps as soon as possible, a task I willingly accept. It will be a pleasure. A tough job, I know, but someone has to do it. I am positive, as the amps bloom, so will I. That warm orange glow you'll see on the southerm skyline will probably be me.
I will give the pair of MC501's a week or so, then once again report my impressions. I hate to repeat myself, but at this point all I can say is WOW! Will the MC352 ever see duty in my main system again? As good as it is, it is very unlikely. The 501's are here to stay. :yes:
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