Separates or an integrated amp?

[charne@sprin]

I'm using an MA5200 to drive a system in my office. The local Mcintosh dealer has suggested separates. Seems to me all I'd be doing is increasing the footprint of the system and bumping the amp power from 100 to 150 watts per side. At the level of modern Mcintosh gear, why go the separates route? The suggestion was to replace the MA5200 with a C47 preamp and MC152 amp.

 

[Mike Gibson]

There are a multitude of questions that you might consider before your purchase. If you are questioning separates then it seems like you are already slightly predisposed to an integrated. I'll just list a few to start the process. How big is your office? What speakers? Do you spend a lot of time serious listening there? Is the 5200 is covering your needs now? If so then I would stick with an integrated and leave the separates for your main system. Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[62caddy]

Separates mainly offer more flexibility, features and a wider range of amplifier power, otherwise the difference in performance is practically nil between the two options. Unless you're habitually running out of power, I agree with Mike and see little practical advantage of upgrading.

 

[savatage1973]

I'll concur with the others in that if what you are currently using meets your needs, there is no need to go separates. You have to realize that your dealer is a salesman, and that's how he makes a living--selling--whether you need it or not. I am a separates kind of guy, but that is just because I like to swap out individual components and hear the difference, but you are also increasing the "footprint" of your system going separates.

 

[Yamaki]

I don't think you need to go separates for your office system. If you are happy with the system you have, I see no benefit to changing things out that drastically. Maybe one day a newer integrated may be an upgrade that works for you.

I am separates guy for several reasons.

First, it gives me the flexibility to upgrade individual components as time and money allows. I've done quite a bit of that over the past 4 to 5 years and each time I found that this worked very well by allowing me to upgrade performance and match components without totally replacing the system.

Second, I have the space to go with separates. If I didn't, I'd go integrated. I have a friend who doesn't have the space but his McIntosh-based integrated system sounds awesome.

Third, Power. McIntosh integrated gear is great gear but none of the units have the power I need to allow my speakers to reach their full potential, hence the MC501's in my system.

 

[twiiii]

Even today still separates offer one important thing integrated units can't match. Signal to noise. Oh sure there flexibility issues. But then only A C22 III has a mode selector. And no current unit has a separate record and listen selector. I would think that is why the C-32, 33,34 and 40 are still so collectable. I would think 300 watts of a MA 9000 is enough for anyone. But then again you can't match SS with tubes or be all tubes and integrated like you can with separates. If you had a pair of big old JBL's Altecs or EV with close to 108 db sensitivity at 1 watt 4 ft you would be looking for the quietest amps you could find. But thats not your situation. or Is it? Listening to a noisy sound system is a big turn off no matter the size. Separates can be a prestige thing ,too. All those meters, knobs and switches. I admire people that come from the KISS school. I never have been as fortunate. I started with Mac separates, and am doomed to using separates. Oh its not that I didn't own an integrated Scott or Fisher. But when I jumped into Mac, it was separates.

 

[Grenadeslio]

I'm using an MA5200 to drive a system in my office. The local Mcintosh dealer has suggested separates. Seems to me all I'd be doing is increasing the footprint of the system and bumping the amp power from 100 to 150 watts per side. At the level of modern Mcintosh gear, why go the separates route? The suggestion was to replace the MA5200 with a C47 preamp and MC152 amp.

Why not ask the dealer to let you take the power amp home, connect it using your 5200 as a pre, then get back with us on the difference.