McIntosh Amps vs. Alpine PDX's...

Chwnn255

What would the "Polk experts" do?

I have an opportunity to get my hands on these (see below) McIntosh's ...both for $850.00

Put in the Alpine PDX's or the McIntosh MCC440M w/ a McIntosh MC443M Mono block?

System going into a 2003 GMC Yukon XL with:
Polk SR6500's front and rear (coax in rear)
Kenwood DNX7100
JL Audio Stealthbox (w/ a 10W3v2 sub - console unit)

This is a battle of New School Technology over Old Shool Technology... who wins this battle?

Obviously looking for the best SQ my wallet will let me hear.

killerb

mcintosh.

exalted512

McIntosh is hands down the better amp.
-Cody

MacLeod

Either. In that price range, there isnt going to be any differences at least none that you would notice unless youre an engineer with a 204 IQ or something.

audiobliss

McIntosh most definitely.

Toxis

McIntosh!!!

1996blackmax

I personally would opt for the Alpine amplifiers as space is a big concern for me.

If you have the room then go with the McIntosh amps.

eloplayspolo

take a look at the MTX TE1004 if havent seen it yet, cheaper alternative with a lot of power.

cam5860

Alpine hands down! Why because they are much more advanced than anything on the market right now. These amps are the smartest amps out to date. Anytime a amp can determine if it's clipping the speaker and adjust itself to send nothing but clean power to your speakers you got one hell of a amp. Not only that these suckers don't draw alot of power from your system. For example the 1000x1 only requires 80 amps. And small on top of that mount them anywhere.

1996blackmax

I would not say Alpine hands down...... depends on your own specific needs. In a recent review the Alpine PDX-4.150 actually did not get very high marks on the low end of the frequency spectrum. This would not deter me from picking one up if I was in the market for one though.

MacLeod

Yeah, I remember that review. But in it, they show the response curve to be ruler flat from 5-32KHz.

How was the low end response not up to snuff?

That was also before CA&E did that big blind test with a bunch of different amps and discovered that there wasnt any tonal difference from them.......but there was a difference in soundstaging. Good grief.

Thom

I'm not familiar with the McIntosh amps, are they new? Or are they used and maybe quite a few years old? That would influence my decision as well. McIntosh has a great reputation, but I've heard nothing but good things about the Alpine PDX amps. And if it comes down to brand new with a warranty vs. not I'd go with the Alpines.

bigaudiofanatic

ALPINE all the way

1996blackmax

MacLeod wrote: »

Yeah, I remember that review. But in it, they show the response curve to be ruler flat from 5-32KHz.

How was the low end response not up to snuff?

That was also before CA&E did that big blind test with a bunch of different amps and discovered that there wasnt any tonal difference from them.......but there was a difference in soundstaging. Good grief.

You have to ask them that, I was not the one doing the review.

MacLeod

That would be one of those rhetorical questions.