Mcintosh Amp

Hobbyguy
Hobbyguy Posts: 317
edited February 2014 in 2 Channel Audio
Well I have been looking and looking and was going to go with an inexpensive amp, but have been given the ok by my wife! I have the opportunity to purchase a new Mcintosh MA 6500 for $3400. I have aslo seen a used MC2255 for $2400 ,a MC7205 for $2250 and a MC4000M for $3500. I have not (and probably won't) be able to listen to any of these amps before purchase. Is anybody familiar with these? I have not decided between 2 ch and 5 ch although I think it would be nice to have 5ch in case I decided later to use it for HT. For now I will be using the amp to power a pair of SDA-1B and/or LSi-15? My budget is $3000-$4000. Any other amps comparable?
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Comments

  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited January 2009
    BAT, but your going to need to go used. What kind of pre are you using?

    RT1
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  • Hobbyguy
    Hobbyguy Posts: 317
    edited January 2009
    pretty sure the 6500 is integrated so I dont think I need a pre-amp for this one. Haven't decided for others.... BAT is pretty good?
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited January 2009
    ah, well in your price especially if you go used there are many possibilities to consider, some other to start with Belles, Musicial Fidelity, Manley, Conrad Johnson, VTL, Paladian, Joule, ARC, just to name a few, there are others.

    Check out

    www.Audiogon.com to search and get your learn on. Just make an informed decision and if you decide on the Mac well you could certainly do alot worse.

    RT1
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited January 2009
    The MA6500 is the nicest out of the bunch, but wouldn't be a wise choice if there's the possibility of a home theater in the future. http://mcc.berners.ch/integrated-amplifiers/MA6500.pdf

    The 2255 is a nice amp and has a big following in the Mac crowd, but that price is way too high.

    The 7205 is a multi-channel amp and the MC4000M is car audio. Here's an informative page on McIntosh products: http://www.berners.ch/McIntosh/en/Frame_Compendium.htm

    If you're unsure if you want to build a home theater setup, you can always pick up a two channel amp now and then a three channel or five channel amp for the center/rears in the future.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Hobbyguy
    Hobbyguy Posts: 317
    edited January 2009
    Wow! Thanks for the advice! I think I am going to narrow it down to MA6500 or MA6900
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  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited January 2009
    Hobbyguy
    I hope you understand there is no turning back once you head down this road.
    Good luck and enjoy.
    Just my opinion 2 channel is the way to go!!
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  • Hobbyguy
    Hobbyguy Posts: 317
    edited January 2009
    Just like Kronk's shoulder devil says...."I'm gonna take you down the path that Rocks".
    Of course now I see that Face has a Mcintosh amp for sale! Too many decisions. I wonder if my yamaha receiver or older Kenwood receiver would work as a preamp until I can get a decent preamp with Faces Mc
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited January 2009
    Hobbyguy wrote: »
    Wow! Thanks for the advice! I think I am going to narrow it down to MA6500 or MA6900
    The 6900 is a better unit due to having autoformers, it will drive just about any speaker.
    Hobbyguy wrote: »
    Just like Kronk's shoulder devil says...."I'm gonna take you down the path that Rocks".
    Of course now I see that Face has a Mcintosh amp for sale! Too many decisions. I wonder if my yamaha receiver or older Kenwood receiver would work as a preamp until I can get a decent preamp with Faces Mc
    Yes, it's still for sale. Your receiver(s) could work as a preamp if they have preamp out jacks on the rear.

    Here is more info on it: http://mcc.berners.ch/power-amplifiers/MC126.pdf
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Hobbyguy
    Hobbyguy Posts: 317
    edited January 2009
    Hmmm....now considering Adcom GFA-7807. Less expensive. Seems like alot of people here like Adcom.
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  • Hawkeye
    Hawkeye Posts: 1,313
    edited January 2009
    I'd strongly recommend you look into the McIntosh MC352 for a 2 channel amp. You can still buy them NEW in the box for your budget. There is not much out there for $3.5K that can compare to a 352.


    Gordon
    2 Channel -
    Martin Logan Spire, 2 JL Audio F112 subs
    McIntosh C1000 Controller with Tube pre amp, 2 MC501 amplifiers, MD1K Transport & DAC, MR-88 Tuner
    WireWorld Eclipse 6.0 speaker wire and jumpers, Eclipse 5^2 Squared Balanced IC's. Silver Eclipse PCs (5)
    Symposium Rollerblocks 2+ (16)Black Diamond Racing Mk 3 pits (8)
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited January 2009
    Hobbyguy wrote: »
    Hmmm....now considering Adcom GFA-7807. Less expensive. Seems like alot of people here like Adcom.


    Not the newer models. If your looking at a nice SS amp look into Rotel 1095 very nice amp and alot cheaper used than the Adcom 7807. Also the Rotel-1095 is common ground so it'll work with your SDA's
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  • Hobbyguy
    Hobbyguy Posts: 317
    edited January 2009
    Anybody know where I can buy a used Mcintosh MC352 (or used MC402)
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited January 2009
    www.audiogon.com

    good luck in your search. BAT is better than Mc. so I would research them as well unless you just got to have the Mc. You might also look at some of the Levinson, Classe, Ayre, anyway, you can find them all on the audiogon site.

    RT1
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  • Hawkeye
    Hawkeye Posts: 1,313
    edited January 2009
    Everybody thinks their kid is the best. :D Only you can decide whether the Mac or Bat is better. Try this link for new and used Mac gear:


    http://www.audioclassics.com/

    Gordon
    2 Channel -
    Martin Logan Spire, 2 JL Audio F112 subs
    McIntosh C1000 Controller with Tube pre amp, 2 MC501 amplifiers, MD1K Transport & DAC, MR-88 Tuner
    WireWorld Eclipse 6.0 speaker wire and jumpers, Eclipse 5^2 Squared Balanced IC's. Silver Eclipse PCs (5)
    Symposium Rollerblocks 2+ (16)Black Diamond Racing Mk 3 pits (8)
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited January 2009
    reeltrouble1 wrote: »
    www.audiogon.com

    good luck in your search. BAT is better than Mc. so I would research them as well unless you just got to have the Mc. You might also look at some of the Levinson, Classe, Ayre, anyway, you can find them all on the audiogon site.

    RT1

    Say what???? These comparisons are so subjective. Hopefully you make decisions on what appeals to you & not on what others say.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited January 2009
    These are pretty damn good, too.

    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatube&1238291549&/Musical-Fidelity-NuVista-M3

    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatube&1238054203&/BAT-VK-300x

    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatube&1237059111&/BAT-vk300x-se
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited January 2009
    The subjective is born from growth beyond the comparative baseline of the objective. So then any decision based upon appeal is in fact subjective to the original objective.

    Too Easy. Try harder. Aim Lower.

    RT1
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited January 2009
    These are serious contenders as well.

    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1237943350&/Pass-Labs-X-250-Price-Reduced!

    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampsmult&1237253745&/Pass-Labs-X-5-Multi-Channel-Am

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Hobbyguy
    Hobbyguy Posts: 317
    edited January 2009
    Thanks everybody for these excellent recommendations...I am pretty sure I want to go with the McIntosh. Diff to explain but sort of a gestalt.
    As far as subjective...I like to think of these opinions as sobjective (subjective and objective). Subjective cannot be measured. Pain is subjective. Objective is measurable with great reproducibility.I ask opinions here because I believe that the ear can be trained just like the eyes. People that have been around excellent sounding audio equipment probably have a better trained ear than mine and probably know what the better sounding amps/speaker combinations are available for a particular price range. I have seen alot about how the Mcintosh and polk speakers sound good together so I think this is where I am headed. I just purchased a Rotel RMB 1095 so I will be able to compare. If I can't tell the difference then it might not be that there is no difference....it might be that my ear is not trained enough. I also understand that each amp has its unique sound and some might be pleasing to some but not to others.
    Here is an example of what training does....we all feel that we see well but tell me what you see in the x-ray. My 19 years of experience will glean a lot more out of it than someone with no experience.
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited January 2009
    if your going to put up nekid pic's please leave a little skin on the bone for us............how about some x-rays of Jessica Alba's bones.

    RT1
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  • michaeljhsda2
    michaeljhsda2 Posts: 2,184
    edited January 2009
    Hobbyguy wrote: »
    Thanks everybody for these excellent recommendations...I am pretty sure I want to go with the McIntosh. Diff to explain but sort of a gestalt.
    As far as subjective...I like to think of these opinions as sobjective (subjective and objective). Subjective cannot be measured. Pain is subjective. Objective is measurable with great reproducibility.I ask opinions here because I believe that the ear can be trained just like the eyes. People that have been around excellent sounding audio equipment probably have a better trained ear than mine and probably know what the better sounding amps/speaker combinations are available for a particular price range. I have seen alot about how the Mcintosh and polk speakers sound good together so I think this is where I am headed. I just purchased a Rotel RMB 1095 so I will be able to compare. If I can't tell the difference then it might not be that there is no difference....it might be that my ear is not trained enough. I also understand that each amp has its unique sound and some might be pleasing to some but not to others.
    Here is an example of what training does....we all feel that we see well but tell me what you see in the x-ray. My 19 years of experience will glean a lot more out of it than someone with no experience.

    1. X-ray on the right is missing the body position marker. That's a big no-no as the tech should have used one before shooting xray.
    2. You can see soft tissue on the xray on the right.
    3. The xray on the left is of higher density resulting in better resolution of the carpal bones.
    4. Distal radius fracture?
    SDA SRS 2.3TL's
    Silk Audio MS-90-BT integrated tube amp
    Yaqin MS-20L integrated tube amp
    SDA 2B TL's
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  • Hobbyguy
    Hobbyguy Posts: 317
    edited January 2009
    nice try michael...both views are on one cassette so body marker is correct....
    now what type of distal radius fracture and which carpal bones are malaligned suggesting injury to which interosseous ligaments. Is this a CID or CIND type injury. What else can you tell me about the TFCC?
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  • Hawkeye
    Hawkeye Posts: 1,313
    edited January 2009
    OK, after RT1's legalese and your medicalese which both are beyond my comprehension, what, other than McIntosh are you going to get?

    Gordon
    2 Channel -
    Martin Logan Spire, 2 JL Audio F112 subs
    McIntosh C1000 Controller with Tube pre amp, 2 MC501 amplifiers, MD1K Transport & DAC, MR-88 Tuner
    WireWorld Eclipse 6.0 speaker wire and jumpers, Eclipse 5^2 Squared Balanced IC's. Silver Eclipse PCs (5)
    Symposium Rollerblocks 2+ (16)Black Diamond Racing Mk 3 pits (8)
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  • Hobbyguy
    Hobbyguy Posts: 317
    edited January 2009
    oh right. I already purchased a Rotel RMB-1095. It should arrive next week. This and the Mcintosh mc352 are what I am going to compare. I currently have a yamaha RX-V2700 receiver that I will use as pre-amp until I get a diff preamp. I have a pair of LSI-15s, SDA-1Bs, and 10Bs that I will test with the amps.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited January 2009
    Do you plan on running both amps?
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  • michaeljhsda2
    michaeljhsda2 Posts: 2,184
    edited January 2009
    Hobbyguy wrote: »
    nice try michael...both views are on one cassette so body marker is correct....
    now what type of distal radius fracture and which carpal bones are malaligned suggesting injury to which interosseous ligaments. Is this a CID or CIND type injury. What else can you tell me about the TFCC?

    This was an interesting fact finding mission...I hope I'm even close to being correct as I'm not a rad tech...just an RN. I work in Nuclear Medicine in the stress test lab but I'm always interested in seeking knowledge, esp. in radiology. I was going to attend Nuc Med school but the market is so flooded and the tuition at SLUH is outrageous and I'm old.... Good luck with your pursuit of an amplifier. Here are my guesses.

    1. Smith fracture
    2. Scaphoid and Triquetrum
    3. Scapholunate and Lunotriquetral ligaments
    4. Dissociative carpal instability (CID)
    5. The TFCC (triangular fibrocartilage complex) is a segment of cartilage in the wrist joint. The TFCC is considered the 'wrist meniscus,' because it functions very similar to the knee meniscus.

    Mike
    SDA SRS 2.3TL's
    Silk Audio MS-90-BT integrated tube amp
    Yaqin MS-20L integrated tube amp
    SDA 2B TL's
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited January 2009
    Is this an episode of "BONES"??
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • michaeljhsda2
    michaeljhsda2 Posts: 2,184
    edited February 2009
    michaeljhsda2 wrote: »
    This was an interesting fact finding mission...I hope I'm even close to being correct as I'm not a rad tech...just an RN. I work in Nuclear Medicine in the stress test lab but I'm always interested in seeking knowledge, esp. in radiology. I was going to attend Nuc Med school but the market is so flooded and the tuition at SLUH is outrageous and I'm old.... Good luck with your pursuit of an amplifier. Here are my guesses.

    1. Smith fracture
    2. Scaphoid and Triquetrum
    3. Scapholunate and Lunotriquetral ligaments
    4. Dissociative carpal instability (CID)
    5. The TFCC (triangular fibrocartilage complex) is a segment of cartilage in the wrist joint. The TFCC is considered the 'wrist meniscus,' because it functions very similar to the knee meniscus.

    Mike

    How did I do?
    SDA SRS 2.3TL's
    Silk Audio MS-90-BT integrated tube amp
    Yaqin MS-20L integrated tube amp
    SDA 2B TL's
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  • handyman28
    handyman28 Posts: 6
    edited March 2009
    MC352 or even a MC252 would be nice
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  • Hawkeye
    Hawkeye Posts: 1,313
    edited March 2009
    If it were my money, I'd take a new 352 over a used 252.

    Gordon
    2 Channel -
    Martin Logan Spire, 2 JL Audio F112 subs
    McIntosh C1000 Controller with Tube pre amp, 2 MC501 amplifiers, MD1K Transport & DAC, MR-88 Tuner
    WireWorld Eclipse 6.0 speaker wire and jumpers, Eclipse 5^2 Squared Balanced IC's. Silver Eclipse PCs (5)
    Symposium Rollerblocks 2+ (16)Black Diamond Racing Mk 3 pits (8)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter