McIntosh 2105 VS 2125

erniejade

I currenty have a integra amp M5030 and I am thinking of upgrading to a McIntosh either 2125 or 2105. Is there any sound difference between the two of them? Has anyone heard both units and any preference?

It would be running a set of polk SDA 1.2

Thanks for the help.

erniejade

Just for giggles I am going to throw a adcom 5500 in the mix on this also.

Face

I own both and would go with the newer of the two, the 2125. But if you can find a 7270 for a good price, that would be a nice step up from either one.

erniejade

Thank You for the advice. It seems like I can get the 2105 or 2125 for close to the same price. I was also looking at a adcom 5500 I know some people say it is not in the same league as the other two but, I have heard good things about the adcom since it is a pass design.

I will take a look out for the 7270 thank you for the help.

Face

Just to elaborate, I own both the 2105 and 2125, and the 2125 sound better to me, plus it has more head room. Some(including mine) 2125's have been known to put out 180 watts before distorting. As for the 7270, some of them are actually in the 320+ range.

I'm not familiar with that Adcom, but do know most of them are built pretty well.

heiney9

The Adcom 5500 is not in the same league as the McIntosh gear. The GFA5500 is a respectable amp and even though Nelson at one time had some input the only 2 Adcom pieces that remotely have a "Pass" type sound and the most input from him are the GFP-750 pre-amp and GFA 5802 amp. Those are very nice sounding and competitive with other higher end gear.

If you're going to go Adcom and want it to compare favorably to the higher end sound of gear like McIntosh...........those are the only 2 pieces I could recommend.

Good luck

H9

erniejade

Thanks for the advice.

the adcom GFA 5802 @ 300 per... 2x the power of 2125 .. Close in price. Man just when I thought I had it narrowed down another one comes in the mix in the same price range.

Face

I don't believe the 5802 is common ground, unless you have a isolation transformer or the A1-A interconnect(or whatever it's called), that amp is a big no no for SDA's.

heiney9

Face wrote: »

I don't believe the 5802 is common ground, unless you have a isolation transformer or the A1-A interconnect(or whatever it's called), that amp is a big no no for SDA's.

That is correct forgot he was running SDA's, I believe the negative terminals can be strapped......do a search with Darqueknight as the poster.....there's been a whole thread on it somewhere here. I believe I posted the question awhile back on DIY Audio in the Soild State amp section.

The 5802 was on my short list of amps at one time.

H9

erniejade

Thanks again. This is why I check here first~!

TSWisla

My brother just sold a 5802, not very impressive. Next to a tfm-35, the tfm was superior in all respects.

erniejade

Now that is surprising to hear!!

I actually have a tfm 35 X i need to get repaired.... Maybe I should just get that fixed up and forget a new amp....

heiney9

I get that people like different things and this is a rant in general and it's off topic. But all over this board I see people refer to such and such "blowing it away","hands down superior"," it destroyed it"........no one lately has taken the time to expand on what they liked and didn't like.

If you are going to make a statement like that, atleast have the intelligence and eloquence to speak about the aspects of your system and how it worked and didn't within your respective rig and give some background about your interests in music and what you expect out of your rig.

Statements like:

My brother just sold a 5802, not very impressive. Next to a tfm-35, the tfm was superior in all respects.

Gives absolutely no basis for a reader to use that statement in a useful way. We have no idea about the system it was used in, the music, likes dislikes of the user. Completely a useless post, IMO. . Also a little bit about the process you used to come to the conclusion. Was it side-by-side comparison, was it done days, weeks, months later, etc. Was the rest of the gear the same, etc.

P.s. I was reading in another thread about how a certain cdp "smoked" a transport and stand alone dac......wtf does that mean and how is that a useful statement for someone inquiring about audio.

curved

heiney9 wrote: »

If you are going to make a statement like that, atleast have the intelligence and eloquence to speak about the aspects of your system and how it worked and didn't within your respective rig and give some background about your interests in music and what you expect out of your rig.

Statements like:



Gives absolutely no basis for a reader to use that statement in a useful way. We have no idea about the system it was used in, the music, likes dislikes of the user. Completely a useless post, IMO. . Also a little bit about the process you used to come to the conclusion. Was it side-by-side comparison, was it done days, weeks, months later, etc. Was the rest of the gear the same, etc.

Agreed!! "A friend of my brother heard this one thing...."

jfb4548

Face wrote: »

Just to elaborate, I own both the 2105 and 2125, and the 2125 sound better to me, plus it has more head room. Some(including mine) 2125's have been known to put out 180 watts before distorting. As for the 7270, some of them are actually in the 320+ range.

I'm not familiar with that Adcom, but do know most of them are built pretty well.

I have both a 7270 and an older 2205. Years ago when Mac ran the free clinics my 2205 was able to pump out 390 watts at well below rated distortion levels. The tech was pretty amazed at this. It's a great sounding amp. My 7270 has tons more power then the 2205. Never actually been in for any service so I'm not sure how many watts it really has but it's got to easily top the 2205 by a bunch. With the 2205 it's not difficult to drive it to the point where the Power Guard flickers on every now and then but I can't recall ever seeing the red Power Guard lamps even flash on the 7270.

erniejade

I will throw one more in the mix Same price range for used the sunfire 300 x 2.

I might call the person up selling the 2125 and ask him if I can bring my sunfire sig II 625 X2 I have running my carver amazing originals. The 300 version is supposed to be close in sound with slightly more bass from what I am being told.

Again, I want the new amp to replace a Integra M5030 and run Polk SDA 1.2's

Thanks again for the help.

jfb4548

erniejade wrote: »

I will throw one more in the mix Same price range for used the sunfire 300 x 2.

I might call the person up selling the 2125 and ask him if I can bring my sunfire sig II 625 X2 I have running my carver amazing originals. The 300 version is supposed to be close in sound with slightly more bass from what I am being told.

Again, I want the new amp to replace a Integra M5030 and run Polk SDA 1.2's

Thanks again for the help.

I forgot to mention I have the SDA SRS Speakers. Both Mac do a fine job driving them.

Face

jfb4548 wrote: »

I forgot to mention I have the SDA SRS Speakers. Both Mac do a fine job driving them.

Yes, I use a 7270 for my main rig. With the 1ohm autoformer taps, I doubt there's a speaker out there that it couldn't drive.

erniejade

So I went and picked up the Polks and brought my Integra M5030 with. Rega CD Rufas Wainright Poses cd, GAS preamp. listened to the Integra with the 1.2's The shop owner said he was quite suprised on the Integra. He said it was much more musical then he thought it would be. Actually a few people in the shop said this to me.

The 2125 on the polks the Integra sounded better. The Integra had better highs, mor forward on the mids and the bass was too close to call. The 2105 with the polks, The mids were a little more laid back but, on the 1.2's thats ok since they are in your face to begin with. The bass was better, tighter with the McIntosh VS the Integra. Highs were too close to call. Because it did have better bass and the mids were a bit more laid back, more refined, I picked up the McIntosh. I still love the classic blue looks lol!!

Now to sell the Integra. LOL.

Hawkeye

Welcome to the black tux with blue pockets and green tie club:D

Gordon

Face

Congrats!

erniejade

Thanks for the warm welcome! lol. Now when I come back from the hospital from the back strain of a 70 lb amp.......






:eek:


Just kidding!

Face

For it's size, it's surprisingly heavy. At least their other amps look the part.

handyman28

price range?

erniejade

Hi handyman I already picked it up but, I might be insteresed in another one.