McIntosh Owners & Discussion Thread

[BugPowderDust]

While surprised to find that such a topic didn't exist I felt compelled to create it. 

 

I'm looking to test pilot the McIntosh c1100 tube preamp soon.  I'm curious, has anyone else kicked the tyres on this and what were your impressions?

 

I'm looking at the Audio Research Ref6SE too so any comparisons people can make would be useful and appreciated.

[BugPowderDust]

Oh, and I took possession today of a pair of Mc1201 monos in fantastic condition. I guess that’s my hunt for mono blocks scratched off my to-do list. 

[Volunteer]

I noticed there was no Lumin owners' thread in the Digital section and started one when I got the Lumin T2 a couple of months ago, so I can't believe I didn't notice this thread not existing and starting this topic when I took possession of my MA352 last month. Beaten to it' well played @BugPowderDust!

 

I'm going to post some gratuitous McIntosh pics now...

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 18, 2021 by El Tel
Remove cat pic to post in the pets thread instead.

[Bunno77]

Fired mine up with some new to me Fostex speakers a little while ago. Very enjoyable with and without the subs.
Something special with such a simple speaker
Fostex will be for sale soon as want to try some of the bigger brothers

 

[Rosco8]

I own a Mc System, C22 (later model) and 2xMc75's which I acquired early last year. They are feed from a shared sources, Lumin U1 Mini and Akai CD 73 player (used as a Transport) to my DAC Accuphase DC37 and output to W.A.R. Ref One speakers.  A smooth and nice system.  I originally got the Mc75's to drive my Dynaudio C2 Plats which they did but then upgraded again with an Accuphase A70 which drove them a lot better (they are nasty to drive).  I also ended up via curiosity with a Supratek DHT pre so i resolved it by splitting them into 2 systems, the Dynaudios being replaced by Harbeth 40.2's later in the year.  so too much time on my hands as the lock down went for way too long and my addiction on improving my sound got the better of me !!! I didn't mean to end up with 2 systems !!!  The thing is both systems are very good, and I alternatively use them both for a change, and occasionally i will use them together as they share the same DAC, one on RCA and the other XLR and the sound is rather good   Overkill, yep.  Occasionally i think i will sell the Mc's but then I listen to it and fall back in luv' with it .. Sad really 

 

 

Edited October 18, 2021 by Rosco8

[Volunteer]

Well this is awkward, <he edited embarrassingly> - Wrong Rosco @Rosco08.- sorry if I woke you....

 

Back to our regular programming:

Nice room, love your style  @Rosco8

Edited October 19, 2021 by El Tel
Buggered it up, tagged wrong person.

[BugPowderDust]

That’s a fine looking setup @Rosco08.

 

I got my new power amps out of my car myself yesterday. Let’s say that was an interesting experience. The boxes are over 800mm x 800mm c 500mm and weight about 80kg a side. 
 

I think I’ll phone in some help to put them into place later this week. All I’m waiting on are a pair of trigger cables and a pair of longer xlr cables to connect them before attempting to do so.

[Volunteer]

2 hours ago, BugPowderDust said:

That’s a fine looking setup @Rosco08.

 

I got my new power amps out of my car myself yesterday. Let’s say that was an interesting experience. The boxes are over 800mm x 800mm c 500mm and weight about 80kg a side. 
 

I think I’ll phone in some help to put them into place later this week. All I’m waiting on are a pair of trigger cables and a pair of longer xlr cables to connect them before attempting to do so.

15 mins away, can give you a hand if you need it

[BugPowderDust]

Ha I might take you up on that. I’ll let you know once these cables arrive. They were sent express on Sunday but given the current postal debacle who knows when they will arrive.

[Volunteer]

Yeah. AusPost... I had a single consignment of 26 parcels sent from NSW at the beginning of August. They started trickling-in after 2 weeks and the last-but-one arrived on the 26th of August. The last one is still missing and has been subject to 2 cases being raised from me and one from the sender. AusPost arbitrarily closed my first case without resolving it, so I opened another. The tracking showed the last parcel:

• leaving Sydney on 24 August, after 3 weeks of going nowhere
• in transit and hitting Sunshine West the next day,
• then a week later going to the central Melbourne depot
• heading back to Sunshine West on 7 Sept and arriving 2 days later
• then heading to my local post office in Woodend on 9 Sept
• reappearing at the Melbourne depot on 14 Sept (wut?!)
• I raised the first enquiry that day after 3 weeks of going nowhere and another 3 weeks in transit and heard nothing
• Raised call number 2 on 28 Sept and got nothing but automated replies to subsequent chase-ups

 

Yesterday I wrote a sarcastic mail to customer services believing nothing would happen, I just felt like some sport:

 

"So before the missing parcel slips from the eyes of mankind for millennia, only to become a future archaeological find that helps a PhD student develop her thesis of how civilisation collapsed in the early 21st century due to the logistics industry failing the wider economy, dare I ask, is there any update?"

 

Miraculously, there was an update this morning when I woke-up saying my parcel had been processed in Melbourne at 01:11AM overnight.

Edited October 19, 2021 by El Tel
Clarity.

[Rosco8]

BTW I am Rosco8 .. there is also a Rosco08 that you guys are replying to    @El Tel  @BugPowderDust    cheers

[Volunteer]

24 minutes ago, Rosco8 said:

BTW I am Rosco8 .. there is also a Rosco08 that you guys are replying to    @El Tel  @BugPowderDust    cheers

 

I was passion-fingered

[muriwai]

He he

Doppleganger?

[BugPowderDust]

@El Tel kindly helped me lug a pair on monster McIntosh Mc1201s into position in my lounge room today.
 

No small task as each is circa 70kg and there isn’t a lot of wiggle room as to where I could put them. in the end they are behind the speakers but not obstructing the ports fortunately.
 

they have really made my JBL’s get up and dance. I think I’m going to re-do the room correction I have for home theatre to account for different gain setups in the signal path now, but my stereo listening is fantastic. 
 

I expect I may be able to get off the amplifier boat now.  

[Volunteer]

6 minutes ago, BugPowderDust said:

@El Tel kindly helped me lug a pair on monster McIntosh Mc1201s into position in my lounge room today.
 

No small task as each is circa 70kg and there isn’t a lot of wiggle room as to where I could put them. in the end they are behind the speakers but not obstructing the ports fortunately.
 

they have really made my JBL’s get up and dance. I think I’m going to re-do the room correction I have for home theatre to account for different gain setups in the signal path now, but my stereo listening is fantastic. 
 

I expect I may be able to get off the amplifier boat now.  

I'll forward you the bill from my chiropractor...

 

Beautiful pairing. So much power and such effortless response from the JBLs with all that headroom. Enjoy, mate.

[BugPowderDust]

The biggest difference I’m noticing seems to be in the transient response. Just so much quicker sounding now. 
 

the Big Macs were definitely worth the back breaking upgrade.

[jgunner]

@BugPowderDust mind sharing some pics? Great thread by the way!

[BugPowderDust]

Well, not much to see of the new addition in pics I’m afraid.

I am seriously constrained by furniture and room dimensions, so the mono blocks have but one place to hide out.

I’m plotting an extension above this room which will be a 6m x 8m space (maybe a bit bigger) which is where this will all end up relocated to at some stage.

[jgunner]

@BugPowderDust that’s some delicious looking gear there mate. Very nice!!

[betty boop]

 

I dont know if this is for real... but apparently you can buy a Mcintosh light box... switches on/off with all your other Mc gear  not sure what the price is but looks like they USD

 

[Volunteer]

51 minutes ago, betty boop said:

 

I dont know if this is for real... but apparently you can buy a Mcintosh light box... switches on/off with all your other Mc gear  not sure what the price is but looks like they USD

 

Yup - AUD 3k here. I take it you haven't seen the McIntosh clock then? Two VU style meters, one for hours, the other for minutes... All for a drink shy of $ 4k. Pure whimsy for sure.

 

There are illuminating McIntosh logos on the front of their speakers that only light-up if they are wired with ancillary leads back to a McIntosh amp too.

 

The kit is well engineered and performs brilliantly, but I can't feel that their chest-puffery with all this peripheral pig-w4nk detracts from the good.

[astormsau]

Hey everyone 

I have never seen the owners thread before despite being on SNA for > 10 years. 
 

I got into McIntosh about 3 years ago and recently upgraded my speakers from Spendor D7.2 to D9.2 and then my power amp from an MC275 to an MC462 two

weeks ago. I loved the MC275 but after an audition of the 275 against the 312 and 462 I was really taken by the 462. 

We live in an apartment so I try to keep the system a little minimalist looking to keep my partner happy. Currently my system consists of a Gyrodec turntable, Aries G1 streamer, C2700 And MC462. Some pics below. 
 

I listed the MC275 for sale on the forums a few days ago but to be honest I’m not even sure I want to sell it - they are a timeless piece. 
 

drew 
 

 

[Godot]

I felt very conflicted in letting my MC275 go. I was agonising over getting an MC462 vrs a 2nd MC275, then McIntosh just made it easy by releasing this beast:

 

[Revelationsound]

 

I received the McIntosh MC152 today and thanks to a McIntosh Unboxing Video online, it helped me get this heavy amp out of the box safely by myself. The unit looks really nice, and I am one that loves the blue meters. I let the amp warm up for an hour before I used it with my NAD 658 preamp and Focal Aria 926 speakers.

The first thing I will say is the amp is not dark, warm, or dull. It has a very big bass representation, smooth mids, and pleasant top end. Compared to my original Adcom 555 amp, the sound is a little larger, details on instruments are pulled more a little forward and heard better. The sound is refined, it has this elegant sound that is really nice. I know there are times people try to justify things they buy, but if this amp did not make a very good impression, I would have sent it back and purchased a Parasound JC5 amp.

Alot of our purchases are emotional ones and I think that is overlooked too much. I think part of the emotional appeal to McIntosh is that the product is made in America where they provide enough wages for people to live in the area of Binghamton New York. Yes, audio gear made in America cost more than someplace in China. Those overseas facilities, you don’t know anything about the work environment, quality control, and how many audio companies are using the same parts. You can tour the McIntosh facility and there are online videos that shows the gear being made. I'm proud that McIntosh makes equipment at their facility and have no issues paying a little more for gear which supports workers who live in New York State.

I know some class D amps are clean and have great base depth. However, when comparing it to class AB amps, the Class D can have less meat on the bone. Some may prefer that more neutral sound and many will be drawn to an amp that has a little more umph to it. The MC152 which is not Class D does not ooze a heavy character. It has a gentle smooth sound while still being clean and detailed. I read where some don’t want some Class D amps because the small modules inside are not worth more than a couple hundred dollar that is put in a metal box that charge thousands of dollars for. Others say you’re paying for the R&D of these amps and don’t have an issue with them.

I like the gentle character of this amp. It does not affect the clean detailed top end that the amp provides. I don’t need to put the volume past 50% on my NAD as its pretty loud. It seems to have a good amount of headroom. I highly recommend this amp and though it was a costly price, it was worth it for me.

Edited February 9, 2022 by Revelationsound

[xPLAYRZx]

Picked up our first McIntosh piece earlier in the week.  Was originally just looking for something more 'hifi' to run in the living room with the TV rather than an AVR, something like a streaming amplifier (eg Naim Atom, NAD M10, CA EVO150, etc)... anyway I went down the rabbit hole looking for an integrated amp with HDMI and ended up with a MA5300 with the optional DA2 DAC board. Talk about overkill!!

 

For those interested, the DA2 board works as advertised with HDMI, giving you CEC control for power and volume using your TV remote, it also doesn't sound too bad for music .  I did need to sacrifice the back of the TV unit to get this long boi to fit though. Very happy with how it sounds, performs and looks thus far.