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Disappointing On Mcintosh......help

 3 Months ago  I went to NYC and stopped by the WOM  and auditioned several MCintosh gear...........and left a bit disappointed or not impressed...then I told myself   " lets give a second shot"  and went today to a  HIFI store and again Good room accoustics10K speakers , MC Preamp , MC Amplifier........ and again  the same disappointment I felt 3 month earlier.

Is that the "warm" sound people reffer to about Mcintosh?  
The sound is ample, base is powerfull  but the the sound is simply  not to clear, the hights are not too "crisp"  It sounds like the treble is set at 3 and needs to be adjusted at 9 or 10.
It seems like  the sound is  coming through a thin layer of paper ...that is the way I describe that sound.  

Then 20 minutes later I auditioned a Parasound A21+ and a JC5 and the sound was more clear and the highs were crispier

Whats your take on my experience?  or That is the MC "warm sound? 
128x128cydrone
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
@cydrone  Why do you think you're "supposed" to like McIntosh?  There are so many alternatives out there...go find something appealing to you instead.
rsf507
2,313 posts
 
Personally I've never been impressed with mac gear you either love it or hate it. Friends own the 452 amp and it has never impressed YMMV
pg62's avatar
pg62
31 posts
 
I had the same experience years ago.  I walked into a McIntosh dealer and listened to a system that included McIntosh separates - can't recall which ones.  I was surprised that I just wasn't impressed after all the years of hearing about the vaunted McIntosh amplifier.  Even my guitar hero Jerry Garcia used them.  Unfortunately. that system didn't appeal to me.  My son is at school in Binghamton NY and I have wanted to visit the McIntosh factory and try a listen session again.
techno__dude
511 posts
 
McIntosh is geared to the warmer side. When matching darker speakers ( Sonus Faber) with McIntosh, you need to use the tone control. I have Dynaudio Special 40 and a C47 preamplifier. I have the treble ajusted to +8 db on most of my music to get the level of highs I like.

With brighter speakers, let’s say like Focals, I would not need to. Maybe +4 db on treble would be enough.
djones51
4,947 posts
 
Some say the Paradigm Persona speaker is bright and hard to listen to, I heard the 3F paired with a McIntosh and it sounded anything but bright very detailed smooth sound I loved it but I am sure others would hate it that's  what makes the audio world go round so buy what you like.
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