I wouldn't call your foray into solid state amps comprehensive in any sense. Also, the Mac testimonial seems dealeresque Dbarger. But, whatever floats your boat..enjoy! |
Nothing innovative about Mac gear, nor is it tremendously musical. In fact it sounds like very goo old class B electronics..not particularly exceptional in any area, nor a total disaster in any either..just OK! |
Cool, I sold my Ref 3 already. I had the 501's and c1000 with an MF A5 front end into C4's from Dynaudio. I've owned alot of stuff and I stand by my comments that Mac is OK but not special in any way. |
Why don't e\we all take our toys and go home and listen to music!! BOL on whatever it is that floats your musical boat. |
Clash..Mcintosh...Truth Path to Paradise? You guys are smokin somethin aren't you..come on, admit it!! |
I have owned alot and I calls 'em as I sees 'em! In retrospect, Mac was at least warm and friendly sounding. When I spout off it's from passion, experience and an absolute perspective..don't take it to heart. Even though my Krell Evo and ARC Reference stuff didn't deliver, I do love the Krell KAV/Res 2 combo..read Colloms or Harley?...they even had to mention the 400xi as superior in some respects to the $50k stuff! See my 400xi review for more insight into my twisted brain (: |
I agree reviewers are mostly entertainers..merely mentioned a couple of the senior more honest ones as an aside, not to be taken as an indication of my audio religion. Synergy of components and an ear for live music to guide oneself is important...no ear, then no reference point! As I mentioned, I've gone with a lesser system because I've found it more musical...not for brand or dollar snob value. DIY is probably great fun if so inclined. All the stuff I've owned was great stuff, but my need for musical satisfaction took me full circle..I am happy with less becauase sometimes less IS more!! |
My journey in the listening chair has been ear opening to say the least. One thing stands out however from the sea of gear...class A designs sound more natural and have greater presence i.e...older Krell, KAV Krell and Evolution Krell (not evo). Tubes can be pleasing but give me just a little to much frequency extreme anomalies and a reduced sense of presence or tension. Mac is one of many solid state/tube manufacturers that make reliable good sounding gear, and that's ok. Mac can be warm, full and reasonably able to convey the essence of the music..it just doesn't give you goose bumps! I believe high end audio hit it's peak in the mid 90's and is being gradually dismantled in favor of ergonomics, current trends and alternative technologies. When I was growing up on vinyl and Bozak speakers, everything sounded amazingly full, dynamic and tonaly correct. My current rig gives me the same feeling on even redbook. Whatever you own, enjoy it and let each find their own yesterday. |
Lest some of you gentlemen forget, I owned the MC501's and C46 preamp and a C2200 tube pre which was returned quickly! Both my Totem Winds and Dynaudio C4's bled the amps dry..meters were full tilt without pushing the amps very hard. Autoformers..new technology? I think not folks. Build quality is good..parts are fine but not exceptional and musicality is good to better than average (marginaly). At it's price point it is good value gear..nothing wrong with that, it's just not worth cult status! In particular, transparency was not state of the art. Bass was uniquely soft and less forceful than most amp/preamp combos available. Mids were full and pleasant..ripe even (a good thing). Highs were nice, not harsh nor dull, but not as complex and liquid as others. Overall, good gear at a fair price. Anyone who has read Stereophile for more than a few years understands the relationships that are made between reviewers and companies. It is illuminating to re-read reviews of gear one has owned, especially when it has been alot of gear...the small points are key elements of a design (inevitably negative in nature)and the large sweeping praise is conveniently vague enough to attract as many potential buyers as possible (in case you still believe in the tooth fairy). Money makes the audio world go around..world go around! So, like I said before..enjoy your stuff, it's just fine:) |
I take it all back..Mac is absolutely the finest gear available! Happy? |
Audia, points well taken...but test data as an ultimate indication of musicality? Plenty of gear measures well and still manages to fall short of accurate fidelity. Stepping back for a minute, I believe I mentioned that I thought well of the Mac stuff...I just don't feel it is all that great compared to other competitive products. Until you hear a bunch of other equipment over time under various circumstances, it is hard to understand what you are missing! All in all, synergy does go along way toward long term happiness. My time with the Mac gear was pleasurable and engaging for the most part. Over time however, I felt that recordings I new well had been served better via other amp/pre-amp combinations I have owned. Personal taste is everything..so...enjoy the amps your with...do do do do do do do do, do do do do do do do...do do do, do do do! (CSNY) |
My 400xi/sacd standard into my res 2 speakers is far more natural and musical than anything I've owned (read review for details on why). As for Mcintosh, why are some people obsessed with antique cars, LP's or TV news...some people just can't let go of something that's been around for awhile; even if the object of desire is flawed or just plain mediocre. As I said before, Mc 'aint bad stuff, it just 'aint that great...and certainly not the stuff dreams are made of. |
Absolutely Zamdrang...the metalwork on the Mc's are there best feature! |
Hey Dbarger, I'm a vinyl guy as well...that's how I know what music reproduction should sound like. If you took the time to look at my review of the 400xi/sacd std combo you would understand my reasoning. This combo has a unique feature/design set that no one else has, and I believe it to be the most vinyl like sound I have ever heard! I have owned more high end gear than most and can afford whatever new comes along...it just so happens that this krell secondary system creates music on such an exhalted level that I can hardly believe just how flawed most gear can sound. At the very least, I do pride myself on being a source of amusement for you Dbarger:) By the way, my $20K cable rig don't hurt either. What are you listening through currently? |
Tea and crumpets would be nice, thank you. |
Tennis actually requires more agility, concentration and endurance than almost any other sport known to man. Irrelevant, I should say not! Now Mcintosh gear on the other hand...maybe so:) |
Hifizgreat, sorry friend but I just cleaned my ears and now my stuff sounds even better! Look, I've owned most of the Levinson, BAT, ARC, Krell lineup and the odd piece from CJ plus various budget lines like NAD, Rotel etc... Speakers have been Totem Wind/Forest, Wilson WP 6's, Magnapan 3.6R, B&W 801N, Martin Logan, Dynaudio C6, Krell Res 2's plus...all musical great gear. Cables have been about every major brand available i.e. Transparent, MIT, Siltech, Nordost, Cardas, Straightwire, Monster Sigma, the list goes on. My current 400xi/sacd combo with $20k worth of MIT Oracle Dot 2 cabling and Transparent MM PC's delivers an extremely musical presentation, not unlike that which one experiences in a great hall such as the BSO! This is a secondary system (I have had 4 400xi's over the years for various duties around my house which were eventually gifted or sold. As I said before, Mcintosh is good gear...it just aint GREAT GEAR...GET IT!! You need to sell Mc stuff, that's fine. I can buy anything I want. Right now I have an inexpensive system set up while I decide what's next...but it's gonna be very difficult to better my Krell system at any price. I would not trust your ears based on the nonsense you have spewed forth regarding the Krell combo. My system is open for demo...by the way, you must truly appreciate live music in order to converse properly or understand what music reproduction should deliver at home. Any Harbison, shostakovich, Bantok, Rochberg, Carter or Corigliano cued up for a listen when comparing gear? I thought not. By the way, I owned the MC501's, C46 and C200. In addition, I recently owned the krell evo 402, 222 nd 525 followed by the ARC HD220 and Ref 3...I like the 400xi/sacd combo better! But what do Martin Colloms and I know, we have only been around this high end scene for 35 plus years. |
FYI, my response to Hifizgreat is predicated on the fact that the Krell 400xi/sacd standard are being run balanced. Removing the standard and or switching to single ended connections would null my opinion, even though the pair would still be competitive with a wide array of other high end equipment. |
