Has Anyone Compared the 2 McIntosh Integrateds?

Even though I clearly favored the 6900 in my listening session with the B&W, I want to make one qualification (which goes for most any hi-fi set-up): depending on your speakers and room acoustics, there could be reasons for preferring the sound of the 6500 -- also, they are both fabulous sonding amps, and I believe one could legitimately prefer one over the other.

This post could not have come at a better time for me as I am considering just these two integrateds. I would rather not spend the extra 1500 on the 6900 but am so tempted given the fact that I would one day (probably way in the future) like to own a big pair of Magnepans (like the 3.6R). Can the 6500 drive the maggies?

Right now I am very happy with my Thiel CS2.3's (4 Ohm) which I think could easily be driven by the 6500, I think. One thing I wonder about is on the 6500 the 4 Ohm output is said to be 200 watts even though the amp is rated at 150 wattsfor 8 Ohms. I can live without the equalizer. And if I'm right, on the 6500, you can defeat the tone controls by keeping them in the flat (12 o'clock position) -- is that right? I would greatly appreciate any detailed feedback any of you could offer on my deliberations.........can ya get a price break on this stuff anywhere?

Thank you!

I really do appreciate the specific input from you all. Moniker: I have not heard these specific units yet (though I have heard other Mac stuff). I am looking for a dealer that actually has either of them to be honest. I have one dealer close by but they only carry the Mac seperates. I'll keep checking this thread for more information and if I get any more I will re-post here or email you directly. I am beginning to like the idea of going with the 6500 and spending the extra money on new music. I'll be keeping my eyes open for a slightly used and cared for one. Thanks again to everyone!

Schlep: Do you own the 6900? What speakers were they driving? Did you get to compare the two amps directly?

A difference there is! I drove 80 miles to a dealer that had them both on display. I first listened to the 6500 driving a pair of B&W Nautilus (the $3600 ones). I don't much like these speakers but they told me what I needed to know. The 6500 sounded good....very good. Full, clear, deep, great soundstage....nothing objectionable. Then we switched to the 6900......very, very nice.......smoother.....the voices were much more real to me, life-like.....the sound was less etched than the 6500......fuller, stronger base.....clearer high notes....more open midrange....I really, really liked the sound much, much more. These amps do sound different.....enough so for me that I will be going with the 6900.....whenever I will be able to get one! I'll wait if I have to.

If your dealer only has the 6500, ask them to let you hear the C42 preamp with one of the seperate Mac amps that has the autoformers (like the MC202). You will get a good feel for the difference that way. Good Luck!

Thanks hififile! I found a slightly used 6900 and bought it -- I am waiting for it to come back from Mac, and can't wait. I also found a MR 85 tuner on ebay recently and am waiting for that to come back from Mac as well. Do you think the 6900 could drive the 3.6's?

I will have my Thiel 2.3's for a while, but someday, I hope to own a pair of 3.6's maybe.