is McIntosh known for good dynamics?

@wrm57 

+1 Correct. 

Mac is highly regarded. Their house sound is very midrange and bass heavy. Just great for rock and roll. But not know for nuanced sound, certainly not microdynamics and detailed. Without well balanced top end, then it might seem to lack dynamics. 

Also, matching headphones to all but the very best headphone amps can be at least as hard as doing so with speakers. The requirements vary very widely among headphones, 

I have continuously had high end headphone systems for most of the last fifty years. I cannot recommend Woo headphone amps enough. I have imported headphone amps from Germany, and tried a bunch of different kinds to get enough current to satisfy the more demanding headphones. My search stopped dead in its tracks when I bought a Woo WA5. It took control of every headphone I own (Senheiser 800, Focal Utopia, etc.). The power, nuance and dynamics as well as rhythm an pace is incredible., 

My McIntosh MC462 amp matches well with my Backert Labs Rhythm preamp and Focal Sopra 2 speakers. 

@ghdprentice 

I've only owned a few headphone amps and stupidly sold one of the best. All my amps have been custom modified by Igor Kuznetsoff of the New Jersey Audio Society, who does great dynamics, high-end extension, musical detail, and other things.

The one I sold was a modified Woo WA6SE. It was good but I wanted to downsize. Now my main amp broke. I decided I want to get an unmodified amp so it's easier to have someone repair it. I have a Woo WA7 + tp here right now and the sound is indeed dynamics and extended. Only problem is that it's rough and high noise floor, which I attribute to the DAC being literally inside the amplifier case spewing RFI.

Good news is a friend is going to give me an (unmodified) Woo WA6SE, so I'll get a chance to try that again.

It seems unlikely I'll ever be happy with the McIntosh. The dynamics and texture delineation are as flat as a pancake.

@ghdprentice Note I'm using a Gustard R26 DAC and the amp only section of the WA7, I'm just saying as far as I know the DAC inside the amp is generating radio frequencies.

I have had MC 501s driving 3.6 Maggies via a C220 tube pre amp for almost 10 years.  I traded gear all the time prior to discovering this combination.  It is all about synergy among your components IMHO.

Everyone has their own journey, as well as taste in sound and primary genre of music.  My path works for me and I love skilled musicianship that shines in the detail I find in my setup.  Eva Cassidy, Dave Brubeck and Duane Allman all get plenty of play in my listening room.