is McIntosh known for good dynamics?

@magon Happy it's all working out for you and you enjoyed the review.  Carry on! 

@faustuss thanks, those look like incredible specs. 

Now that I replaced the tubes my MHA200 sounds dynamic. I didn't realize how problematic my custom 12AU7/FET headphone amp was; now I'm enjoying all sorts of less-than-pefect recordings again.

I like blue meters ,I have a few.agree the ss work best with mcintosh 12000 in the tube mode. I do like the Mac house sound.have many different amps.find the synergy because impedance of pre and amp and speaker matter.enjoy the science and the search.

My first high-end system was just A few years ago I chose the Macintosh MA9000 integrated with focal kanta3 speakers, Puritan power conditioner 

Shenyatta Delta speaker cables, I just had to have more and I upgrade it 

I'm glad I did. 

Macintosh has a very warm sound and it is different 

I end up getting a more higher resolution more detail stereo amplifier with preamp 

( Separates) I'm glad I did I'm not saying that the Macintosh sounded bad 

It served me well for almost 2 years I just needed something with more detail and more dynamics.

I have owned McIntosh and I felt my system had wonderful dynamics. And it certainly can present a wonderful listening experience. 

I also feel the house sound has a slight veil - in auditioning alternative options I preferred ‘house sound’ of other manufacturers. 
 

If you can listen to as many systems as you can - we are in the golden era of music reproduction.  And enjoy your journey. 

The question is the clarity and musical impact of the dynamics. Take clarity. In a live classical concert, I can hear them varying their dynamics, even when a little bit. If they get suddenly quiet, the intensity of the passage doesn’t disappear.. it’s just as intense and compelling. If they get suddenly loud, it has startle factor.

@magon I would call that transparency, which is a function of low distortion; the lower the distortion the more transparent the amp. If its not low distortion it has less chance of revealing the nuances in the recording.