McIntosh MA352 replacement

What you need is a subwoofer I’d you don’t have one @kvpower 

This video is as exhaustive about the LS50 Meta as it can be and you’d learn a thing or two - LS50 Meta Review

Have you tried better tubes?
 It is doubtful the stock tubes are anything but the least expensive tubes Mac could source..
 I would try a set of Genelex Gold Lions for new production or maybe a matched & balanced set of NOS Mullards..
 I also wonder are the Acoustics of your listening room treated to allow imaging & staging to bloom as it should instead of being cancelled out by reflections & reverb?

As stated above, I’d look at the room and speaker setup first.  After that, I’d explore the tubes.  I thought I read somewhere that McIntosh uses re-branded JJ’s that are OEM’d for them.  If so, JJ’s are usually fine, in my experience.  But there are others out there that can be fantastic comparatively. 

If you do decide to look at other integrateds, what would your budget be?

Thank you all for your responses.

No room treatment.
Bass is great no need for sub. Thank you the video link.

What would be my gain on the Gold Lion tubes?

budget for a new integrated would be around 5K.

According to the youtube video , soundstage is fine  5 minutes 40 seconds

What a beautyfull gear !!!

https://youtu.be/JAgHdDtdU_g?feature=shared

@kvpower 

The best advice you received here is to get a sub, better yet, get two! You have dismissed that. The LS 50s are stellar, but a sub(s) will knock them out of the park far more than better tubes. Subs are not just for bass output. 

@jeffreyw I tried. I guess their mind is already made up even before this post.

@kvpower IMHO I would do a Gold Lion tube roll first. It's a couple of hundred $$s. If that works it will save you big bucks and you get to hang on to the Mac. If it doesn't you can resell the tubes. My bet is you will hear a significant improvement. Good luck to you.

Without maximizing speaker placement and room treatment, swapping the amp will achieve minimal (or worse) performance improvement. The multiple suggestions for stereo subwoofers is also spot on. It’s about way more than just low end. 

I appreciate all your input. I ordered 2 KC62 subs already. I’m also ordering the tubes, I'm curious to see what they will do. Thank you all.

@kvpower getting those KEFs is a great move. They are tiny and easy to place yet go down to an astonishing 14 Hz, I think.

(I am myself a KC92 owner. A fantastic sub, but a tad larger than the KC62.)

And as other people have mentioned it is not only about adding the lowest frequencies but to fill out the entire bass range throughout the room. 

Just make sure to don’t make the common mistake and place them next to each main speaker but diagonally in the room as much as you’re able, for that very reason of avoiding bass nulls and peaks you inevitably will get if the bass only emanates from the main speakers location. 

Thank you bl.

@kvpower Wrote:

McIntosh MA352 replacement

Check out Vinnie Rossi L2i SE Integrated Amplifier with PHONO stage and DAC see here and here. 

Mike

I have the Mac 353 which might be out of your price range. I put in some PSVANE Horizon tubes and I concluded these are the tubes that should have come with the amp. Tried gold lion and they were not as good. The Psvane and better bass and clarity. If you were thinking Solid state I highly recommend Hegal which I also own. Believe it or not the LS50 loves current. I own a set of those too. You can get the PSVANE Horizon from amazon and if they don’t work out for you, they can be returned. 

@kvpower 

Most any amp you pick in the $5K range will be a sideways move at best.  However there are many things you can do to improve sound stage. 

For the amp- go to Brent Jessee audio tubes and contact him for some NOS Amperex 12AX7 and 12AT7 tubes and replace the stock garbage that came with the amp.  Amperex tubes are not cheap but the sound stage improvement is impressive.  Brent should be able to give you some decently priced deals. 

Sound stage is mostly defined by speaker and listener position withing the room. 

Make sure your stands for the LS50 are no higher than 24 inches.  KEF designed your speakers to have a rising response directly on axis and if your tweeters are ear level you are receiving too much treble.  Lower them so the tweeters are below ear level. 

Experiment with distance from walls - give them room to breathe by moving them into the room 3 feet or so if possible which will improve sound stage depth.  

Also if your listening spot is up against the wall you will be hearing too much reflected sound of all frequencies.  Try moving your spot at least 2 feet from the wall behind you. 

Lastly how many hours on your amp and speakers?  Give each at least 200 hours to sound their best.   

Call him and this can be had for less. EBay takes 13%. it’s a moster of an integrated