McIntosh MA8950 Upgrade to MA12000?

My Dad has a 8950.  It's a great amp no doubt.   50% more power and tube preamp stage?  Yes please.   

For the cost of the MA12000 I’d seriously consider the MC462 and the C2800 for not too much more money.  Or just get monoblocks  and get the MC611 with the C2800.  If cost is an issue then you could use the 8950 pre with either the 462 or 611 and replace it with the C2800 when you can.  I dont know how far above the cost of the MA12000 your budget goes, but unless space is an issue or you just like the convenience of a one box solution, if you want to future proof your system power wise I’d go for separates.  As far as noticing a difference, from what I understand, yes you would, particularly with separates.  I have an 8900 so I can’t speak from experience of ownership wrt separates but I’ve heard Mc systems and read enough to make me believe you certainly would hear the difference.

FWIW I have heard the MA 12000 multiple times(4 or 5) with different Sonus Faber speakers and the results were outstanding. Whether or not the synergy(Wilson) would equal SF is unknown to me. The idea of the 462 amp is another option but I would mate it with the C 22 the extra power won’t hurt but the SQ could be a sideways move. What the MA 12000 offers is an outstanding organic flow(non mechanical) that is very difficult to achieve with any SS gear. The added bonus is not needing another quality Power Cord or IC. IMO the MA 12000 is the "Star" component in the entire McIntosh line.

I run my wilson audio maxx with mcintosh 12000 tube preamp into  the 1.2kw mono  and I like it. Some audiophile don't like macintosh and wilson combo. I've rotated hegel h30a monoblocks,bryston 28 b3, michi m8, ps bhk 600, ps 1200 and others. Always go back to macintosh.american made with great customer service.would be nice if had brick and morter close by to let you listen.i like monoblocks due to higher ability to handle transients. Enjoy the search.

The MA-12000 isn’t cheap, but it’s next best to what I consider the best McIntosh system to be…a C-2800 and pair of MC-3500 Mk2s. $15K vs $39K.  

I own the MA12000. I like it a lot! Of course separates are perhaps a touch better, but only when connected with $$$ interconnects. I previously owned NAD separates, two amps, a preamp and of course my source. That is a lot of power cords and interconnects. I went with the integrated, because I reasoned I could now purchase just two power cords, ( source and MA12000) and just one interconnect. This freed me up to buy the top of the line in wires. One and done.

Thanks for all the opinions. I tested a few amps when i

bought the MA8950 2 years ago. To my ear, the McIntosh with Transparent cables was superior. D Augustino sounded great but out of my price range and not necessarily better to my ear. I have a celebratory event soon and thought to spoil myself perhaps with the MA12000. Especially if Mc does a trade in trade up this year. 
 

I have a lot of love for this magnificent, heavy bastard.  It runs remarkably cool, has classic Mac looks, and grips speakers like few others can.  I replaced the stock tubes, but didn’t think there was much improvement.  Don’t waste money there.  If you’re looking to go integrated, I don’t think you can go wrong with the 12000.  And, they won’t make it forever, so there’s some potential for collectibility.  Meantime, sit back and enjoy the hell out of listening to it, looking at it, turning the lights down and looking at it some more.

I have had my Mc12000 for three years....it is fantastic...does everything well & most exceptionally well. As an integrated feel it gives nothing away compared to separates.  The tube preamp combined with the ss backend could not have been engineered better. It really is a complete package. I have tinkered around with it ...got a great deal on a PS Audio phono stage...after a A/B listening comparison at home felt the Mc12000 phono was at the same level or better than the separate stage. Even the HDMI thru the DA2 makes basic youtube music sound great! I have been streaming with a basic setup until last week thru the D2 module using a Bluesound 1st gen Node which sounded good. But I wanted an "end-game" streaming/digital set up to go with my analog side & Mc12000...went all in and got a Berkley Audio DAC with a Aurender N20 streamer. I thought the D2 board was good but the new digital path is a entirely different level. The best part about the D2 on the MC12000 is that the next gen D3 will be an easy DYI and at a reasonable cost. The Mc12000 is built for the long haul and likely passed down to my kids.  The only real downside = it is a two person lift….very heavy! 

When the Mc12000 first came out Audio Excellence Canada did a great review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUKz4gXJwKc