sorry to sound dim, but i don't know what a "200 speaker connection" is. i was going to hook up one pair with banana plugs and the other with spades. i have used a similar set up on other amps in the past, and it is not difficult to make both fit on one speaker binding post. i'm less concerned about how to hook up the cables, but more concerned about if this is safe for the amp and the speakers. |
aball...
the 803's are an 8ohm / 90 db speaker, which means they are fairly easy for an amp to drive. the totem mani2 is a 4 ohm / 85 db speaker, which means that it is going to be MUCH more difficult to drive. i'm not much of a techie, but i believe that my speaker would be about 3x more difficult for an amp to drive than the 803's.
if i'm way off base, someone please correct me! |
my room is about 12' x 14' - not very big at all. there are not any large doorways or openings in the room. i normally do not listen at very loud levels.
the more research i do, and the more a talk to people with experience, it is becoming clear that i should go with the 402. i just have to scare up another $1000 or so, which i should be able to do. |
ladies and gentlemen...
i just bought my brand new McIntosh C2200 vacuum tube pre-amp and MC252 power amp. i'm very comfortable with my choice, as i have done a lot of auditioning in the last week or so, and i am not convinced that i need all the power that the 402 provides. the other deciding factor was simply the size of the 402, which would have forced me to get a new equipment rack. along with the $1200 or so price difference between the two amps, i would have been looking at another $700 or so in costs associated with having to reposition my whole system.
i love my totem mani2 sig's, and i love my musical fidelity tri vista SACD player. i would never part with either of them. now i believe that i have a pre-amp and power amp that i can also live with for the long haul.
thanks for all your input - it is much appreciated! |
i did all my auditioning at two different stores - one store had the 402 out on the floor with the 2200, and the other had the 252 with the 2200. i never got to do a direct comparison, but i'm not sure that i could even tell the difference between the two. both systems sounded great to me - tight controlled bass, liquid mids and smooth treble. it did seem that the 402 produced more powerful bass, but i don't know if that would really be an advantage considering my moderate size listening space, and the fact that my mani2's already put out some serious low end.
i suppose that part of my desire to get the 402 was its elite status and very favorable reviews - especially in TAS. but when push came to shove, i don't think that i found enough difference between the two to justify all the additional expense of the 402. i suppose that if $ were not an issue, i would have stepped up to the plate and bought the 402, but as things stand i am very pleased with my choice. |
my MF tri vista sacd player only has single ended outputs, which i am running into the c2200. is there any point to my using the balanced connections to hook the pre amp up to the power amp, if i'm using an unbalanced connection from the cd to the pre amp? |
i have also heard good things about Audio Classics, and even spoke with someone from there on the phone about a year or so ago. i almost bought a 352 on the 'gon from a guy who got it at Audio Classics, but i had second thoughts about buying something that was coming to me 3rd hand. i found a McIntosh dealer who sold me my gear at a pretty hefty discount, and i'm more confortable with having something that is covered by the manufacturers warranty - even if it cost me a couple grand more, and i got stuck paying sales tax!
i told a bit of a half truth yesterday. although i have paid for my new gear, i'm not picking it up until tomorrow. i just called the dealer, and they have one brand new 402 in stock. there is a good chance that i may pony up the extra $1000, and buy the 402. i have done a lot of gear swapping over the years, and i really want to have items that i can live with for a long time. if i don't step up to the 402, it might very well end up costing me even more in the long run if i switch gear again in 18 months. i'm going to make up my mind before i pick up the stuff tomorrow afternoon, and i'll give an update when everything is sorted out.
i'm really surprise by the ammount of interest in this thread. it's nice to know that there are people who are willing to offer so much support! it is greatly appreciated. |
rontube...
you pretty much summed up all my feelings. "i always would have wondered..."
i want to get a system over which i will not have any regrets. in fact, about 1 hour after my last posting here, i called the dealer and told him when i come to pick up my stuff tomorrow i want the 402! it is a done deal. but the damn thing won't fit in my rack, so i'm gonna have to run out a get myself and amp stand. you know... it just occured to me that the c2200 pre-amp might not fit in my rack either, as i believe it is also 20" deep.
Q man...
my dealer seemed to have a lot of wiggle room on these products. i got the 402 for $4150, and the C2200 for $3450. both a brand new and have a full warranty. i think that is a pretty good deal. |
after 24 hours of constant playing, some interesting things are starting to happen with my new pre amp and power amp.
for one thing, i am clearly hearing details in the music that i never heard before - even on recordings that i have heard MANY times. this level of resolution and detail is, at times, remarkable.
the soundstage has opened up to a degree that is astounding. with my old amp (MF Tri-Vista integrated), there was a very tight central image, about 3' wide. it was like a bullseye hanging right between my speakers. there was not much depth to it at all. now there is a "cloud" of sound that is about 7' wide, and has depth to it. at times it feels like i could walk right into it. and the soundstage now extends to the extreme right and left - outside the speakers. it used to be only right between the speakers.
i love my totem mani2 signature speakers. the only knock against them would have been that they could be a bit bright at times. that brightness is gone, and the treble is sweet and smooth. no trace of glare at all
bass performance is awesome. truly DEEP base, from a monitor size speaker with no sub-woofer!
i have to figure that things are only going to get better over the next 75 hours of use. other than the fact that i am now completely broke, i have nothing but excitement about my new system. it is exactly what i have aspired to for several years now.
i will leave further updates over the next couple days. |
