Mcintosh Vs Proceed

I am going to buy a Proceed HPA2. Their equipment is top notch. I already own their AVP audio/video processor, and have auditioned the AMP5 5 channel amp. It was excellent. They incorporate a lot of Mark Levinson technology in their amps and preamps. As soon as I get enough cash scrapped together I plan to order one.

I have listened to many systems in the last few years thanks to an obsession I have developed for audio equipment (and being an electronics engineer is part of it). Just a few months ago I was in Texas for business and went to Marvin's electronics in Ft. Worth and auditioned at length a Proceed setup and a Mcintosh setup. The Proceed was the HPA3 and AVP preamp. The Mc was the MC352 and C42 preamp. They were both playing on Paradigm Reference 100 speakers (which I own). The Mcintosh was clearer and more full than the Proceed; it was so "musically ethereal" and just seemed effortless (perhaps the more power) that I listened for 20 minutes as if in a trance. The store assistant manager was auditining them for me and he agreed (as does the store owner who owns all Mc gear) that Mc is just better and more reliable. Proceed's reliability has been questioned by friends of mine who used to own their equip (cd player especially). I will say however that Proceed's sound quality was not THAT much poorer than Mc's. I used to not be a Mcintosh man (some family members are and one has used the same amp and pre for 25 years with NO problems!) but after auditioning many systems (business trips are good for that) I feel Mc is very underestimated among some audiophile circles, possibly due to Mc's humble marketing campaign (they don't need one obviously - they know what they are capable of).
I now own the Mc352 and C712 and LOVE them. I think they just look fantastic and the sound...! Timeless.

Unlike "Perfectimage" I listened to both of these and I can tell you with no heresay, I liked the McIntosh best - check both out and see for yourself.
Arthur

McIntosh MC-352.

I own the MC-352 and it is an excellent amplifier. Truly a difficult amplifier to beat, plays at any load, musical, quiet, and pack substanial punch. Very refined.

Although is it 'rated' at 350, House of Music in SF has done several tests indicating it is more in the 437 range.
Not to mention, peaks at 1,200, or pinned at 1,200 x 2 with no real harsh sounds or damage.

For those unfamiliar with McIntosh, it is not spelled like the computer company, Apple Macintosh.

Good luck, and give the MC-352 its chance in the spotlight.

Dan

They're both good products, you are the only judge for what qualities you will find pleasing. Some years ago I owned a McIntosh 2205 and loved its power and its looks, not to mention it was built like a tank. My opinion is that you really wouldn't be making a mistake with either McIntosh or Proceed.

I live in Ft. Worth, and visit Marvin's Electronics on a monthly basis (many of my friends work there). I cannot remember the Mac equipment numbers, but it was a home theater setup of Mac vs. Proceed, with B&W 801's for the front and 805's for rears (nautilus center). On the Mac side, the 801's were driven with a 600 wpc stereo amp, and the rears and center with a 5 channel amp (the rears were bi-amped). The Proceed side was the AVP, with HPA2 and HPA3 powering the speakers. Both ran with a Proceed DVD transport. By FAR, the proceed trumped the Macs in almost every category. More visceral, more lifelike, more palpable. I like Mac gear (been ogling over Marvin's Mac MC2000 for years), but it doesn't really shine vs. the proceed. After listening to The Eagles "Hell Freezes Over" DVD (DTS of course!) on the Proceed equipment, I would quickly become disinterested in the Mac stuff. Now Mr. Shuster (any one of them...the store is co-owned by three generations of Shusters) would DEFINTELY try to put you into the Mac stuff in that store (cuz he's got it), but I think that they really cozy up to the Mac distributor at that store (same with Gray's power Company...which I hate). But don't listen to me, this is all IMHO. Listen to both and judge. You'll be pleasantly surprised.