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Seasoned Mcintosh Fans lend me your ears & advise

Hi All,
I guess I have become a Mcintosh Fanatic. It's all I think about of late, besides being with My Family, eating, and sex. My first listen to Mcintosh gear was when I was auditioning some Paradigm speakers at my dealer, about 1.5 years ago. The combo was the (now discontinued) Mc122 amp + Mc C-15 Pre + Sony Es Cd player + Mini Monitors. The Cd I Brought was Paul McCartney's (All My Best). This was the best music I'd ever heard (that type of playback that sings to the soul). Possibly all I ever need.

**My Current Rig: Rotel RB 976 amp, Parasound 850 pre, Cambridge Audio D500SE CD, Klipsch RF-3II's & Paradigm Mini's speakers. (Can't equal that type of playback thus far)

**Questions: (1) Do all "Mac amps" have a signature sound(70's models *250-MC2105 vs Updated *7100-MC162)? (2)Is the sound I heard mainly in the amp alone or will I also need to get the C-15? (3)If you guys had to have Mac's and on limited budget which would you consider?

I'd love to have one of their intergrated's (6500\6900). But, They are way over My budget.

Thanx for any comments,
J
jalen01

Showing 3 responses by fyneplace

fyneplace
40 posts
 
I bought my first Macs in 1970 (C26, MC2505 and MR73). They are currently used by a relative and they look and sound as good as the day they came out of the box. To this day I still use Mac stuff and have yet to find a unit I didn't like. This includes an integrated MA6100 (still going strong) and others too numerous to mention. The quality is first-rate. As long as you are careful (e.g. item not dropped from a plane), you should be satisfied with any of the older models. And don't forget to check out the preamp/tuner MX combos.
Well, you get the idea!
Happy listening.
Jeff
fyneplace
40 posts
 
Jalen:
You asked about the 6100 specifically.
The 6100 was as good as the C26/MC2505 combo. I sold the 6100 to my brother-in-law about 10 years ago and it also is as good as day 1. He is using CD's and vinyl with a preference for vinyl. He is driving McIntosh (what else?) XR6 speakers. I used it on a variety of speakers. Bass was fine but perhaps not quite as "tight"as others - but pretty darn close. The sound (as with most Mac amps) could be described as "tube-like". I found all Mac amps really to be quite "neutral" in the sense that they did not impart their own sonic signature to the music. They do not have the harshness or brittleness which I have found with some other SS amps.
Hope this helps you out.
Jeff
fyneplace
40 posts
 
Sal:

Bingo! You hit the nail on the head. I have been a Mac fan since 1970. In the LONG RUN, nothing else comes close.

Jeff
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