The Cremona, despite its 90db/w/m efficiency rating, really doesn't perform to its potential on the output of the Mac 2102. You should have heard it with the MC402 -- the least McIntosh amp that expresses the synergy between the speaker and Mac gear. Going up the line only improves that match until the combination of MC1201s + Cremonas puts the speaker in another league entirely, cost ratio of amp:speaker be damned. And the Mac quad differential autoformer SS amps do a better job than most very high output PP tube amps, save possibly the top ARC, for less cost.
I can't live with the discontinuity in transient behavior of the ML, between the dynamic woofer and the ES panel.
Tubes can definitely put you in rock & roll bliss with snappier speakers that have much lower power requirements. Tubes, even SET using 845s, or a good PP amp like the Mac 2102, used with Zu Definitions or Zu Druids + Zu Method Sub easily give you rock impact and slam, with sonic definition preserved.
Phil
I can't live with the discontinuity in transient behavior of the ML, between the dynamic woofer and the ES panel.
Tubes can definitely put you in rock & roll bliss with snappier speakers that have much lower power requirements. Tubes, even SET using 845s, or a good PP amp like the Mac 2102, used with Zu Definitions or Zu Druids + Zu Method Sub easily give you rock impact and slam, with sonic definition preserved.
Phil