Which solid state power house: Naim NAP 500DR or McIntosh MC611?


All else equal, which would you buy?
jeredh
@jeredh 

I've heard the Wilson Sasha series 2 paired with all Audio Research Reference series gears in a very well treated room and thought they sounded fantastic together. I've also heard the Wilson Alexx, which is way better than the Sasha 2 and they should be considering the price difference between the two, paired with 2 pairs of Dan D'Agostino Momentum M400 monoblock amps + D'Agostino Momentum linestage preamp + DCS Vivaldi full four stacks served as digital front end source components and they performed fantastic together. The listening room was very well treated. The Wilson Audio speakers usually pair really well with D'Agostino amps as well as Audio Research. I've never heard the Wilson paired with McIntosh gears before so can't comment.

Sonus Faber seem to pair really well with both McIntosh and Audio Research gears. I have heard various different models of Sonus Faber speakers paired with either Audio Research and McIntosh amps before and they sounded great together. They also pair well with some Soulution & CH Precision gears. 

Naim 500DR with a Naim n272/555 streamer. These feed a pair of Focal Scala V2.  Purchased them from another audiogon user and I am really happy.  Last week I  added my first phase of room treatments (Vicoustic Flexiwave).  So far, so good!
This business about system synergy is distressing to me. There are amplifiers that can drive anything including a dead short and there are amplifiers that are limited to easy loads. This all depends on the speakers. If you have speakers that are an easy load and you like the sound of a fragile amplifier wonderful. Everything else just depends on what you like sonically and aesthetically. It has nothing to do with synergy. If you are trying to compensate for a deficiency in one piece with an exaggeration in another you are putting yourself farther behind the 8 ball. Sometimes you have to compromise because of financial considerations. Most of us have to do that to some degree. But compromise as little as possible. Just because a piece of equipment is cheap does not mean it is the right piece to buy. Both amps you are talking about I would not buy under any circumstance. There are many better amps to be had. Patience is a virtue.