Why the hate for mcintosh amps?

@sokogear,

”I am curious as to why you don’t list a Porsche.”, interesting that you ask. I have not entirely ruled out obtaining a GT3 in the future.
Real quick story. When I left active duty and picked up a consultation gig in Europe, I did put a downpayment on a GT3, circa 2011. Prior to that, the freaking GT3 was my nemesis at Hockenheim Formula 1 racetrack. I was a hobby race car driver with a Katceh racing modified C5 Z06 Corvette. I had the power, speed, and brakes to be highly competitive with the Turbos, GT3s, M cars, and the only car out of that bunch that played cat and mouse with me was the GT3, and coming from the factory like that, and with Cup tires, they were race ready.

Whereas, I added a slew of race stuff to make my car compete at the track…maybe about 35-40k in stuff. But, it was nearly a 575hp beast with a weight of 3100 pounds and acceleration was phenomenal. I could walk the line, live on the edge, dance the dance of tired screaming as I pushed into turns and twisties against the mighty GT3.


One day at Hockenheim, entering Sachs curve and approaching a GT3 just ahead of me, my rate of speed and my skills finally good enough, and tight factory corvette SCAA T1 race suspension, allowed me to pass the GT3. Well, I did it finally, after hundreds of laps, thousands of dollars.



Back to the GT3 order. I went to Singlefinden to a Diplomatic sales Porsche dealer, and sat in a GT3 and a Turbo, because I put my deposit on a GT3, but never sat in one. Well I was appalled at the seats, bare bones, stripped, and not worthy of a 100k plus car. My M Roadster and M3, had more comfortable seats. Yes, race seats means lack of comfort, but I was a hobby racer not full blown race car racer. So, I canceled the order. To this day, I still want to add a GT3 to the collection because of what they can do from the factory, but they are now way pricier and I could get a used Mclaren 520s, Lambo or Audi R8 for those prices. Due to recent health issues, back surgery (disc replacement on L5), I am reassessing what it means to me to drive a sports car, more comfort, and switching to, well, ahem DCT, argghh, I said it. So, that’s the story.


Back to amps, enjoy whatever you own, life is way to short to fret about what’s best, who is using what, what others think, and what things cost. Live life, said so many times…my favorite saying by Black Sabbath, Die Young, “So live for today Tomorrow never comes”. Once someone has experienced many things, gone out and seen the world, Lived outside the USA for extended years, your view of life and ones perception of things like cars and audio are vastly different than others who are not exposed to such things. For those who have such experiential life experiences, you know what I mean. BTW, Porsches are driven readily as daily drivers in Germany all the time, and M cars are a dime a dozen as well.
Ciao,

Audioquest4life

People hate things all the time. An extreme dislike or disgust of anything can probably be mentioned by anyone for their aversion to whatever. This forum is not indicative or inclusive of the many people who have owned a variety of products and post their impressions here, good or bad. My current amps are MC2301 300 watt tube amps, and by far, they provide me the most satisfying sound in all of the incarnations of amps I have owned or tested over the years. This includes; Bryston, Krell, Burmester, Pass Labs, etc. 

The Burmester amps, albeit, solid state, seem to retain the same models for years, as does McIntosh. The MC2301s came out in 2008…they must be selling enough of these to justify keeping the same amp in production over so many years. I actually lusted for giant Krell amps when I was younger and when I was not yet fully aware of the delicate intricacies of musical qualities that I seek out now. I was always the technical and specifications kind of person who looked at doubling watts, extreme heft with heats sinks,etc. Then, I matured. Lived in Europe 25 years and got a taste of plenty of Euro high end. After experiences and exposure to all of this stuff…I ended up with a McIntosh tube amp. Years ago, In a high end audio salon in Germany, the MC2301s were powering some Sonus Faber speakers with some Burmester amps hooked up to play as well on the same speakers. Interestingly, the German dealer said the MC2301 was at the time, an exotic American amplifier which competes nicely with the Burmesters. He said he would own both, and I agreed. They both sound good, but in different ways. That’s the thing, everyone has different tastes, I don’t necessarily like Krells like I used to, but, they do please some folks just as well as McIntosh pleases others. Just not the “few” who complain here. 
Now, I don’t drive a lambo or live in northern snow country, I drive M cars, Corvettes, and Shelby GT350s. My next car might be a used lambo, new Corvtte C8 Z06 convertible. Does that make me a snob? People in certain crowds would say, that’s all you got? While others would say cool, and that one person, would say, stuck up.  LMFAO at idiot comments insulting people who buy stuff because they can. 

@sokogear,

“So long as it fits in my allotted space for the stereo and the boss doesn’t kick it out of her den, I really don’t care about the look.”

That’s the truth. That is why I have a dedicated listening room, out of the way and out of sight. 

@runwell 

 

I really get your sentiment regarding an amp being able to reproduce that live your are there feeling. I have had my share of SS amps over the years and some Euro tube amps as well. These were all mated to B&W 800s. 

 

When I purchased my McIntosh MC2301s (300 watt tubes) and hooked them up to my B&Ws the sound took a leap forward. Bass was way better and the rest of the sound spectrum was also way better. When I sold the B&W 800s and demoed them with the MC2301s, the buyer thought I had subs turned on as the 2301s were easily able to drive the bass drivers. 
 

But, ignorance is bliss. I did not have this live stage feeling with the B&Ws mated to to the 2301s. After hearing the Classic Audio Loudspeakers T 1.5 reference field coil speakers, 101db efficiency, 16 ohms, 18” downward paper cone deep bass, 15” forward facing paper cone mid bass, beryllium tweeter, and Edgar designed horn, at the Capital Audio Fest, wow, I heard it…the live sound and musician in room or you at close on stage feeling. I had been on a hunt for a few years to replace the B&Ws, and found the sound that you mentioned and that of which I never experienced before.

I now own the Classic Audio  T 1.5 reference speakers. Mated to my MC2301 tube amps, it is well, like listening to a live music event, exhibiting that live you are there sensation.  Recording after recording sounds so much different and much better due to the pairing of these speakers with the McIntosh MC2301 amps that I listen into the late evening and hear my records sound anew. The spatial and acoustic space is so mesmerizing that it seems enchanting to me. To sit back and close your eyes and hear the musician or group in the recording venue or on a stage in your listening room is such an incredible feeling. One, that sadly, many audiophiles never experience to its fullest extent. Myself included with all of my gear over the years. 

Bottom line, this live sound feeling  was achieved due to better speaker amp matching which gave me this live you are or they are there feeling. I have never heard it before on a home stereo and now that I have, it does emulate what I hear at live venues, that is why I get your point. Once you experience that type of sound, you will have a new reference point in terms of music playback. But, I would not categorically stereotype McIntosh as not having the ability to convey this type of live feeling as the 2301s can do that in spades when matched with the Classic Audio T 1.5 reference speakers. Therefore, it seems amps should be matched properly with a speaker in order to play optimally or else, any amp, will sound like it has flabby bass. That’s been my experience after 35 years of listening. 

@runwell 

 

”Are you working with McIntosh”

No, why would I? I will work with a dealer, of my choosing,  if I choose to get the MC3500. 
 

@runwell 

      “Congratulation! I can feel your happiness!  What is  your preamplifier?  The pre in your system must be well matched.”

My preamp is the Octave Jubilee from Germany which costs substantially more than the Mc2301s. I listened to BAT and Audio Research in Europe and they did not persuade me that I was in front of a stage as much as the combination that I have now.

 

Regardless, at this level, it is a matter of taste and listening interpretations, and your interpretation is probably vastly different from many others, as mine is as well. Therefore, we will never come to a 100% Agreement on what the sound we seek and hear is better than what others say. All I can say, is that, I am more than happy and enjoy what I have. Now, going even further, no other amps have persuaded me to stick with the same brand as McIntosh has. Combined with the speakers I don’t need to seek out any other brand amps or am even curious because it is a waste of my time. I am still curious so will not ever experiment if the opportunity presents itself, but I am not going out of my way to make it happen.
 

In fact, I am waiting on test reports of the newly announced MC3500 to see how these new 350 watt plus tube amps compare to the MC2301s. I suggest you stick with what you like and stop brandishing brands as poorly made, when in fact, I can say the same about other speakers and amp combinations. The value is in the execution of the combined equipment and the summation of that equates the outputs, some good or bad, according to certain people. Live and learn.