Disappointing On Mcintosh......help

3 Months ago I went to NYC and stopped by the WOM and auditioned several MCintosh gear...........and left a bit disappointed or not impressed...then I told myself " lets give a second shot" and went today to a HIFI store and again Good room accoustics10K speakers , MC Preamp , MC Amplifier........ and again the same disappointment I felt 3 month earlier.

Is that the "warm" sound people reffer to about Mcintosh?
The sound is ample, base is powerfull but the the sound is simply not to clear, the hights are not too "crisp" It sounds like the treble is set at 3 and needs to be adjusted at 9 or 10.
It seems like the sound is coming through a thin layer of paper ...that is the way I describe that sound.

Then 20 minutes later I auditioned a Parasound A21+ and a JC5 and the sound was more clear and the highs were crispier

Whats your take on my experience? or That is the MC "warm sound?

cydrone02-01-2020 1:23am

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raysmtb1 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 793 posts 03-22-2022 at 12:02am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete McIntosh is money in the bank! The meters should be green! Seriously, I listen to my money every night a 6pm.
bwguy Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 216 posts 03-22-2022 at 12:24am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I love the post. So many say negative things about McIntosh, but never state the model or related equipment. I also have 611’s and am very happy. I hear clarity like I have never heard before. However, I am going to listen to the track you mentioned. I am sure some McIntosh equipment is better than other McIntosh equipment, but I am keeping my 611’s.
jmeyers Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 124 posts 03-22-2022 at 02:03am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I am fortunate to have a very good system. For the Wicked Games test, I used a Lumin T2 streamer/DAC, Kimber Kable Silver Streak to a Theta Casablanca V preamp/processor, Wireworld Equinox 8 interconnects to the two McIntosh MC 611 power amps, Wireworld Silver Eclipse 8 speakers to Revel Ultima Studios. The power management was, for the components, Shunyata Venom V10 XC power cable to a Shunyata Denali Power Distributor and then Venom 14 to the two components; for the amplifiers, Shunyata Delta XC to a Shunyata Denali 2000/T power distributor and then Venom 10 XCs to the two amplifiers. As good as the 611s are, the signal they got to amplify was very fine, too. If any of the prior "chain" were of lesser quality, the clarity I enjoyed as well as the musicality might have been impaired.
g_nakamoto Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 348 posts 03-22-2022 at 03:16am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @raysmtb1, the wording is in green and the meters are blue! looks good to me!!
oddiofyl Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 3,471 posts 03-22-2022 at 03:28am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I had McIntosh in what I call the "Dark Days" , better known as when Clarion owned them. I had a C15 and 7100 that I bought used. They were in exceptional condition and sounded pretty good. I sold them for 50% more than I paid for them , after enjoying them for 5 years. What can you buy that does that? A Ferrari is the only thing I know of that appreciates like that....... In their darkest hour McIntosh 's entry level stuff was better than most companies top tier and I believe that is still true today. They have improved over the years since Clarion sold them. A lot I was trying to see a C22 in person. Their distributorship is terrible, not a lot of dealers near me. BEST BUY ?????? Are they kidding? That really cheapens the brand in my opinion.. The ones that were within driving distance had none on display. I ended up buying a Zesto Leto, an amazing preamp .....incredible sounding