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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? 
128x128cydrone
phantom_av's avatar
phantom_av
320 posts
 

Not a Mc Fan here either, just never could like them no matter how much i tried too. They do have good resale value which i feel this is a plus bonus point.

bwguy's avatar
bwguy
216 posts
 

@phantom_av  

Curious which McIntosh models you listened to.

phantom_av's avatar
phantom_av
320 posts
 

Their Glory days were back in history---The brand image is so strong people will over look SQ for Meters, dials and resale value.

avanti1960
1,409 posts
 

As people have mentioned a great sounding system relies on system synergy. 

I have heard Mac source and amplification sound uninspiring and even atrocious paired with GoldenEar and Sonus Faber speakers.  

I have also heard it sound about as good as sound can get with Magico speakers.  Also really nice with B&W diamond series speakers.  A to die for system with their recent cook top hybrid integrated amps and Klipsch heritage, especially the Fortes.  

Also their amplifiers can sound better when matched with non Mac preamps.  

Again, best of the best when matched up correctly- and they eliminate something that many reasonably priced solid state amplifiers struggle with- grain and sibilance.  The Macs have zero of either.    

steve59's avatar
steve59
1,654 posts
 

In the current market Mcintosh is a bargain. The Mc611’s really brought my KEF Blades to life 

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