McIntosh & B&W

[LikeCoiledSteel]

Hi Guys,
I have a chance to pick up an older McIntosh MC7106 amp (circa 1992). My setup is B&W CDM7NT's for fronts, CDMCNT ccenter, and CDM1NT's for surrounds.

They are currently amped as follows
CDM7NT - Krell Kav 250a (250 x 2 Watt)
CDMCNT - Outlaw M200 (200 x 1Watt)
CDM1NT - Adcom 535 (60 x 2 Watts)

I would like to either consolidat into 1 amp of quality for discrete 2 channel and 5.1 HT. I love the control of the Krell but do not think I need that calibre amp for surrounds. The McIntosh MC7106 is a 6 channel 100 watt amp that can also be bridges for 320 watt (8ohm) x 3. 4 x 100 + 320x1. 2x 100 + 320x2. Very flexible.

How many guys use Mac with thier B&W's? I assume it is a warm sound compared to a very neutral Krell sound? I have heard great things about Mac amps an wonder how they compare with Classe, Bryston etc. Would 100 Mcintosh watts compete with 100 Krell, Classe watts?

My other amp options is just to get another Krell 3 channel amp or trade mine in for a 5 channel. Any suggestions?
Thanks, Steel

[jericho]

Hi Steel,

I also use Mac with my new B&W's and a$I compared with Krell, Classé, and Mark and Levinson.Either way you go, you can not go wrong I think.It's a question of taste!!

Jericho

[jim777]

I have the MA6500 with B&W 703's. I think that it is 120W in 8 ohms. Anyway it is loud enough for me!! IMHO B&W & mac are a match made in heaven. It is a perfect match if you want something that sounds "musical" yet detailed. It is a warm sound, with no harsh highs; but don't be wrong the highs & details are still there. Depends if you want to listen to music or to the details

And with power guard, you can use your full 100 Watts without being afraid of clipping.

If that is what you are looking for, you can't go wrong with mac!

[jim777]

McIntosh also manufacture their transformers. The reason an audio company does that is because it is an important part of the amp and they want control over that process.

Next, if he has a deal on an older mac, he won't loose a penny. He can buy it, use it for years, then sell it for a profit :B

And my dealer had only two brands at that time; Rotel and mac. (Now he also has the great Rega brand). I compared both (using the RCD1072 as source) and the mac was an easy winner, not subtle at all. I hope you also compared both yourself, or that you will do yourself that favor

On the other hand, my friends that have Yamaha or Sony receivers are happy with them; so I wonder when is an amp "not perfect" if it has enough power?

[JimTW]

After listening to Rotel, Krell, McIntosh, and Classe equipment, using 805S, 804S,
803S, 803D, 802D, and Nautilus 800 here are my observations according to my own
ears...

Rotel offers good bang for the buck, but does not come close to McIntosh and Classe.
Krell is more punchy, brighter than McIntosh, with Classe being the most laid back
and warm. (As a side note, I found the 803D with McIntosh a little bright for my
ears, as well as the Krell and 803S combo.)

So, really, it boils down to personal taste and the amount of money you're willing to
part with. Personally, I like very laid back sound, and if I wanted bass, I'd just get
a high quality subwoofer.

[jim777]

What about transient response, listener fatigue, etc. No real clear specs for that. The mac wins over the rotel on these items (and others), at ANY volume. I'm not saying that the mac is a little more dynamic or something like that, it sounds better than the rotels and ANY volume. I'll say it again to be clear: the mac sounds better than the rotel even is the mac is player a few dB lower than the rotel.

And the mac won't clip, ever. How about the other amps? How do you know that you are at the max? On the mac, the meters are a good indication and the little power guard lights will tell you that you pushed it to the max and that it is "compressing" the sound (instead of clipping it!). You can press vol- once and voilà.

But I agree that rotel is great value. I'm just saying that the mac too; you really get extra satisfaction (sound and all) for the extra $. Especially a used mac amp - if you don't like it, sell it the price you paid, or more! That is value

[Aussie Geoff]

Guys,

I've created a copy of this thread (all posts intact) in the "Audio Hideout" and dalled it "Do Apmplifers Sound Different?" Go have fun there.

I have also edited this thread down to remove as many of the off topic posts as I could while still remaining some kind of sense!

I don't want to see any more off B&W with McIntosh topic posts in this thread

Geoff

[jim777]

1) We stay on the McIntosh with B&W topic as much as possible.

To clarify my opinion because all is not black and white,

I think (read "IMO") that a mac (or other great electronics I guess) is required for my speakers (703's) or any of the 800 series speakers.

BUT, with my listening experience, I found that the little RA1062 was a great piece of integrated amp, and that it was great with the 603s3, the CM4 (the old model) and not too bad with 704's. This is really great value, I don't know of any integrated amps that can beat Rotel in that price range.

However, the added resolution of the FST speaker requires (IMO) better electronics, because it was my impression that all the added resolution of the 703 compared to the 704 or the CM4 was only giving me more "electronics" sound and not more "musical" sound. Indeed I could hear what sounded very "digital" to me, instead of feeling more musical emotion (which is kind of my indication of SQ - the factor if you want). The mac transformed the resolution added by the 703 into music instead of some kind of "detail" that was not in the music in the first place (because it sounded more like "digital" than like music, and it was adding more fatigue than joy). IMO, I would even say that 703's are a bad choice if "higher-end" electronics are not used, but that's my ears - if you had mine you would have the same opinion LOL

But if LikeCoiledSteel already appreciates the sound of high quality electronics, I do not see why he would want to change them for anything "less". A mac would be at least as good as the amps he already has.

That being said, I repeat, Rotel is great value and it does fine with half of the B&W range, but when you get a better model (especially the FST ones), the electronics make a hell of a difference. And that being said, room acoustics can make even more difference...

[LikeCoiledSteel]

Hi Everyone,
I want to thank everyone for their input. It seems this question has escalated into a larger debate about amps. It was not my intent to ask whether more expensive amps sound better than less expensive ones. Logically they should, financially they better.

Nevertheless the discussion is not a new one but interesting all the same. I personally have used about 6 different brands of amps of different calibers and power ratings over the last few years. IMHO, they all sound different. Some subtle, others night and day. Each has a different sound "flavor", with strengths and weaknesses.

I have heard great things about Mcintosh but have never heard them before. I found a Mac for sale online from another enthusiast and like the flexability of it. I do think Rotel makes very good stuff, but may not be my best solution right now. I always like to upgrade proof my purchases. If I decide to upgrade my speakers in the future, I make sure that whatever amp I have will fit the bill. Hence my Krell. I know that if I upgrade to the 800 series, The Krell will do. Same with the Mac. My other amps would not cut it.

Thank you everyone for your help. I will keep you posted if it goes thru.
Steel