Which Mcintosh amp for 805S can you guys recommend??

[jjahshik32]

I'm very interested in mcintosh amps and wanting to know what would be best to power my 805S + htm4.

I'm looking at a mcintosh 402 and I'd like to upgrade in the future with the 803D. Anyone think the mc402 would be good especially used with a yamaha v861 for 5.1 ht?

[jericho]

Go for the mc-252
The 402 is too powerfull for 805S

[scanido]

I agree, the MC402 is too much amp for that speaker. I would assume you will be setting the 805S to SMALL, in combination with a sub, which does not need much more power over a MC252 since you will be using a high pass filter.

[jjahshik32]

Thanks guys, what about a 803S with the mc252?

[Dmm53]

If you are asking about the 803S, more than enough. If you are asking about the 803D, not nearly. I would suggest the 402 or the 501 monos.

[jjahshik32]

Is the mc252 only a 2 channel amp? What would be the best amp from mcintosh for a 5.1? Maybe the mc205? I want at least the 805S and htm4 to be fully powered by the mcintosh.

[beden1]

Is the mc252 only a 2 channel amp? What would be the best amp from mcintosh for a 5.1? Maybe the mc205? I want at least the 805S and htm4 to be fully powered by the mcintosh.

Why don't you do like the rest of us do when contemplating an upgrade, and do some research on your own. Go to the McIntosh web site and see what they offer in products. Read reviews from pros and owners of the products. The Internet offers a tremendous amount of resources for doing your own research for questions like: "is the MC252 only a 2 channel amp"!

[jjahshik32]

Why don't you do like the rest of us do when contemplating an upgrade, and do some research on your own. Go to the McIntosh web site and see what they offer in products. Read reviews from pros and owners of the products. The Internet offers a tremendous amount of resources for doing your own research for questions like: "is the MC252 only a 2 channel amp"!

just did some researching on the mc252 and seems like it would be the best way to power my 805S. But I need to power the htm4 as well and I think the mc205 would be better.

[htsteve]

just did some researching on the mc252 and seems like it would be the best way to power my 805S. But I need to power the htm4 as well and I think the mc205 would be better.

jjahshik32,

I would second the MC205. I have the MC205 (and the MX120 pre amp) driving 802D's, HTM2D and N804's in a 5.1 setup. My room is small to medium in size. The Mac drives my speakers with ease and it sounds outstanding ;x( . I have no doubt it would make the HTM4 and 805's sing. The MC205 will also drive future 803D's when you get around to that move.

Hopefully you have a dealer that will allow you to demo the amp at home. Be forewarned, it's a heavy and big amp.

Hope this helps.

[jjahshik32]

jjahshik32,

I would second the MC205. I have the MC205 (and the MX120 pre amp) driving 802D's, HTM2D and N804's in a 5.1 setup. My room is small to medium in size. The Mac drives my speakers with ease and it sounds outstanding ;x( . I have no doubt it would make the HTM4 and 805's sing. The MC205 will also drive future 803D's when you get around to that move.

Hopefully you have a dealer that will allow you to demo the amp at home. Be forewarned, it's a heavy and big amp.

Hope this helps.

Yes it helped alot thanks!! Wow it drives all of those with just the mc205! Nice!! :T

[beden1]

Yes it helped alot thanks!! Wow it drives all of those with just the mc205! Nice!! :T

No, the MC205 would only drive 2 speakers as it is a 2 channel amp.

[jjahshik32]

No, the MC205 would only drive 2 speakers as it is a 2 channel amp.

Oh.. hmm I swore it was a 5 channel amp. :E

[beden1]

Oh.. hmm I swore it was a 5 channel amp. :E

You're right, it is a 5 channel amp. Sorry for the confusion.

[jjahshik32]

You're right, it is a 5 channel amp. Sorry for the confusion.

No harm done! I think that after I sell the 805S + HTM4 I will opt for the 2 channel mcintosh 252! :T

Thanks guys!

[htsteve]

No harm done! I think that after I sell the 805S + HTM4 I will opt for the 2 channel mcintosh 252! :T

Thanks guys!

jjahshik32,

Are you planning to get the MC205 now, and then get larger speakers and the MC252 later? A good plan. You will love the B&W and McIntosh pairing.
You might also consider doing that upgrade in stages. Instead of say 803D's and the MC252, you might consider the 802D's. They are really awesome. And the MC205 will drive them very nicely. Then later, you can consider the 252 or even a 402.

Hope this helps.

[jjahshik32]

jjahshik32,

Are you planning to get the MC205 now, and then get larger speakers and the MC252 later? A good plan. You will love the B&W and McIntosh pairing.
You might also consider doing that upgrade in stages. Instead of say 803D's and the MC252, you might consider the 802D's. They are really awesome. And the MC205 will drive them very nicely. Then later, you can consider the 252 or even a 402.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the advice! Actually this is what I've decided to do. I'm going to stick with my 805S for a while and add a inexpensive sub best bang for the buck kind of deal. Then a year down the road I'll be looking in to adding the mc402 amp!

So that I'll be good in the amp department for a decade! Then 5-7 years down the road or if I feel the 805S + subs are lacking i'll think about the 803D or 802D! :T Finally I feel good about my future upgrades.

And I do agree mcintosh with b&w are a match made in heaven!

Thanks alot guys for all the advice!

[jjahshik32]

you know after reading alot about the mcintosh amp seems to me the sweet spot is the mc252 for $$/performance. And when I do upgrade to the 803D/802D it will drive those well too.

But I'm curious on the quad/dual differences on the mcintosh mc252 vs. mc402. I've seen alot of people comment that they actually prefer the mc252 as to the mc402 and that the mc252 sounds closer to even the mc501!

[btf1980]

I've seen alot of people comment that they actually prefer the mc252 as to the mc402 and that the mc252 sounds closer to even the mc501!

Who are those people?

[jjahshik32]

Who are those people?

Some random folks at the audiogon.com forum and Steve hoffman music forums and some guy named Ron C.

[rodH]

Some random folks at the audiogon.com forum and Steve hoffman music forums and some guy named Ron C.

Ron works for MC

[rodH]

jjahshik32,

Are you planning to get the MC205 now, and then get larger speakers and the MC252 later? A good plan. You will love the B&W and McIntosh pairing.
You might also consider doing that upgrade in stages. Instead of say 803D's and the MC252, you might consider the 802D's. They are really awesome. And the MC205 will drive them very nicely. Then later, you can consider the 252 or even a 402.

Hope this helps.

The MC205 (and all multi channel Mc Amps) do NOT use auto-formers. What this means is that you "may" not be getting the characterstic "Mc" sound compared to if you get a Mc amp with AF.

[jjahshik32]

Anyone here have any opinions on the mcintosh ma6500 integrated amp?

[Zoran]

Since you have already declared downgrading from 805S to 600 series in another thread, this one becomes sensless...

[dknightd]

Since you have already declared downgrading from 805S to 600 series in another thread, this one becomes sensless...

It is hard to keep up with this guy, a few days ago he was ready to replace his 805 with 803. I've pretty much given up - no point trying to give a reasoned response to somebody who changes their mind so often. As long as he ends up with something that makes him happy (if that is possible) that is all that matters. For awhile it was entertaining, now it just getting tired ops:
I wish him luck, and happy listening.