It all started 6 months ago

[allEars]

Truth.


OP, I'm interested in knowing what your budget wound up being, also. Even on audiogon, the cheapest I’ve seen that amp is around $3500.
What exactly are you using the preamp for? Could you not tap straight into the amp?

Hi Erin, the amp doesn't have volume control. The knobs in the front are the on/off switch and the lights for the DB meters.

It's amazing what a single audio purchase can do to a person. I can only imagine that it's like that first hit of crack - you just can't stop!

I hadn't made a significant audio purchase for about 15 years. Then, about two years ago, I tried to find a replacement tweeter for one of my Sound Dynamics 200Ti's.

Now, about $8000 later....

Couldn't agree more... once you start it's very difficult to stop

You can afford Rotel but maybe not McIntosh

Freakin' sweet system. Looks like what my dealer tried to push on me. Are you from Texas?

White north here... gives me something to do until the snow is gone.

 

[adk highlander]

Beautiful Setup. That is a 2-channels system I could live with.

Nice pics as well.

 

[ErinH]

Hi Erin, the amp doesn't have volume control. The knobs in the front are the on/off switch and the lights for the DB meters.

Oh, k. Now I got you.

Thanks for the info.




Care to share how you arrived with the mc setup? Did you order online or purchase locally? I'm just curious what took you from a low budget setup to the very high end mc. Did you see the blue/green lights and fall in love? I know I did.

 

[allEars]

Oh, k. Now I got you.

Thanks for the info.




Care to share how you arrived with the mc setup? Did you order online or purchase locally? I'm just curious what took you from a low budget setup to the very high end mc. Did you see the blue/green lights and fall in love? I know I did.

The original plan was to replace the home theater's front speaker hence the original $400.00 budget. That all changed when I auditioned the Paradigm Studio speakers at a local dealer.
The Mac was 100% my wife's fault ; her dad was into HIFI music in the mid 70's. As a young kid she fondly remembered waking up on Sunday mornings to music coming from a Mac1700. When we started looking into setting up a second system exclusively for music she suggested (several times) that we look at McIntosh. At that time, I wasn't familiar with the brand and wasn’t even sure it was still around. A search on the net listed 3 dealers in the area. I tested the brand at all 3 locations and was honestly not impressed with the results. At the end of August, while in Indianapolis for the MotoGP grand prix, we decided to visit the local McIntosh dealer; their system was very impressive - sounded amazing and the sales person was very helpful. We spent over an hour there and when we left the store we knew Mac was it for us.
I started looking for used equipment. Price was very important but condition and features was the main deciding factors. I got lucky and located the processor in a local neighborhood; the previous owner bought it new but never used it (long story). The main unit is an HT processor but the stereo analog board is the same one which can be found used in the C46 stereo processor. I figured for the price, I was getting a great stereo processor with additional features which I might use in the future. The amp came from NY state; these amps are very expensive here and people are not willing to sell them used at a 50% lost.
The turntable was the latest addition. It just looks cool

 

[Adam]

Your system makes all the ones that I dream about look like Bose wannabes.

 

[jamie2112]

Very nice setup you have there.How did you manage to get all the Macintosh gear for $400?LOL nice job...

 

[croseiv]

Very impressive. The McIntosh stuff is very cool. I think your budget was just a little more than $400.

 

[MatthewB.]

Great Googily Moogily, all that in six months, after looking at your pics, I think I need a wetnap to clean myself.

If you really want to take that system to the next level, do a search under acoustical treatments and you will be all smiles with the final results.

 

[ErinH]

The Mac was 100% my wife's fault

I need that kind of wife!

people are not willing to sell them used at a 50% lost.

Definately not. Mcintosh is still supported by the original company, which means you still have repair outlets from the mfg. That's great. Secondly, the name itself is well known throughout audio circles. Resale value on mcintosh is very high. As I mentioned earlier, even used mcintosh gear holds its value exceptionally well from what I've seen.

A search on the net listed 3 dealers in the area. I tested the brand at all 3 locations and was honestly not impressed with the results. At the end of August, while in Indianapolis for the MotoGP grand prix, we decided to visit the local McIntosh dealer; their system was very impressive - sounded amazing and the sales person was very helpful. We spent over an hour there and when we left the store we knew Mac was it for us.

What do you think it was that changed your mind about mcintosh?
Quite honestly, if you were unimpressed initially, I find it odd that you still managed to fork over the coin to make the purchase. Was the gear you auditioned the same or different (amp, pre/pro)?
I'm just curious, man. Hope my questions aren't annoying. The bolded statement above caught me off guard.

 

[Ito]

You just reminded me of one of the reasons I am going to college...so one day I can have a badass setup like this! Looks freakin amazing!

 

[allEars]

I need that kind of wife!

What do you think it was that changed your mind about mcintosh?
Quite honestly, if you were unimpressed initially, I find it odd that you still managed to fork over the coin to make the purchase. Was the gear you auditioned the same or different (amp, pre/pro)?
I'm just curious, man. Hope my questions aren't annoying. The bolded statement above caught me off guard.

I didn't purchased the 1st piece until after the Audition in Indianapolis. In that case, the room was setup to maximize the equipment, including room treatments and a staff member that knew the equipment very well. The other stores didn't seem to put anytime into setup. In one store, the sales person couldn't figure out how to put the unit in "Pure" stereo mode.
We kept checking out different Mac stores at the wife's request. We are now looking into CD/Media center to finish it up. I am not in a hurry though.

 

[BudgetHT]

WOW.

 

[allEars]

Well, I am officially done for awhile.
After all the upgrades, the speakers were lagging behind. It was time to replace them. I replaced them with the magnepan 1.6 and it made a big difference.
The CD/DVD player also need to be replaced. I was using a HD-DVD player that took 1 minute to start up and always sounded flat when the disked weren't getting stuck.
I got a used CD-player from Audiogon and I am done.
Very pleased with the overall sound of the system. Thank you all for your comments.

 

[Adam]

It was nice before, but ...DAMN!

Those speakers really bring it over the top. What a fantastic set-up. Great job!!!

 

[billy p]

Pfft...and that took you 6 months....
Congrats, Bill...

 

[dkane360]

wow that looks really nice...

....so if you have those paradigms laying around....

 

[Quickley17]

Totally awesome.

 

[livinfast]

Love your setup, the paradigm's must sound sweet!!!!