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Are McIntosh amplifiers worth it?
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It depends...
I disagree.
I really like mine too. 30 years old (MC 7300) and still sounds great... consider cost over the years of enjoyment... seems like a bargain.
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I would say a qualified yes…
-From very good to state of the art performance (MC462)
-Repairable
-Last a long time
-Hold their resale value incredibly well. I purchased a used MC252 for $2500 5 or 6 years ago and was checking and they are going for much more than that. It is rare for electronics to hold their value but if you purchase used, you very likely will not loose anything
-Look nice (subjective if you like the blue meter look)
Cons
Heavy due to most using transformers
I don’t care for the look of the newer ones with the large handles and are very heavy
an specs alone probably not
at a certain point, audio equipment becomes audio jewelry... the engineering behind a lot of McIntosh is cosmetic... I admit the glass front and meters really appeal to many people.
At the same time are they really *that* expensive for what you're getting? I think the MA7200/MAC7200 is a $7,500 usd amp... I dont think that's too much to pay for what is a piece of 'audio jewelry'. There's a heap more expensive out there. For the tech you're getting 200w x 2 and 70lb plus of steel and glass and made in one of the more expensive places to build stuff I dont think its a big ask.
IMO we're getting into silly territory... I think when stereo amps get this large heavy and expensive its getting over the edge of sanity but so is a $100k+ luxury vehicle or a $10,000 swiss watch...
at a certain point, audio equipment becomes audio jewelry... the engineering behind a lot of McIntosh is cosmetic... I admit the glass front and meters really appeal to many people.
At the same time are they really *that* expensive for what you're getting? I think the MA7200/MAC7200 is a $7,500 usd amp... I dont think that's too much to pay for what is a piece of 'audio jewelry'. There's a heap more expensive out there. For the tech you're getting 200w x 2 and 70lb plus of steel and glass and made in one of the more expensive places to build stuff I dont think its a big ask.
IMO we're getting into silly territory... I think when stereo amps get this large heavy and expensive its getting over the edge of sanity but so is a $100k+ luxury vehicle or a $10,000 swiss watch...
deadwood83
Member
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Brand new? Probably not.
But I regularly listen to a MAC4100 feeding original JBL L100s and any good input makes for a really enjoyable listening session. It's pretty sublime. Would I buy one for myself? Absolutely not. I get slightly more enjoyment listening to a DX7 Pro feeding P308 MKII's (admittedly in a room 1/3 the size) for soooooo much less cost.
But I regularly listen to a MAC4100 feeding original JBL L100s and any good input makes for a really enjoyable listening session. It's pretty sublime. Would I buy one for myself? Absolutely not. I get slightly more enjoyment listening to a DX7 Pro feeding P308 MKII's (admittedly in a room 1/3 the size) for soooooo much less cost.
Yes.
Mojo Warrior
Active Member
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They are overpriced and ugly.
Sound wise they are okay but not exceptional.
Sound wise they are okay but not exceptional.
I don't think their over priced or ugly.
Then you're putting a lot of value on their appearance, which is a very subjective measurement. There's nothing exceptional about their audio quality.
Also, it's "they're"
Let's put it like this... their build quality is top notch, both physically and electronic design wise.
Yes, they *measure* better than cheaper gear.
On the other hand, consider this :
The NAD T758 V3I receiver had *awful* measurements on this site and was basically burned down to the ground.
Yet on the internet, most actual *owners* seem to be really happy with it.
The things that looked really bad in graphs on this site didn't apply to them as the bad things only showed up when pushing the receiver really loud, which most people hardly ever do. The Dirac Live support though is something those users actually *noticed*.
Are McIntosh amplifiers worth it?
That completely depends on what "it" is.
Mike Patton / Faith No More had it right when performing "Epic" - "It's it.. WHAT IS IT?".
Yes, they *measure* better than cheaper gear.
On the other hand, consider this :
The NAD T758 V3I receiver had *awful* measurements on this site and was basically burned down to the ground.
Yet on the internet, most actual *owners* seem to be really happy with it.
The things that looked really bad in graphs on this site didn't apply to them as the bad things only showed up when pushing the receiver really loud, which most people hardly ever do. The Dirac Live support though is something those users actually *noticed*.
Are McIntosh amplifiers worth it?
That completely depends on what "it" is.
Mike Patton / Faith No More had it right when performing "Epic" - "It's it.. WHAT IS IT?".
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Correct, you must be anal-retentive.
restorer-john
Grand Contributor
Yes they are worth whatever they cost if the purchaser can afford, wants the product and gets their own personal money's worth over many years of ownership.
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If God gave me the financial ability, I would buy the MA5300 in a heartbeat. The specs may not be the greatest, but the quality is. Plus, I'll pay that small premium for 'Made in America'.
That's literally true for everything...
