Ok, this may seem like an odd comparison. For those that know more about amps, I would appreciate some comments. There could not be 2 more different amps probably, but I think it would be interesting.
I currently have a McIntosh MC252 which I like quite a bit. Besides the weight, there isn’t anything I don’t like about it. These can generally be picked up around $3k. The MC462 was bench tested at Stereophile. This is really the only reason I picked this particular amp. I am sure it outperforms the one I own by a pretty wide margin. If anyone knows of any other McIntosh amps that have been bench tested that would also be interesting.
Here is the bench test for the MC452
https://www.stereophile.com/content/mcintosh-laboratory-mc462-power-amplifier-measurements
Here is the bench test of the NC502 via the @March Audio P502 that @amirm did. The MC452 will have quite a bit more power (which I really wouldn’t need).
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...dio-p502-stereo-amplifier-measurements.10909/
I am considering an NC502 based amp, but don’t want to give up sound quality. It doesn’t appear to me that I would be giving up anything replacing the McIntosh MC252 with something like a NC502 based amp. Looking at the two bench tests above, how do they compare (Knowing that my MC252 will not measure nearly as good as the MC462.
My current system is
Minidsp SHD
McIntosh MC252
JBL 250 TI (4 way)
Sub JBL B460, powered by Crown XLS1502
Edit: If I could find a bench test of of an MC252 it would be better or even an MC302, but haven’t been able to find a more comparable model bench tested.
I currently have a McIntosh MC252 which I like quite a bit. Besides the weight, there isn’t anything I don’t like about it. These can generally be picked up around $3k. The MC462 was bench tested at Stereophile. This is really the only reason I picked this particular amp. I am sure it outperforms the one I own by a pretty wide margin. If anyone knows of any other McIntosh amps that have been bench tested that would also be interesting.
Here is the bench test for the MC452
https://www.stereophile.com/content/mcintosh-laboratory-mc462-power-amplifier-measurements
Here is the bench test of the NC502 via the @March Audio P502 that @amirm did. The MC452 will have quite a bit more power (which I really wouldn’t need).
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...dio-p502-stereo-amplifier-measurements.10909/
I am considering an NC502 based amp, but don’t want to give up sound quality. It doesn’t appear to me that I would be giving up anything replacing the McIntosh MC252 with something like a NC502 based amp. Looking at the two bench tests above, how do they compare (Knowing that my MC252 will not measure nearly as good as the MC462.
My current system is
Minidsp SHD
McIntosh MC252
JBL 250 TI (4 way)
Sub JBL B460, powered by Crown XLS1502
Edit: If I could find a bench test of of an MC252 it would be better or even an MC302, but haven’t been able to find a more comparable model bench tested.