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Of course the dac inside the Eversolo and McCintosh are going to sound about the same because they're both chips. Try a highend R2R dac like Denafrips Pontus II 12th or higher. ===== source=Apple Music lossless
Thank you for a stellar review! I want one but I can’t have one but I want one but I can’t have one but… Seriously, it just makes me happy that such a product exists.
McIntosh and WiiM user here! I have the C2700 preamp + MC462 amp combo and have been using a WiiM as a dedicated transport via Coax to the DA2 and it works and sounds phenomenal. Besides saving money, the apps of other high end streamers still haven’t come close to what WiiM and BluOS are doing for user experience. Great review!
Andrew my mc255 power my front three sonetto V’s. Pure bliss. You tantalized us for months with those blue lights in your living room! All I can say to those who don’t have the Mac- it’s probably the one of the few products in my life that I never had buyers remorse with. Each time you listen you fall back in love with it. I’m not sure if it’s true of every new product but for certain- you can’t find any hiss here….
i love McIntosh. for many folks the best way is to buy used Mc. it's so solid, reliable, and easily repairable. most Mc dealers sell used Mc with a guarantee... check it out i haven't changed my 7.1 amps in 30 years - my Mc754 (x4) still make a joke of even high end home theaters, and there's no receiver made that sounds as good. i've changed pre-amps/processors many times 5-6x, but the Mc stays
I haven’t commented in a long while but want to here. I have several pieces of vintage McIntosh. They are 50 years old and still sound beautiful with the sweet McIntosh midrange. I play them daily and still love them. Btw, the vintage stuff is far more affordable than other vintage gear like Pioneer and Marantz.
I personally would never, ever be able to afford any piece of Macintosh gear but I have to say, I'm totally in love with the look. It's the perfect middle ground between the past and still being relevant looks wise as anything I've ever seen.
When I was a teenager, McIntosh components driving Klipschorns were my dream system. Someday, I said, when I had the boodles of money I was surely going to earn down the road. I'm 60 now and unfortunately I never achieved McIntosh money.
You’re a millionaire in life cause you wake up everyday and can go about your day normally. That’s priceless my friend. Enjoy your music experience with whatever you can afford.
A while back when you replied to my comment on the B&W review about if you would be doing a video on this pair, its been one ive been looking forward to every sunday, wondering when it would drop. When i got the notification I stopped everything's and watched it immediately. This pair has been on my shortlist for a while to go with my Paradigm founder 120hs. At my local Sound and Vision they had the founders playing through the c55 and mc462. All I could say is wow. They didnt have the 312 for demo, now after hearing your review i think ill save the 2500 and go with the 312. Gonna have this combo ordered soon and might try the WIIM route vs the evsrsolo A8 (what i was looking at). Thanks for a great and informative review!
Great review… I have been looking at McIntosh equipment for a long time and finally purchased the integrated MA12000. It’s the flagship integrated model and it’s fantastic. Never thought I would purchase something this expensive but after looking at them for a long time I jumped in and made the purchase. I am glad I did, they make great equipment and It’s a piece of equipment I will have for a very long time.
@@aruth51485 nice to hear I’ve spent so many years trying different equipment. A lot of it was hassle and some of it was fun. If I knew McIntosh sounded this good. I wish I had gotten it from the start and ended this journey long time ago.
@@stephencosta6814 I felt the same thing, after listening to the different models with my speakers at the store I decided to get the MA1200 💪, I figured might as well take the leap and it’s been great. Wish I would have bought one a few years back. The price just keeps going up.
I appreciate your comment. I’m currently trying to decide between the expensive MAC7200 or going all in on the MA12000 and then this review makes me really wonder if giving up the tube stage for separates at a higher cost is a bridge too far. It’s good to hear you are happy with your choice. If I go that with the 12000 I could never bring myself to tell my wife ai wanted to try something else.
I almost feel guilty that it had taken me this long to acknowledge you two. I’ve been watched my now around two years and totally appreciate your reviews. I’m a huge fan and have purchased several pieces of electronics as my wife and I have a new home under construction complete with a Home Theater which I personally can’t wait to experience. Not my first, but hopefully despite some budgetary constraints, my best and much of the steps up and forward are in large part that’s to you guys! My very best wishes to you in your new home! Thanks so very much! I’ll try and send a little love your way every now and then and won’t take 2 years to do it! Sorry about the long note but I’ve had these thoughts and feelings bottled up for a couple years! Best!!! Ken
Ken, thank you so very much for your kindness and support. Kristi and I wish you all the best with your new home theater. If you're on Instagram, you can tag me @recoveringaudiophile when you get it all done if you care to share. Have a great rest of your day!
Back in the late 90s I bought an MC150 and C712 along with floor model Klipsch kg 5.5. They’re still in my system; still sound phenomenal. Meter lamps don’t work on the amp, which I’ll remedy this fall. My neighbor who first introduced me to the brand with his MC2105, C28, and MR74 passed those components down to me about 10 years ago. They need more extensive servicing, if I can find someone to do it. It’s gear I’ll keep forever.
You may be able to get McIntosh to do the service (albeit for a fee). I would reach out to them and see what they say. Thank you so much for your support!
I have the integrated version of that system, the MA9500 and I highly recommend it. I bought it after auditioning several amps to run my Paradigm Personas and it really helped the mid bass while toning down the edge on their Beryllium tweeters. I also use the Eversolo A8 but much prefer the McIntosh’s DAC, even after trying room correction the Eversolo sounded thinner. Paired with a Rel Carbon sub and my stereo finally hit the sweet spot where I have no desire to ever upgrade. Bonus : The MA9500 has bad ass handles on the front! ;-)
Interestingly you mentioned Mark Levinson. I currently run a 585.5 integrated amp and was stunned by the phono stage installed and Dac. The phono section is world class and the Dac runs a race with my Holo Audio Spring 3. Agree with your assessment on installed options. Mac has it going on, but still require careful match as their warmth can be too much of a good thing😊
I’m glad that performance in here is the absolute most important focus. Sooo many devices come out nowadays promises anything but a pot of gold, and fall short of most of the promises and especially performance. That being said, I’d love to see just how close their super integrated amplifiers get to this combo, like MA12000. That thing looks like the absolute monster that you’d buy for the rest of your life. Great review as always! Hope everyone is having a lovely, sunny Sunday!
I think we'll get into how this pair competes with the MA7200 we reviewed, as I, too, was curious if I could get by with just an integrated or if separates (at least with MAC gear) were the way to go. I'm not done mixing and matching. The C55 has been returned, but MAC HQ let the MC312 hang out for another two months while I test it with some other MAC pieces to see if I want to make MAC part of our permanent home system.
@@andrewrobinsonreviewsthe MA12000 integrated might be up your alley. It’s as good as it’s separates brethren for the most part and maybe even better tbh.
Using a mc312 + 255 with mx123 as pre in a 5.2 Sonus faber Olympica Nova setup. My paradise of peace, audio and gaming! Glad you enjoyed the 312, cheers from Quebec!
@@AA-ws3vd you don’t have to retire. I’m not rich and I have the system took me a little while to save up, but I got it. Don’t wait till you’re a senior citizen.😮
Stellar job as always conveying grounded but very detailed impressions and thoughts on audio gear. Was looking forward to the Mc review and enjoyed it. Hello to both of you guys.
I found my McIntosh fix with an MX130 preamp, Parasound A23 powering Sonus Faber Sonetto IIIs & Miller & Kreisel V-2B subwoofer. I needed a lot of inputs for cassette (Nakamichi BX300), ReVox A77 reel, VCR, cable, Music Hall turntable with Ortofon Bronze, DAT, Cambridge Audio universal disc player, plus an HHB 830 Burn-it CD recorder. I recently was forced to retire due to a mild stroke and I now have lots of time to enjoy my system.
I have the MC-312 and opted for the C49 over the C55. With the money I saved I went with a Hifi Rose RS250A streamer. I agree with you on the 312. The amp is amazing!!!
Do you know how the MA12000 compares to the separates and if you think the tube stage would be better, worse, or a draw? I have two dedicated 20 amp circuit’s to work with.
As a person who spent time in Binghamton, knew many of their engineers, and know their current CEO... They're gear I've aspired to, and thankfully can finally afford for my front end gear. A 452, 303, and C53. Some people think they're overrated. Overpriced. (An 8805A handles HT processing/switching.) They've probably not spent time with the gear. The build quality is incredible. Sound quality, same. Can I buy better gear? Not while staying married. Is it worth it? I can't imagine it does. I've seen/heard more expensive rigs. The Mc is the point of diminishing returns. And as I progress through life, I can't think of the need to upgrade anything other than my Marantz Processor as tech changes. It's perfect for me. Your mileage may vary. :
Andrew, the Wiim reference was priceless. About two minutes before you mentioned it, I thought the same thing. Well done! As for the lack of steps on the tone controls, it would have been a nice touch if engineering had shown the adjustment on the LCD screen as a control was being moved. This would enable someone using REW to have the precision necessary.
Yeah, unless I missed a setting on the remote or on the face of the C55 ( I don't believe I did ), the EQ dials do not show an adjustment on the display, whereas general tone and balance do.
What about the Parsound A21+ as an alternative? It has 300 watts a channel and seems really well built. Curious on your thoughts. Great review. We can all dream.
Ahh McIntosh….. What can anyone say. Such an iconic brand that has stood the test of time. As young man looking through all of those stereo magazines, I always was drawn to their products. I am glad to see that they are moving in the right direction with regards to connectivity. No snobbish attitude wiith McIntosh. HMDI and digital inputs are a modern day must and should be offered not as option .i hope others will follow suit. Maybe if all of your subscribers bombard McIntosh with letters on how much you loved the combination, who knows, they breakdown and just send it to you, Just because ……. I think that would be great for them to do. Take care Andrew and Kristi. Cheers.
I remember a number of years ago there was a bar that favored Jazz music and their sound equipment was McIntosh. Something to behold. (Jukebox ? What's a jukebox ?) It wasn't cheap even back then. Ohhh so nice though 😊
Now you are making me feel really bad missing out on mc2105 for $1K. ( I know it is not mc312, but...) , if I ever get my hands on Mac, it would be thanks to you. Great review! very much enjoyed
On Friday's Unplugged I saw some equipment off to the side that looked like maybe McIntosh ? Turns out it was. 🙂 Thanks for the review Andrew and for covering a few McIntosh products. I may never need these or be able to afford these but just like a just like a high end Italian or German sports car if you get a chance to try one out I want to hear about it !
$9K I’ll keep my $2300 Rotel 1592 MKIi you and Kristi turned me onto . I love the power it has running my Polk R700z and classic 99 with my Eversolo DMP A8 . I’m in bliss for $5800 . Quite a bit less than just the Mac .
As a Mac fanboy I loved your take on these two products. I find them to be one of the few brands that is voiced to address fatigue. Not known for the most accurate sound out there but most of the time their products are a pleasant listen for the long haul. Like you, I used the built in DAC 2 module on my piece, instead of my streamer's built in DAC. Found the sound to be easier on the ear and more natural. Loosing that hard to describe ephemeral sheen of otherworldly pristine perfection that digital can sometimes impart to the music.
@@mikeg2491 Understandable. MHT 150 has an earlier generation of DAC module and is not the DAC2 that is in my piece. Not saying one would not benefit using a dedicated after-market product. Only that I found the one built into my Mac piece more enjoyable than the one my streamer uses.
I agree about the C55 preamp. A McIntosh MX preamp is intriguing, but Emotiva is coming out with a major update of their av processor line with MCX2 plus being one. A review of the McIntosh MX 200 and Emotiva MCX plus av preamps being compared would be quite interesting.
Solid and informative review, of course. I’m partial to reviews that are more ‘based on these albums, CDs, videos and streaming items here’s what I think’ instead of summarizing the users manual.
Awesome review Andrew. I’ve had the 312 for going on 5 years matched with the C8 preamp with the DAC-2 and the JBL L100 Classic speakers. I use the Bluesound Node 2i for streaming but I bypass the internal DAC. Love the system and it feels very endgame for me. Have sat out the DAC arms race as it seems pointless - at least to me. Am also glad I bought the system before the inflation of the last 5 years. My 312 was $8K Canadian at the time I bought. Love the show.
Hi Andrew, another great review - even though it’s probably out of my price range, it’s still very interesting hearing from you about top notch gear - but not silly expensive £££,£££. Keep up the great work! Question - would you consider reviewing an Accuphase Amplifier and also the higher end Sonus Faber speakers - Sonetto III, Olympica Nova II upwards…? I’d be fascinated to hear your opinion of both… 😊 Thanks Alan (Norfolk - UK)
Thanks! I love my McIntosh gear, it took me over 40 years to finally attain my end game system. I do have the MC312 that drive my back speakers Arendal 1723 towers, fabulous combo! Thanks again Andrew and Kristy for what you do! Now curious what Kristy thought because she wasn’t fond of the meters on the MAC7200. Have an awesome day!!
Steve wins the Carl award (I say lovingly), an MC312 just for rears! That's a boss move, my friend. I bet it sounds awesome! Thanks so much for your support.
@@andrewrobinsonreviewsMy front speakers are McIntosh XR100 driven by a pair of MC611 both sets from a C2700 tube preamp! Crystal clear at concert levels! But awesome at less than a watt per channel too! Thanks again!!
Congrats, Andrew! That was the most enjoyable review I've ever watched. Could you compare that superb McIntosh combo with the ROTEL RA-1592 MKII? Any chance of reviewing the Michi P5 + S5 combo, or perhaps the Michi X5 Series 2?
I’m just going you say it, I like McIntosh equipment solely by how good it looks. Whenever I’ve heard it demoed, it always sounds fine. But it’s the aesthetic that I appreciate most, lol
In my listening tests which were conducted at the former Hi-Fi Hutch in Mt. Prospect, IL in the late '70's & early '80's the McIntosh gear always sounded the best through Klipsch speakers. HFH had JBL, KLH, Advent and many other of the "classics" you talk about today. I used to try the SAE, Marantz and Crown gear in A/B tests and with other speakers but nothing beat McIntosh - Klipsch combination. From your excellent review it sounds like that still holds true today and I'm happy to hear it!
Finally🎉 The pair was hanging out on the table for a while now! For comparison, how about Rotel or HiFi Rose? I am thinking to add Rotel amp to Sony AZ-5000ES.
Another great video Andrew. You described the amp and the dac perfectly! I have the 2700 tube pre and the 312. I have the eversolo A-6 Mater with the up graded power. I had that before I purchased the Per amp and amp. I was using that Dac Via XLR to the tree and it sounded fantastic. One day I decided to try the Built in dac on the 2700. I noticed a difference. so for about 2 weeks I used the built in dac using the USB out from the A6 and wow. After I went thru some of my test tracks I could not believe I was not using the built in dac, Huge mistake, You are correct about the dac, Now I use the A6 for the streamer using USB not coax and it sounds awesome. I am currently going thru my playlist re-listening to them all and I can not believe what I a hearing or should I say what I was not hearing. Bass is awesome controlled, wider sound stage and deeper sound stage. the richness and finesse. I have waited 45 years to get Mcintosh gear and I am finally there. I love the MC sound and I think I am at the end of my journey. I also got the sonos faber Olympica Nova 5's yes I went all out! My system is a complete match! I can not pull my self away sometimes from listening,
It's a very interesting idea to swap to the MX200 as the preamp, even in a 2.1 setup. Would LOVE to see that comparison against the MiniDSP SHD since it was mentioned a few times in this video (I love mine). I also never really understood why folks would spend this kind of coin and then assume that the DAC inside is junk... like why is that bar so low? If I spend $9k on a preamp it had BETTER have a top o' the line DAC and phono preamp in it.
How boring would life be if we limited our life and knowledge to only what we could afford at any given moment? I watch videos about multi-million dollar homes full well knowing that I will never buy anything like them because I love architecture and interior design.
@@Paul-tw3yi One of my side hobbies is creating architectural drawings. I've been working on a remodel for our house for the past year or so just playing around with new ideas. If we had an endless flow of cash, I would design the coolest home theater. But since we're on a fixed income like most people, I gotta think about creating space for storage (for all the youtube stuff) so we can get our bedroom and garage back. LOL.
@KristiWright that's awesome. My father is a retired architect, I was in Real Estate for years and got to sell some high end homes with nice theater rooms, but I'm a father of 5 boys so I wasn't able to afford more than a semi decent 5.1 system in my living room based on some of the videos from this channel.
I just bought a used MC312 and it is fantastic! I use a pre out from my MAC7200 to drive the amp and I love what it brings to the table. The MC312 drive vintage JBL 120ti and the MAC7200 drives Focal Aria 936.
With a more modest appetite I purchased a C49 preamp with DAC1 and MC152 Amp driving a pair of Sonus faber bookshelf speakers. I added a MCT500 CD Transport as I have a good sized CD/SACD library. Although not inexpensive, provides true Mac quality and performance at a manageable price. Hard to beat.
Wow! 500 plus comments! Good for you folks for stirring up a conversation and thanks for doing all the work that you’re doing on this channel. I particularly enjoyed your take on these separates; that’s my preferences as well with a Parasound JC5 amp and PrimaLuna 400 pre in my setup. ** Question ** had I settled for an integrated and spent same amount of money (with an equalizer, DAC & phono included - yup, you guessed right & I have separates for those too!) … would I have given up anything in terms of audio quality? The convenience is a no brainer of course with an integrated with everything built in one box. All the best and with regards from Canada 😊
Emotiva XDA-3 and XPA-DR2 and I'm happy. I have heard Mac and liked it but I I do have a budget and to beat what I have it would far exceed said budget.
It's fundamentally satisfying to know that the "Corvette" of audio excellence has been realized in a fine as you have just reviewed, Andrew. Thank you for giving us a glimpse into fine audio listening. I heard you mention Emotiva and I would like to know how you would rate them compared to Outlaw amplifiers? With an eye towards a future 2.0 or 2.1 I am considering one or the other.
First time commenter! I have a long timeline before i do a stereo amplifier upgrade, but i really like the looks of Advance Paris hardware. Hope you get your hands on an A10 Classic or an A7 Playstream to review!
Hi Kristi and Andrew ! First, thank you! About providing quality and honest content obviously, but also about your nice diction and vocabulary which makes both of you really easy to understand even for non-native american talkers. That said, watching this review brings me a question: When you use a pre-amp and a power amp like in this review, which one makes the sound "flavor", tonality, resolution and stuff? I assume all the control belongs to the power amp, but what about the other qualities?
The best version I've seen of analog EQ on a digital device is just the bass boost on the Zen dac/amp line. It's simple, sounds analog (smooth, warmish), and it doesn't try to do what would be better done digitally.
I will probably never be able to afford McIntosh gear and those gorgeous blue meters, but I do have the Emotiva XPA7 GEN3 Amp and XMC-2 Processor. They may not have the blue meters but its front display is blue and thats close enough for me and I do love how it sounds.
Was able to demo speakers on a Mac locally before i bought them. I still LOVE my speakers, but definitely a different experience on my cambridge axr vs the Mac. I dont know if its 10x better, but i sure do want one.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews going back to the capital of the country. Summer is over, work ahead. 😂 (Although i didn’t have any vacation time this year, the MacBook was always in my backpack). How was the week for you?
Andrew, appreciate that you are reviewing McIntosh gear when able. Curious how this set up compares to the MA8900 or 8950 that you loved a year or so back.
I hope you're able to get some Schiit Audio equipment in for review. On a separate note, I would be curious as to how the Bryston 4B Amplifier compares to the McIntosh?
Good review. Since you mentioned it, I would love to see a review of Advance Paris. The few reviews that I found seem to place them as good amplifiers in their price range. I guess it wouldn't be fair to compare them with McIntosh, since they're certainly not in a remotely similar price bracket, even if they have a few _visual_ elements that make them stand out (not only the big VU meters, but also the illuminated tube on some integrated versions). In one of the few amplifier comparisons involving several listeners, it came out with a similar "score" to the similarly priced Yamaha, although some publications didn't love the Yamaha's as much as you do (which makes sense, due to all variables that always exist with subjective reviews, associated equipment, etc). Technics amplifiers are also far from getting consistent reviews good reviews, and it also makes sense. McIntosh is one of those iconic brands that have and hold their value over time, and if I was shopping for an amplifier in that price range, it would be certainly on my short list, for several reasons. At this point in life, I _could_ buy one today, but considering other things that I also love owning, I'm not willing to spend that amount of money on an amplifier. Once again, I'm not comparing the Advance Paris offerings to McIntosh, as I don't think it's fair to expect them to be similar. They only share the glass front and big VU meters as visual cues (in all honesty, I even prefer the look of some Advance Paris gear), but their competitors are certainly not McIntosh (or anything similarly priced). You also mentioned Emotiva, and I don't know if you're aware of this, but they're not as competitively priced in Europe as they are in the USA. That also means that their value proposition is not the same over here. 😉 And like so many amps in their price range, they're visually uninspired (to say the least), with an unknown technical support level (and that's also part of the "value"). Coming from my own perspective (as a customer), while I understand that the new Marantz M1 can have great performance at a very reasonable price, I don't see myself buying it, because it isn't "traditional" on how it looks, but it isn't a "Lifestyle" product either. What I mean by this is that its small format makes it easier to place in almost any room, but the way it looks seems better suited to be out of sight, since there's nothing visually compelling about it. Some Roksan and Devialet products are just the opposite, made for their owners to not only listen to them, but also loving looking at them. 🙂 I'm sure that we're all different as customers, and the M1 is exactly what some customers want. 😉 Just like speakers, some love the bookshelf concept, while others love the elegant tower, and others love the wood closet concept of Klipsch. 😄 I can't speak for the quality of Advance Paris products, but I do love how some of them look, and it has nothing to do with McIntosh. I believe that they look good on their own right, likely appealing for those who still accept big rectangular boxes in their rooms, but with a mix of old fashioned VU meters and other somewhat vintage looking features with a more modern twist. I would love to have your opinion on how it performs against similar priced products, and not against McIntosh. 🙂 Cheers.
Great review. Wondering what you think in comparing the separates sound wise to the MAC7200 integrated you had a few years ago. It's too bad you also didn't have the tube based C2800 preamp on hand to compare against the solid state C55. McIntosh is unique in this aspect of offering basically a very similar pre-amp in either tube or solid state configuration. Looking forward to Friday's unplugged.
The funniest part is that these separates are on the cheaper side of McIntosh's product line especially the amplifier which at $7,500 is pretty much at the bottom of the price range as the cheapest one costs $5,500. Their amplifier choices exceed the product line of most companies including Denon and Marantz.
Oh my, McIntosh. I’ve been bad and haven’t watched your channel in a while, after acquiring the rz50, the Polk speakers and even a 5 channel 500 watt Emotiva beast amplifier. But I’ve missed your wisdom, your ability to make me crave, more, lol. Now I’m staring at that MC312 like, well of course I need it. If it was easy to sell everything and start over, for the fun of it, I would.
The XPA line of amplifiers is really good. You would need to spend MC312 level money (IMHO) to achieve outright appreciable differences in SQ and control.
@@andrewrobinsonreviewswould the Yamaha NR2000a have a slight edge over the Emotiva XPA line for sound quality? A bit off topic sorry but thanks! If you’re able to answer!
I was kinda surprised when you chose the Arcam A25 as the less expensive substitute for the Mac. I thought you would go for the Technics gx70, power aside. Is it because of the power the Mac has or because of the sound quality? Nice review!
Exquisite review 🔥. Kinda feel like Mac gear deserves their own blanket and separate temperature controlled room 😂 and a warm glass of milk before going to bed. Goodnight and thank you from Nobleton ON…💚💙💚💙💚
In the eighties the combo of Klipsch and McIntosh was reputed to be heavenly. Something about the pairing of bright (in their time) Klipsch and the more laid back delivery from McIntosh amps was considered pretty synergistic. But over the generations of product evolution both have become far more neutral in nature. I’m curious if you could elaborate on the Cornwall pairing and whether the McIntosh lifted them up to a level beyond your initial tepid review of them. Thanks!
I own McIntosh (MC462) and a few pairs of Klispch over the years. I demoed the Cornwall IV on Mac integrated amps (7200/8200?) and I was not impressed. The sound was a bit harsh/hard sounding. I also listened to the MC275 on the La scala. It was ok but sad sounding with NO bass for the $20,000 price range… so I don’t think current Mac does anything special for Klispch. I would personally look toward better speakers and cheaper electronics for a total system keeping budget in mind. I use a pair of JBL 4367s with my MC462. The JBL is much more refined than the Cornwall. Sadly way more money too…
I'm actually done with the chase for the most part. Have a complete Cambridge Audio CX stack with an Alva TT and a pair of Sonus Faber Sonetto VIII. I may want to add a tuner and an MD player since I have a lot of MDs around the house that I've made mixes on, but other than that, it feels good to be happy with what I have. Will still watch each week though.
I just got the C2800 and MC312! They are paired up with my Kef R11 metas, and Rega P6 with Ania Pro cart. As far as Streamers go do you think an A6 master edition would be a better fit then the A8? Or should I look more towards something like Hifi Rose? Love the content! Thanks for being awesome!
Two sets of blue meters. Must…not…buy…must…pay…rent. Thanks for the video. Too bad you need to buy additional equipment to stream or EQ properly. Oh well it’s only money. Miss hearing from your partner. Rock on!
Another great review Andrew. Been watching you from the beginning. I’m wondering what your thoughts are between the B&W 804s and the Cornwalls. I’m Klipsch fan like you. We both loved our Heresy’s. I moved up to the Fortes, don’t have the room for the Cornwalls. Just wondering your thoughts. I think we have similar ears. PS. I just picked up a MAC 6500 integrated on the used market. LOVE it! Thanks
@@KristiWright thanks for the heads up on those comments. I had stopped watching that unplugged when the room treatment subject came up… should have stuck it out. lol. Thanks. ✌️
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Of course the dac inside the Eversolo and McCintosh are going to sound about the same because they're both chips.
Try a highend R2R dac like Denafrips Pontus II 12th or higher.
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Myself reserve McIntosh products to future considerations for Bowers & Wilkins, Sonus Faber and Focal to celebrate lifetime ❤❤❤❤
Thank you for a stellar review! I want one but I can’t have one but I want one but I can’t have one but… Seriously, it just makes me happy that such a product exists.
McIntosh and WiiM user here! I have the C2700 preamp + MC462 amp combo and have been using a WiiM as a dedicated transport via Coax to the DA2 and it works and sounds phenomenal. Besides saving money, the apps of other high end streamers still haven’t come close to what WiiM and BluOS are doing for user experience. Great review!
Andrew my mc255 power my front three sonetto V’s. Pure bliss. You tantalized us for months with those blue lights in your living room! All I can say to those who don’t have the Mac- it’s probably the one of the few products in my life that I never had buyers remorse with. Each time you listen you fall back in love with it. I’m not sure if it’s true of every new product but for certain- you can’t find any hiss here….
Really nice to hear your opinion for us who haven’t had the chance to live with a Mc long term. Thanks.
Once you go Mac, you never go back! MA-6600 user here. It really is that good 👌
i love McIntosh. for many folks the best way is to buy used Mc. it's so solid, reliable, and easily repairable. most Mc dealers sell used Mc with a guarantee... check it out
i haven't changed my 7.1 amps in 30 years - my Mc754 (x4) still make a joke of even high end home theaters, and there's no receiver made that sounds as good.
i've changed pre-amps/processors many times 5-6x, but the Mc stays
I haven’t commented in a long while but want to here. I have several pieces of vintage McIntosh. They are 50 years old and still sound beautiful with the sweet McIntosh midrange. I play them daily and still love them. Btw, the vintage stuff is far more affordable than other vintage gear like Pioneer and Marantz.
I personally would never, ever be able to afford any piece of Macintosh gear but I have to say, I'm totally in love with the look. It's the perfect middle ground between the past and still being relevant looks wise as anything I've ever seen.
It was great to see genuine excitement in your review of the McIntosh!
When I was a teenager, McIntosh components driving Klipschorns were my dream system. Someday, I said, when I had the boodles of money I was surely going to earn down the road. I'm 60 now and unfortunately I never achieved McIntosh money.
You’re a millionaire in life cause you wake up everyday and can go about your day normally. That’s priceless my friend. Enjoy your music experience with whatever you can afford.
A while back when you replied to my comment on the B&W review about if you would be doing a video on this pair, its been one ive been looking forward to every sunday, wondering when it would drop. When i got the notification I stopped everything's and watched it immediately. This pair has been on my shortlist for a while to go with my Paradigm founder 120hs. At my local Sound and Vision they had the founders playing through the c55 and mc462. All I could say is wow. They didnt have the 312 for demo, now after hearing your review i think ill save the 2500 and go with the 312. Gonna have this combo ordered soon and might try the WIIM route vs the evsrsolo A8 (what i was looking at). Thanks for a great and informative review!
Great choice enjoy
Timeless beauty and quality and proudly built in Binghamton, NY, USA! One tuition away, my youngest son!, before treating myself to a Mc amp!
Great review… I have been looking at McIntosh equipment for a long time and finally purchased the integrated MA12000. It’s the flagship integrated model and it’s fantastic. Never thought I would purchase something this expensive but after looking at them for a long time I jumped in and made the purchase. I am glad I did, they make great equipment and It’s a piece of equipment I will have for a very long time.
Even when you sell it, you won’t take a bath financially speaking
@@stephencosta6814 yeah it’s pretty awesome. I picked up the 75th anniversary edition but did get a good discount since I have been looking a while.
@@aruth51485 nice to hear I’ve spent so many years trying different equipment. A lot of it was hassle and some of it was fun. If I knew McIntosh sounded this good. I wish I had gotten it from the start and ended this journey long time ago.
@@stephencosta6814 I felt the same thing, after listening to the different models with my speakers at the store I decided to get the MA1200 💪, I figured might as well take the leap and it’s been great. Wish I would have bought one a few years back. The price just keeps going up.
I appreciate your comment. I’m currently trying to decide between the expensive MAC7200 or going all in on the MA12000 and then this review makes me really wonder if giving up the tube stage for separates at a higher cost is a bridge too far. It’s good to hear you are happy with your choice. If I go that with the 12000 I could never bring myself to tell my wife ai wanted to try something else.
Bought an mc452 amp and c50 pre a few years ago.
I don’t think I’ll ever need to look for an upgrade again.
I almost feel guilty that it had taken me this long to acknowledge you two. I’ve been watched my now around two years and totally appreciate your reviews. I’m a huge fan and have purchased several pieces of electronics as my wife and I have a new home under construction complete with a Home Theater which I personally can’t wait to experience. Not my first, but hopefully despite some budgetary constraints, my best and much of the steps up and forward are in large part that’s to you guys! My very best wishes to you in your new home! Thanks so very much! I’ll try and send a little love your way every now and then and won’t take 2 years to do it! Sorry about the long note but I’ve had these thoughts and feelings bottled up for a couple years!
Best!!! Ken
Ken, thank you so very much for your kindness and support. Kristi and I wish you all the best with your new home theater. If you're on Instagram, you can tag me @recoveringaudiophile when you get it all done if you care to share. Have a great rest of your day!
Thanks so much to both of you!
Back in the late 90s I bought an MC150 and C712 along with floor model Klipsch kg 5.5. They’re still in my system; still sound phenomenal. Meter lamps don’t work on the amp, which I’ll remedy this fall. My neighbor who first introduced me to the brand with his MC2105, C28, and MR74 passed those components down to me about 10 years ago. They need more extensive servicing, if I can find someone to do it. It’s gear I’ll keep forever.
You may be able to get McIntosh to do the service (albeit for a fee). I would reach out to them and see what they say. Thank you so much for your support!
I have the integrated version of that system, the MA9500 and I highly recommend it. I bought it after auditioning several amps to run my Paradigm Personas and it really helped the mid bass while toning down the edge on their Beryllium tweeters. I also use the Eversolo A8 but much prefer the McIntosh’s DAC, even after trying room correction the Eversolo sounded thinner. Paired with a Rel Carbon sub and my stereo finally hit the sweet spot where I have no desire to ever upgrade. Bonus : The MA9500 has bad ass handles on the front! ;-)
Interestingly you mentioned Mark Levinson. I currently run a 585.5 integrated amp and was stunned by the phono stage installed and Dac. The phono section is world class and the Dac runs a race with my Holo Audio Spring 3. Agree with your assessment on installed options. Mac has it going on, but still require careful match as their warmth can be too much of a good thing😊
I’m glad that performance in here is the absolute most important focus. Sooo many devices come out nowadays promises anything but a pot of gold, and fall short of most of the promises and especially performance. That being said, I’d love to see just how close their super integrated amplifiers get to this combo, like MA12000. That thing looks like the absolute monster that you’d buy for the rest of your life.
Great review as always! Hope everyone is having a lovely, sunny Sunday!
Just here to say hello!
I think we'll get into how this pair competes with the MA7200 we reviewed, as I, too, was curious if I could get by with just an integrated or if separates (at least with MAC gear) were the way to go. I'm not done mixing and matching. The C55 has been returned, but MAC HQ let the MC312 hang out for another two months while I test it with some other MAC pieces to see if I want to make MAC part of our permanent home system.
@@KristiWright hello ma’am! Hope your Sunday morning is going well! 💐
@@andrewrobinsonreviews oooo! That sounds like a delicious system brewing to me! Very curious about the Friday discussion and Kristi’s thoughts!
@@andrewrobinsonreviewsthe MA12000 integrated might be up your alley. It’s as good as it’s separates brethren for the most part and maybe even better tbh.
Thanks for your review, I’m a McIntosh lover, I have a MC452 with C2600 plus MTC80 and I loved..regards from Santiago Chile
Nice! So glad you enjoyed the review!
Using a mc312 + 255 with mx123 as pre in a 5.2 Sonus faber Olympica Nova setup. My paradise of peace, audio and gaming! Glad you enjoyed the 312, cheers from Quebec!
I bet that sounds so good! Thanks for watching.
@@coldkut wow! Goals for retirement.
@@AA-ws3vd you don’t have to retire. I’m not rich and I have the system took me a little while to save up, but I got it. Don’t wait till you’re a senior citizen.😮
Stellar job as always conveying grounded but very detailed impressions and thoughts on audio gear. Was looking forward to the Mc review and enjoyed it. Hello to both of you guys.
Thank you so much, Harry!
I found my McIntosh fix with an MX130 preamp, Parasound A23 powering Sonus Faber Sonetto IIIs & Miller & Kreisel V-2B subwoofer. I needed a lot of inputs for cassette (Nakamichi BX300), ReVox A77 reel, VCR, cable, Music Hall turntable with Ortofon Bronze, DAT, Cambridge Audio universal disc player, plus an HHB 830 Burn-it CD recorder. I recently was forced to retire due to a mild stroke and I now have lots of time to enjoy my system.
I have the MC-312 and opted for the C49 over the C55. With the money I saved I went with a Hifi Rose RS250A streamer. I agree with you on the 312. The amp is amazing!!!
Do you know how the MA12000 compares to the separates and if you think the tube stage would be better, worse, or a draw? I have two dedicated 20 amp circuit’s to work with.
Man, do those Klipsch look good in that room!! Perfect match.
Every time we bring them out, which isn't often enough, I hate putting them away. The are so good!
They're wonderful.
@@KristiWright I bet!
No doubt. The combination is perfect.
I use to hear day by day songs in McIntosh radio from the very beginning McIntosh hits it with lots of love to the customers ❤❤❤❤
As a person who spent time in Binghamton, knew many of their engineers, and know their current CEO...
They're gear I've aspired to, and thankfully can finally afford for my front end gear. A 452, 303, and C53. Some people think they're overrated. Overpriced. (An 8805A handles HT processing/switching.) They've probably not spent time with the gear.
The build quality is incredible. Sound quality, same. Can I buy better gear? Not while staying married. Is it worth it? I can't imagine it does.
I've seen/heard more expensive rigs. The Mc is the point of diminishing returns. And as I progress through life, I can't think of the need to upgrade anything other than my Marantz Processor as tech changes.
It's perfect for me. Your mileage may vary. :
Andrew, the Wiim reference was priceless. About two minutes before you mentioned it, I thought the same thing. Well done! As for the lack of steps on the tone controls, it would have been a nice touch if engineering had shown the adjustment on the LCD screen as a control was being moved. This would enable someone using REW to have the precision necessary.
Yeah, unless I missed a setting on the remote or on the face of the C55 ( I don't believe I did ), the EQ dials do not show an adjustment on the display, whereas general tone and balance do.
What about the Parsound A21+ as an alternative? It has 300 watts a channel and seems really well built. Curious on your thoughts. Great review. We can all dream.
Thanks, outstanding work Kristi and Andrew. ❤ all you do!
Thank you!
Thank for reviewing the MC312 not a lot of reviews about that fantastic amp out there.
It's AWESOME!
Very true there is not a lot of reviews at all on a lot of Macintosh stuff. I have their entry level amplifier.It’s a dream ❤
Ahh McIntosh….. What can anyone say. Such an iconic brand that has stood the test of time. As young man looking through all of those stereo magazines, I always was drawn to their products.
I am glad to see that they are moving in the right direction with regards to connectivity. No snobbish attitude wiith McIntosh. HMDI and digital inputs are a modern day must and should be offered not as option .i hope others will follow suit.
Maybe if all of your subscribers bombard McIntosh with letters on how much you loved the combination, who knows, they breakdown and just send it to you, Just because ……. I think that would be great for them to do. Take care Andrew and Kristi. Cheers.
I remember a number of years ago there was a bar that favored Jazz music and their sound equipment was McIntosh. Something to behold. (Jukebox ? What's a jukebox ?) It wasn't cheap even back then. Ohhh so nice though 😊
Always a pleasure, Brian.
Now you are making me feel really bad missing out on mc2105 for $1K. ( I know it is not mc312, but...) , if I ever get my hands on Mac, it would be thanks to you. Great review! very much enjoyed
On Friday's Unplugged I saw some equipment off to the side that looked like maybe McIntosh ? Turns out it was. 🙂 Thanks for the review Andrew and for covering a few McIntosh products. I may never need these or be able to afford these but just like a just like a high end Italian or German sports car if you get a chance to try one out I want to hear about it !
$9K I’ll keep my $2300 Rotel 1592 MKIi you and Kristi turned me onto . I love the power it has running my Polk R700z and classic 99 with my Eversolo DMP A8 . I’m in bliss for $5800 . Quite a bit less than just the Mac .
I would encourage you to continue to enjoy the system you have, it sounds awesome!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thank you . I owe it all to you and Kristi
As a Mac fanboy I loved your take on these two products. I find them to be one of the few brands that is voiced to address fatigue. Not known for the most accurate sound out there but most of the time their products are a pleasant listen for the long haul. Like you, I used the built in DAC 2 module on my piece, instead of my streamer's built in DAC. Found the sound to be easier on the ear and more natural. Loosing that hard to describe ephemeral sheen of otherworldly pristine perfection that digital can sometimes impart to the music.
Not a fan of Mac’s built in DAC on my mha150 headphone amp but pair it with a solid R2R or Chord dac and it’s end game territory to me.
@@mikeg2491 Understandable. MHT 150 has an earlier generation of DAC module and is not the DAC2 that is in my piece. Not saying one would not benefit using a dedicated after-market product. Only that I found the one built into my Mac piece more enjoyable than the one my streamer uses.
Mcintosh , the king of American amps. Now we need a review of the king of Japanese amps, Accuphase to compare to :)
You need to be a king to afford either!¡! Lol
I desperately want to see a showdown between this and a Hegel H600. 😍😍😍
Also, superb review, as always!
That would be fun! Sadly, I gave up on my Hegel requests.
@@KristiWright Oh no... That's such a shame!
Great choice to compare
@@KristiWright😢
Way out of my league! Glad you got to play with it.
I agree about the C55 preamp. A McIntosh MX preamp is intriguing, but Emotiva is coming out with a major update of their av processor line with MCX2 plus being one. A review of the McIntosh MX 200 and Emotiva MCX plus av preamps being compared would be quite interesting.
Solid and informative review, of course. I’m partial to reviews that are more ‘based on these albums, CDs, videos and streaming items here’s what I think’ instead of summarizing the users manual.
Awesome review Andrew. I’ve had the 312 for going on 5 years matched with the C8 preamp with the DAC-2 and the JBL L100 Classic speakers. I use the Bluesound Node 2i for streaming but I bypass the internal DAC. Love the system and it feels very endgame for me. Have sat out the DAC arms race as it seems pointless - at least to me. Am also glad I bought the system before the inflation of the last 5 years. My 312 was $8K Canadian at the time I bought. Love the show.
💯 percent
What great review plus great advice on alternatives to live with. Thanks as usual.
I am so glad you enjoyed it and appreciate our suggestions. Hope your weekend is going well!
Thanks, Always fun to see the higher end!
We try to cover as wide a variety as we can. This was a fun breath of fresh air for me.
Thanks Andrew. How does this Mac combo compare to the Michi P5/S5?
Hi Andrew, another great review - even though it’s probably out of my price range, it’s still very interesting hearing from you about top notch gear - but not silly expensive £££,£££.
Keep up the great work!
Question - would you consider reviewing an Accuphase Amplifier and also the higher end Sonus Faber speakers - Sonetto III, Olympica Nova II upwards…?
I’d be fascinated to hear your opinion of both… 😊
Thanks Alan (Norfolk - UK)
Thanks! I love my McIntosh gear, it took me over 40 years to finally attain my end game system. I do have the MC312 that drive my back speakers Arendal 1723 towers, fabulous combo! Thanks again Andrew and Kristy for what you do! Now curious what Kristy thought because she wasn’t fond of the meters on the MAC7200. Have an awesome day!!
They've grown on me, Steve!!
Steve wins the Carl award (I say lovingly), an MC312 just for rears! That's a boss move, my friend. I bet it sounds awesome! Thanks so much for your support.
@@andrewrobinsonreviewsMy front speakers are McIntosh XR100 driven by a pair of MC611 both sets from a C2700 tube preamp! Crystal clear at concert levels! But awesome at less than a watt per channel too! Thanks again!!
@@SteveRig82dude…..save some ladies for the rest of us
@@KristiWrighthaha awesome, I fell in love with them when I was a teenager 40 some years ago!
McIntosh looks so different and so better live. My McIntosh MA12000 integrated amplifier is very intoxicating.
My MA 12000 kick some ass
MA 8950 here!!!
MA12000 damn 😍
Congrats, Andrew! That was the most enjoyable review I've ever watched. Could you compare that superb McIntosh combo with the ROTEL RA-1592 MKII? Any chance of reviewing the Michi P5 + S5 combo, or perhaps the Michi X5 Series 2?
Thanks for your question. We address this topic in today's Unplugged! See you there.
th-cam.com/video/A00A74T3LTs/w-d-xo.htmlfeature=shared
I’m just going you say it, I like McIntosh equipment solely by how good it looks. Whenever I’ve heard it demoed, it always sounds fine. But it’s the aesthetic that I appreciate most, lol
Fair enough!
In my listening tests which were conducted at the former Hi-Fi Hutch in Mt. Prospect, IL in the late '70's & early '80's the McIntosh gear always sounded the best through Klipsch speakers. HFH had JBL, KLH, Advent and many other of the "classics" you talk about today. I used to try the SAE, Marantz and Crown gear in A/B tests and with other speakers but nothing beat McIntosh - Klipsch combination. From your excellent review it sounds like that still holds true today and I'm happy to hear it!
It’s also incredible withe the higher end Sonus Faber lines from my experience.
Finally🎉 The pair was hanging out on the table for a while now!
For comparison, how about Rotel or HiFi Rose? I am thinking to add Rotel amp to Sony AZ-5000ES.
Another great video Andrew. You described the amp and the dac perfectly! I have the 2700 tube pre and the 312. I have the eversolo A-6 Mater with the up graded power. I had that before I purchased the Per amp and amp. I was using that Dac Via XLR to the tree and it sounded fantastic. One day I decided to try the Built in dac on the 2700. I noticed a difference. so for about 2 weeks I used the built in dac using the USB out from the A6 and wow. After I went thru some of my test tracks I could not believe I was not using the built in dac, Huge mistake, You are correct about the dac, Now I use the A6 for the streamer using USB not coax and it sounds awesome. I am currently going thru my playlist re-listening to them all and I can not believe what I a hearing or should I say what I was not hearing. Bass is awesome controlled, wider sound stage and deeper sound stage. the richness and finesse. I have waited 45 years to get Mcintosh gear and I am finally there. I love the MC sound and I think I am at the end of my journey. I also got the sonos faber Olympica Nova 5's yes I went all out! My system is a complete match! I can not pull my self away sometimes from listening,
That's awesome! Nothing left to do but enjoy it!
Props for at least mentioning Advance Paris.
It's a very interesting idea to swap to the MX200 as the preamp, even in a 2.1 setup. Would LOVE to see that comparison against the MiniDSP SHD since it was mentioned a few times in this video (I love mine).
I also never really understood why folks would spend this kind of coin and then assume that the DAC inside is junk... like why is that bar so low? If I spend $9k on a preamp it had BETTER have a top o' the line DAC and phono preamp in it.
For the last 30 years I have been neck deep in all things a/v, and still, McIntosh remains the elusive "blue-eyed" squirrel I may never catch.
Never say never someday someway❤
If they were doing so well, why were they bought buy a car stereo company?
Why do we all click so fast for stuff we cant afford?
How boring would life be if we limited our life and knowledge to only what we could afford at any given moment? I watch videos about multi-million dollar homes full well knowing that I will never buy anything like them because I love architecture and interior design.
@KristiWright I hope you get to buy a mansion someday, one with an amazing theater room...I'll click on that video so fast.
@@Paul-tw3yi One of my side hobbies is creating architectural drawings. I've been working on a remodel for our house for the past year or so just playing around with new ideas. If we had an endless flow of cash, I would design the coolest home theater. But since we're on a fixed income like most people, I gotta think about creating space for storage (for all the youtube stuff) so we can get our bedroom and garage back. LOL.
@KristiWright that's awesome. My father is a retired architect, I was in Real Estate for years and got to sell some high end homes with nice theater rooms, but I'm a father of 5 boys so I wasn't able to afford more than a semi decent 5.1 system in my living room based on some of the videos from this channel.
Don’t say you can’t afford it, say HOW can I afford it.
I just bought a used MC312 and it is fantastic! I use a pre out from my MAC7200 to drive the amp and I love what it brings to the table. The MC312 drive vintage JBL 120ti and the MAC7200 drives Focal Aria 936.
With a more modest appetite I purchased a C49 preamp with DAC1 and MC152 Amp driving a pair of Sonus faber bookshelf speakers. I added a MCT500 CD Transport as I have a good sized CD/SACD library. Although not inexpensive, provides true Mac quality and performance at a manageable price. Hard to beat.
Wow! 500 plus comments! Good for you folks for stirring up a conversation and thanks for doing all the work that you’re doing on this channel. I particularly enjoyed your take on these separates; that’s my preferences as well with a Parasound JC5 amp and PrimaLuna 400 pre in my setup. ** Question ** had I settled for an integrated and spent same amount of money (with an equalizer, DAC & phono included - yup, you guessed right & I have separates for those too!) … would I have given up anything in terms of audio quality? The convenience is a no brainer of course with an integrated with everything built in one box.
All the best and with regards from Canada 😊
I have to say this is the system that most of us hope we can afford some day.
Emotiva XDA-3 and XPA-DR2 and I'm happy. I have heard Mac and liked it but I I do have a budget and to beat what I have it would far exceed said budget.
It's fundamentally satisfying to know that the "Corvette" of audio excellence has been realized in a fine as you have just reviewed, Andrew. Thank you for giving us a glimpse into fine audio listening. I heard you mention Emotiva and I would like to know how you would rate them compared to Outlaw amplifiers? With an eye towards a future 2.0 or 2.1 I am considering one or the other.
First time commenter! I have a long timeline before i do a stereo amplifier upgrade, but i really like the looks of Advance Paris hardware. Hope you get your hands on an A10 Classic or an A7 Playstream to review!
Hi Kristi and Andrew !
First, thank you! About providing quality and honest content obviously, but also about your nice diction and vocabulary which makes both of you really easy to understand even for non-native american talkers.
That said, watching this review brings me a question: When you use a pre-amp and a power amp like in this review, which one makes the sound "flavor", tonality, resolution and stuff?
I assume all the control belongs to the power amp, but what about the other qualities?
Check out today's Unplugged! Your question makes an appearance here th-cam.com/video/A00A74T3LTs/w-d-xo.htmlfeature=shared
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Just watched it! Thank you so much for answering 😊
The best version I've seen of analog EQ on a digital device is just the bass boost on the Zen dac/amp line. It's simple, sounds analog (smooth, warmish), and it doesn't try to do what would be better done digitally.
I will probably never be able to afford McIntosh gear and those gorgeous blue meters, but I do have the Emotiva XPA7 GEN3 Amp and XMC-2 Processor. They may not have the blue meters but its front display is blue and thats close enough for me and I do love how it sounds.
That's all that matters! So glad you're happy with your Emotiva system.
Was able to demo speakers on a Mac locally before i bought them. I still LOVE my speakers, but definitely a different experience on my cambridge axr vs the Mac. I dont know if its 10x better, but i sure do want one.
Great Sunday everyone!!
Morning! Back from the farm?
@@andrewrobinsonreviews going back to the capital of the country. Summer is over, work ahead. 😂 (Although i didn’t have any vacation time this year, the MacBook was always in my backpack). How was the week for you?
Andrew, appreciate that you are reviewing McIntosh gear when able. Curious how this set up compares to the MA8900 or 8950 that you loved a year or so back.
Are you thinking of the 7200 here: th-cam.com/video/GF62ltad180/w-d-xo.html
@@andrewrobinsonreviews yes!!
*I won't be surprised if soon they will make pre pre amp, then pre pre pre amp. And people will buy it.*
I hope you're able to get some Schiit Audio equipment in for review. On a separate note, I would be curious as to how the Bryston 4B Amplifier compares to the McIntosh?
I would love to see the Tyr monoblocks reviewed here. Talk about a high end HiFi bargain!
Good review.
Since you mentioned it, I would love to see a review of Advance Paris.
The few reviews that I found seem to place them as good amplifiers in their price range.
I guess it wouldn't be fair to compare them with McIntosh, since they're certainly not in a remotely similar price bracket, even if they have a few _visual_ elements that make them stand out (not only the big VU meters, but also the illuminated tube on some integrated versions).
In one of the few amplifier comparisons involving several listeners, it came out with a similar "score" to the similarly priced Yamaha, although some publications didn't love the Yamaha's as much as you do (which makes sense, due to all variables that always exist with subjective reviews, associated equipment, etc).
Technics amplifiers are also far from getting consistent reviews good reviews, and it also makes sense.
McIntosh is one of those iconic brands that have and hold their value over time, and if I was shopping for an amplifier in that price range, it would be certainly on my short list, for several reasons.
At this point in life, I _could_ buy one today, but considering other things that I also love owning, I'm not willing to spend that amount of money on an amplifier.
Once again, I'm not comparing the Advance Paris offerings to McIntosh, as I don't think it's fair to expect them to be similar.
They only share the glass front and big VU meters as visual cues (in all honesty, I even prefer the look of some Advance Paris gear), but their competitors are certainly not McIntosh (or anything similarly priced).
You also mentioned Emotiva, and I don't know if you're aware of this, but they're not as competitively priced in Europe as they are in the USA.
That also means that their value proposition is not the same over here. 😉
And like so many amps in their price range, they're visually uninspired (to say the least), with an unknown technical support level (and that's also part of the "value").
Coming from my own perspective (as a customer), while I understand that the new Marantz M1 can have great performance at a very reasonable price, I don't see myself buying it, because it isn't "traditional" on how it looks, but it isn't a "Lifestyle" product either.
What I mean by this is that its small format makes it easier to place in almost any room, but the way it looks seems better suited to be out of sight, since there's nothing visually compelling about it.
Some Roksan and Devialet products are just the opposite, made for their owners to not only listen to them, but also loving looking at them. 🙂
I'm sure that we're all different as customers, and the M1 is exactly what some customers want. 😉
Just like speakers, some love the bookshelf concept, while others love the elegant tower, and others love the wood closet concept of Klipsch. 😄
I can't speak for the quality of Advance Paris products, but I do love how some of them look, and it has nothing to do with McIntosh.
I believe that they look good on their own right, likely appealing for those who still accept big rectangular boxes in their rooms, but with a mix of old fashioned VU meters and other somewhat vintage looking features with a more modern twist.
I would love to have your opinion on how it performs against similar priced products, and not against McIntosh. 🙂
Cheers.
I hope someday to be as happy with my system as the Macintosh seemed to make you. At least for a little while.
You will be start saving your pennies😊
🙋♂️I WATCHED THE WHOLE REVIEW JUST FOR FUN AND I LOVE ❤️ THAT YOU GOT TO REVIEW THEM AND THEY ARE UP THERE 👆 FOR A GOOD REASON 🤗💚💚💚
Thanks for sharing! I have a c52 with a mc462.
You said what I thought you would say...excellent review! I ❤ McIntosh!
I'm running the new c22 and mc462 with cw4s, I like it!
I want to know the comparison between the C55 and the A8 into the Mac amp and whether putting a $$ preamp after the A8 improves the experience.
This topic gets addressed in today's Unplugged. See you there! th-cam.com/video/A00A74T3LTs/w-d-xo.htmlfeature=shared
Great review. Wondering what you think in comparing the separates sound wise to the MAC7200 integrated you had a few years ago. It's too bad you also didn't have the tube based C2800 preamp on hand to compare against the solid state C55. McIntosh is unique in this aspect of offering basically a very similar pre-amp in either tube or solid state configuration. Looking forward to Friday's unplugged.
Noting your question for Friday!
Great question for Friday's Unplugged. Stay tuned.
@@KristiWright Looking forward to Friday even more now. Thanks!
The funniest part is that these separates are on the cheaper side of McIntosh's product line especially the amplifier which at $7,500 is pretty much at the bottom of the price range as the cheapest one costs $5,500. Their amplifier choices exceed the product line of most companies including Denon and Marantz.
Nice review! I'm sure I saw you had some Anthem STR line gear in the background of past videos? How'd they compare?
Oh my, McIntosh. I’ve been bad and haven’t watched your channel in a while, after acquiring the rz50, the Polk speakers and even a 5 channel 500 watt Emotiva beast amplifier. But I’ve missed your wisdom, your ability to make me crave, more, lol. Now I’m staring at that MC312 like, well of course I need it. If it was easy to sell everything and start over, for the fun of it, I would.
Thanks for comparing the Emo XPA to these aspirational components I'll never be able to have in my home. Made me feel good about my choice (XPA 7).
The XPA line of amplifiers is really good. You would need to spend MC312 level money (IMHO) to achieve outright appreciable differences in SQ and control.
@@andrewrobinsonreviewswould the Yamaha NR2000a have a slight edge over the Emotiva XPA line for sound quality? A bit off topic sorry but thanks! If you’re able to answer!
I was kinda surprised when you chose the Arcam A25 as the less expensive substitute for the Mac. I thought you would go for the Technics gx70, power aside. Is it because of the power the Mac has or because of the sound quality?
Nice review!
I mentioned the Technics 1000 but for some reason, Andrew didn't want to bring it up. Maybe I'll force the topic on Friday's Unplugged. :)
Exquisite review 🔥. Kinda feel like Mac gear deserves their own blanket and separate temperature controlled room 😂 and a warm glass of milk before going to bed. Goodnight and thank you from Nobleton ON…💚💙💚💙💚
Sal, hope you catch Unplugged today. You make an appearance!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews🎉🎉 I will watch later today!!!
@@andrewrobinsonreviewsglad you and Kristi enjoyed my comment! LoL. Thank you for the shoutout!!
been waiting to see this review since I saw them behind you for sometime now 😂
In the eighties the combo of Klipsch and McIntosh was reputed to be heavenly. Something about the pairing of bright (in their time) Klipsch and the more laid back delivery from McIntosh amps was considered pretty synergistic. But over the generations of product evolution both have become far more neutral in nature. I’m curious if you could elaborate on the Cornwall pairing and whether the McIntosh lifted them up to a level beyond your initial tepid review of them.
Thanks!
I own McIntosh (MC462) and a few pairs of Klispch over the years.
I demoed the Cornwall IV on Mac integrated amps (7200/8200?) and I was not impressed. The sound was a bit harsh/hard sounding. I also listened to the MC275 on the La scala. It was ok but sad sounding with NO bass for the $20,000 price range… so I don’t think current Mac does anything special for Klispch. I would personally look toward better speakers and cheaper electronics for a total system keeping budget in mind.
I use a pair of JBL 4367s with my MC462. The JBL is much more refined than the Cornwall. Sadly way more money too…
I'm actually done with the chase for the most part. Have a complete Cambridge Audio CX stack with an Alva TT and a pair of Sonus Faber Sonetto VIII. I may want to add a tuner and an MD player since I have a lot of MDs around the house that I've made mixes on, but other than that, it feels good to be happy with what I have. Will still watch each week though.
Nothing feels quite as good as getting off the hampster wheel. Also, it's nice to know that someone else besides me loves the Alva TT.
The best I’ve ever had the opportunity to hear was 801D4s driven by a McIntosh stacks.
So cool. Ive been looking forward to this one
Hope it's worth the wait.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews very cool
@@andrewrobinsonreviews of course it was you could review a cheeseburger. It will be great to watch.😂😂😂
Nice! I like their long term approach without all the modern nonsense that becomes obsolete every couple of years
I just got the C2800 and MC312! They are paired up with my Kef R11 metas, and Rega P6 with Ania Pro cart. As far as Streamers go do you think an A6 master edition would be a better fit then the A8? Or should I look more towards something like Hifi Rose? Love the content! Thanks for being awesome!
Two sets of blue meters. Must…not…buy…must…pay…rent. Thanks for the video. Too bad you need to buy additional equipment to stream or EQ properly. Oh well it’s only money. Miss hearing from your partner. Rock on!
You can hear from Kristi on Friday's Unplugged episode.
You probably won’t answer but you need to try a Plunius A-300, I head a system using them last year, it was life defining.
How about a review of McIntosh tube gear? I have a C2300 and MC275 v6 (after tube rolling) and have stopped my quest for better sound.
Another great review Andrew. Been watching you from the beginning. I’m wondering what your thoughts are between the B&W 804s and the Cornwalls. I’m Klipsch fan like you. We both loved our Heresy’s. I moved up to the Fortes, don’t have the room for the Cornwalls. Just wondering your thoughts. I think we have similar ears. PS. I just picked up a MAC 6500 integrated on the used market. LOVE it! Thanks
I think that topic came up in our Unplugged video th-cam.com/video/h8CMk1ORShE/w-d-xo.html.
@@KristiWright thanks for the heads up on those comments. I had stopped watching that unplugged when the room treatment subject came up… should have stuck it out. lol. Thanks. ✌️
Thanks for your review.
My pleasure!
I’d just like to be able to AFFORD the HOUSE that this system would be placed into!!😂❤
As always, Andrew, this review was fantastic!!👍🏽
Do you have Parasound in your pipeline? I'm looking into a JC5. I'd love to have your input. Thank you for your videos