Long ago, when I could still hear the differences I no longer easily can, I tried a Marantz 7C with a Sansui AU5500 amp section, bypassing the Sansui preamp. Astonishingly better...no comparison really. Then using the Marantz 8B amp instead of the Sansui amp...not much difference...the preamp was the key. That, and the Sansui amp was way better engineered than their preamp.
As for McIntosh being all show and no go, that was true in the 70s and 80s. Now, they are quite competetive with the spartan brands on basic sound quality. Ayre is a cut above, IMO.
If you've read Paul Seydor's reviews over the years, have you come to respect his opinions? Who are you going to trust, a dealer or the reviewer? Both have agendas, albeit different ones.
As for McIntosh being all show and no go, that was true in the 70s and 80s. Now, they are quite competetive with the spartan brands on basic sound quality. Ayre is a cut above, IMO.
If you've read Paul Seydor's reviews over the years, have you come to respect his opinions? Who are you going to trust, a dealer or the reviewer? Both have agendas, albeit different ones.