McIntosh Tube vs SS w/ Sonus Faber Aida II

Ya, I’m also considering the C2700 tube preamp

@ei001h

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Actually, I decided to go a slightly different route. The final system I ended up going with is:

• Sonus Faber il Cremonese ex3me
• McIntosh MC901 (x2)
• McIntosh C2700
• McIntosh MS500
• McIntosh MCT500
• McIntosh MPC1500
• Nordost Valhalla 2 speaker cables, interconnects, power cords for everything

To answer your questions:

1. I mostly listen to folk / americana / acoustic. Followed by instrumental / classical, and a little jazz. A little bit of rock every now and then too.
2. Loudness varies from moderate to loud. But I don’t live alone so I usually can’t blast it.
3. The room is 18’x17’ with 10’ ceilings. Room size is the main reason I did not go with the Aida’s. They would have just dominated the room, and tbh the ex3me’s are probably pushing it.
4. These will be my first tube amps, always used ss prior.
5. No I have not heard a SET tube amp.

Do you think this system will limit the ex3mes? How would you describe the MC901 tube sound? Which SF do you have, and what are you pairing it with?

@ei001h

Okay, you just convinced me to switch back to the Aida! I called my dealer this morning and made the change! :)

I’ll give McIntosh a fair shake for now. May switch out later. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts, much appreciated.