2. amps-preamps
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Mcintosh MA6900 compared to Mcintosh separates?

I like the relatively small size of the Mcintosh MA6900 when compared to the Mc separates, but thinking long term are the separates a better option given music abilities and flexibility? In other words, how much of a sonic tradeoff is the MA6900? 200 watts is more power than I would ever need so I'd be looking at Mc amps as an upgrade in sound quality, not power and of course being able to switch out an amp or preamp separately. What about the preamp section of the MA6900 as compared to Mc preamps? Would I be perfectly happy with the MA6900 given all things? Thanks for your input.
cdart9dea
gthrush1
241 posts
 
I have an MA-6900 and LOVE it! It has pre-out / amp-in jacks, so flexibility should be no problem. The unit is supplied with McIntosh jumpers for use as an integrated.
cdart9dea OP
1 posts
 
Mind if I ask why you LOVE the MA6900? I never hear anyone complain about the it. Everyone seems to love this integrated.
pardales
652 posts
 
I don't remember the exact model numbers, but I listened to the seperate MAC amp and preamp whose critical sections went into making the 6900. Then I listened to the 6900. They were virtually identical. I went with the 6900 to save money, a pair of interconnects, and space. The 6900 is beautiful, cosmetically and sonically. It present all the flexibility I require in my two channel system and sounds clear, with great PRAT. If you do a search in this section on the 6900 you can find some lengthier comments I and others have made about this unit. You can't go wrong with this piece. I bought mine here at Audiogon for $3100.....and I have not looked back. I now have an all MAC system and just love it! Its the most enjoyable system I have owned since my VAC, MUSE, EAD system. Good Luck,
infinity_audio
186 posts
 
MA 6900 save you money on pre or amp, MA 6900 save you money of another pair of IC, MA 6900 save you time for connecting, MA 6900 has a shorter signal path with less coloration than seperate. BEST INTEGRATED AMP I HAVE HEARD. CLASSIC McINTOSH SOUND.
hassel
248 posts
 
I did a lengthy comparison between McIntosh's integrateds and three of their preamps: C2200, C42, and the C200. You can defineteley get it even better than with your MA6900, but to get a real improvement you have to upgrade to either C2200 or C200, and that's a lot of money. Being sick enough, I did it and bought the C200 (used, though). The one thing I found interesting was that the preamps changed the sound more than switching between several McIntosh power amps. I compared, e.g., the power amp section of the MA6500 integrated and the MC352. Sure enough, there was a difference, but much smaller than between the preamp-sections. So, if some day you still want to move up, you could easily buy another Mac-preamp and run it with the power amp section of the MA6900 for the time being
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