Disappointing On Mcintosh......help

@vegasears 
The Mac I tried was SS.
It had too much house sound for me.
C2500 looks to be quite a bit better...

Curious which other VTL & ARC pre’s you compared?
TL-2.5
TL-5.5 (series one or two)

I mainly look at used gear. I owned the TL-2.5 for a few years.  It was just OK or maybe I just wanted a more of a tube sound.  My unit has 12AT7 and 12AU7 tubes. Some of the VTL 2.5's had a different tube complement.  I heard the VTL TL-5.5 in a shop, impressive.  To me it had a tight and controlled presentation.  It made me think about the TL-6.5.  Never got around to any ARC product.  A friend pointed me to Mcintosh, which I'd always felt would be priced out of my reach based resale value/cost. In the end my choice came down to Company Reputation, Cost and Warranty.  The Mcintosh C2500 came New In Box with a three year warranty for just under 5 grand.

Main goal of McI is big power. They use Push Pull mode of tube amps, this mode cause sharp and metal sound, like in more PP brand. PP mode consist in output stage 2 big tubes in two shoulders, upper and down. Signal from preamp fase splitter   is divided to 2 /pos. and negat./. Positive goes to upper shoulder and negative - to down shoulder. Every time signal goes from pos. to neg. cross zero, that cause sharp and metal sound. Main + is big power.  In mode SE /single end/ signal is not divided and sound is warm!. IMO, I think HiEnd is in mode SE. Power is about 3 - 8 W, but if You use speakers with big sensitivity 94 and more dB, the sound is very loud, and is enough for big rooms, basements.......I listen only SE /my projects/ 2A3RCA, 6S4S, 6P31S, EL11 Telefunken, 300B. I dont like 6L6, EL34 that are used in guitar amps with sharp sound. I advice You look at SE amp and Hi sensitivity speakers.  

@vegasears...………………………………….

Excellent score on the C2500.  I paid $4100.00 for mine, used from Audio Classics.  If you think it sounds good with the McIntosh branded tubes (JJ), try a pair of the Gold Lion 12AX7 tubes in the line stage.  It will take the preamp to another level while retaining the wonderful McIntosh sound.

Either you like music as it was recored and intended to be heard or not.