I had been on the Audio merry go round since I was 15, always buying and selling for supposedly the next best thing. When I retired in 2017, I wanted to upgrade my Parasound Halo Integrated in my secondary system which I listen to 80% of the time since it is in my home office. After doing a lot of research, I decided on a second hand McIntosh integrated from Audio Classics. Within 15 minutes of firing up the Mac at home, I knew it was a keeper. Within 2 more months, I had also purchased a McIntosh SACD player and FM Tuner. I was and still am in Audio heaven.
Meanwhile, my main system had also been going through changes, mainly replacing my speakers with the brand new GE Triton Reference speakers. I had already changed amps from a tricked out Odyssey Kismet amp to a Conrad Johnson 250wpc amp. I was very unhappy with the sound. On Jan 2, 2018, I purchased a McIntosh tube preamp, top of the line tuner, and a 300wpc amp, all McIntosh. The system has been transformed! If you had told me 10 years ago I would own mostly Mac gear, I would have said no way.
I had a lot of good equipment over the years, 3 different Audible Illusions tube preamps, 4 Magnum Dynalab tuners, 2 Classe amps, 2 Odyssey amps, a Conrad Johnson amp, a Rogue Audio RP5 tube preamp, Marantz SACD player, 3 VPI turntables, DeVore speakers, Kismet Reference speakers, Von Schweikert speakers Paragiadm speakers, the list is endless. I came full circle to embrace McIntosh. It isn’t just the sound, it’s the pride of ownership, the silky feeling of the rotary controls, the smooth acting switches and the bulletproof reliability.
Don’t listen to the naysayers, most who hate Mac either never heard them or listened for a few minutes with the intention of not liking them. The auto transformers are there for a reason, it is what gives the McIntosh that magical house sound. I bought all my McIntosh equipment from Audio Classics and all second hand. Everything looks and plays like brand new. Let your own ears be your guide.
Meanwhile, my main system had also been going through changes, mainly replacing my speakers with the brand new GE Triton Reference speakers. I had already changed amps from a tricked out Odyssey Kismet amp to a Conrad Johnson 250wpc amp. I was very unhappy with the sound. On Jan 2, 2018, I purchased a McIntosh tube preamp, top of the line tuner, and a 300wpc amp, all McIntosh. The system has been transformed! If you had told me 10 years ago I would own mostly Mac gear, I would have said no way.
I had a lot of good equipment over the years, 3 different Audible Illusions tube preamps, 4 Magnum Dynalab tuners, 2 Classe amps, 2 Odyssey amps, a Conrad Johnson amp, a Rogue Audio RP5 tube preamp, Marantz SACD player, 3 VPI turntables, DeVore speakers, Kismet Reference speakers, Von Schweikert speakers Paragiadm speakers, the list is endless. I came full circle to embrace McIntosh. It isn’t just the sound, it’s the pride of ownership, the silky feeling of the rotary controls, the smooth acting switches and the bulletproof reliability.
Don’t listen to the naysayers, most who hate Mac either never heard them or listened for a few minutes with the intention of not liking them. The auto transformers are there for a reason, it is what gives the McIntosh that magical house sound. I bought all my McIntosh equipment from Audio Classics and all second hand. Everything looks and plays like brand new. Let your own ears be your guide.
