Is my new amp TOO GOOD?
I recently took advantage of the McIntosh Upgrade program. I traded my MA352 integrated hybrid for the C2800 tube preamp + MC462 ss power amp. I have a large room with Revel Studio 2 speakers (with beryllium tweeters), and two SVS subs. I also have some room treatments on the walls.
I traded up because I wanted to see if I could more detail with the extra watts while keeping the tube sound I like.
So now I have much more detail, but its sometimes too much. Higher frequencies - like high pitched loud vocals, and some of the detail now sounds almost like static. If I turn the volume way up I can hear that its another guitar or a background vocal.
I have turned the treble down from -1 to -4, and I can't listen at 90 db all the time.
Does anyone have any suggestions about adjusting the eq/
I have a suggestion, buy an Accuphase 😁 just kidding. I had a McIntosh MA12000 integrated amplifier and it took forever to break-in. It started out sounding harsh, edgey and muddy, thete was no telling what was going on. But when it broke-in it was fantastic! I also remembered repositioning my spkrs several times to get the sound right. Cables make a huge difference. EQ on McIntosh is fantastic so experiment.
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When I was considering a move to the McIntosh MC462, my dealer, who is virtually around the corner from the factory and has been doing this a long time, cautioned me that the MC462 is a departure from older Mac amps. Although not quite as warm sounding as its predecessors, it provides detail and layers that the previous iterations don't offer. Break-in for that amp is very real and requires patience, and it is a very good match with my Sonus Faber speakers. I had a Mac C53 preamp for a while and it was a disappointment. There are many excellent suggestions here for getting you where you want to be with your equipment mix, and I imagine the C28 with different tubes, as suggested, is another good option. |
Nice additions. I definitely agree with the break in suggestions, speaker placement and recalibrating subs (after electronics are fully broken in), etc. But @mapman hit on what I was thinking too. Are the more resolving amp and pre combo just highlighting issues with quality of your source gear (or source material)? The beauty and problem of upgrading critical parts of a HiFi system is that you can now notice the value of other improvements, and the weaknesses in parts of the system you hadn’t noticed previously - what makes this hobby both interesting and a challenge. kn |
