An Audio Amateur's question about McIntosh Audio

@faustuss So, I guess you're very familiar with the sound of "box store offerings"?

Familiar enough. Live with it until I purchased a Project turntable with a Blue Poinrt#2 which triggered my search for high-end audio gear. Starting from scratch, every component purchase was a shock as I’m normally frugal up till then. I had Sony electronics and Pioneer speakers designed by Andrew Jones. My surround was from Cambridge Audio. 

mgrif104, I can appreciate your comments. Nice system! Knowing the brands and speakers, I think I have a pretty good idea of the sound you enjoy. 

I’m not surprised that there are some who would have the opposite reaction. It’s scary how much a demo piece can skew the perception of a system. I have a very wide variety of demo tracks; 1,000+ vocals and 700+ instrumentals. You are wise, and based on your nice rig, experienced enough to grant that other factors might have been in play in your impression. 

If we had both been seated and hearing the same demo track, we may have reached the same conlclusion. It would have been interesting to each hear three or four of our demo pieces and compare notes on that system. I wouldn’t be surprised if we found agreement on its performance characteristics. 

However, neither of us would be able to absolutely determine whether that speaker system, much less the components, would sound preferable to us in our rig. Only a direct comparison in our room would tell. That is one of the most challenging things about quick demos at shows. I typically do not request a review unless I can have a demo with my music. it’s the only way to orient to a known map for performance assessment. 

@douglas_schroeder +1

You make very good points and may very well be right that we would have found common ground listening together.

My only follow up comment was that I heard the same sonic signature of Mac gear in that room that I’ve heard within serious auditions of the gear at my local dealer. So, I concluded that the electronics were most likely the culprit. I fully acknowledge other factors may have been at play. Regardless, for me - it was yet one more data point on Mac gear. 

Thanks for the kind words on the system. It’s been a lengthy journey - like it is for all of us so afflicted. I’m building room treatments next - diffusers behind the mains and bass traps in the corners (as I’m able - layout constraints) but it’s already a wonderful place to listen to music.

mgrif104, you will likely enjoy the addition of room treatments. I made some of my sound panels and the effort was worthwhile. 

@kennyc 

"I had Sony electronics and Pioneer speakers designed by Andrew Jones. My surround was from Cambridge Audio."

So, what do you have now?