mcintosh 501 vs 2102

What speakers do you have? I think that will be the deciding factor. If you have current hungry speakers, 100Wpc may not be sufficient....

right now i have dali mk2 400 but i just ordered a set of totem winds. i have not hooked up the c2300 to the 501's yet, it is still in the box, i am using my shindo monbrison. i am debating wich pre amp to keep. or use. so jaybo, you have used the 2300 with the 501's? and what are your thoughts of the 2102? your saying the 501 is better suited? now grant you, maybe when i hook up the 2300 to the 501 i will get a great snyg. i love the way my shindo sounds with the 501, but like i siad im changing speakers. even though i just bouth the dalis, i came across the winds at a diffrnt dealer, and fell in love, so now i ordered those as well, and yes i now have two brand new set of speakers, or i will in about two months when the winds get built. ( selling the dalis) but back to what we were talkign about. i would love to hear from anyone who has used the 2300 with the 501's or the 2102. i love the 501's

Check this out; http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=85928&highlight=501+versus+2+2102%27s

That is my thread Jamnesta has attached.

My view is that 1 x MC2102 is generally a nice amp but does not have the dynamics nor the power vs the MC501's. The single MC2102 does however have that "tube" magic that the MC501's will never have and there is the quandry.
When you go to 2 x MC2102's you really get the best of all worlds. the dynamics and power are in spades and you get the tube magic.
I now have the c2300 and it is an excellent pre amp. It is also more revealing than say my old c46, but a lot better balanced.
I tried the MC501's back in 2006 and preferred the 2xMC2102's to the MC501's. I again tried the Mc501's about a month ago when I was demoing the c2300. the 2xMC2102's now kill the MC501's period.
You can get more detail from the karma thread.

have fun

that was a great link. so downunder, in what way did you enjoy the tubes over the 501. i have the 501's for a while and i love them, but i did grow up with ss, i grew up listening to the mc2500 that at 20yrs old (org owner) still looks and sounds as if it was brand new. but i do like how tubes give you that ease, almost warmth. i just got the c2300 but have not opened the box, i am using my shindo monbrison still. how did the c2300 blend with the 501 and how do you like it with your 2102? when you say more revealing, in what way do you mean?