Big Mcintosh MC1000 pwr amp s?

Looks like I'm going to be in the minority of the postings here. I've owned the 1000s for around 8 yrs now. I tried the 1201s for about a month. They are great and I would choose them over just about anything else in their price range. But ultimately I liked the 1000s better. The speakers I had at the time were Maggie 3.6s and Apogee Duetta Sigs. Different speakers and I might have liked the 1201s better. Your own taste will ultimatlely decide what the "best" is. Being as objective as I can, I would say the 1201s have a faster sound and the 1000s a more relaxed sound. This again will cause a preference for one over the other, not making one absolutely better. Short of hearing both, your best bet is problably what your doing here and go with your instincts. Good luck.

Thanks everyone for the input and well reasoned arguments.

See, the thing I noticed when I bought the Passes was a transparency that I didn't seem to recall from the Krell 700cx I had. With the Krell I think to recall a more relaxed sound, the Passes are simply atomic.
This had me for a while going "wow", but sometimes, on some recordings (specially remastered issues from Verve), it can be too much of the "goodie". Not that I'm saying the Passes are overanalytical, but perhaps the combination Pass/Utopias is such that a little less here and there wouldn't hurt in the long run.

Perhaps overall any McIntosh SS amp will get me back to a more relaxed auditioning, and without having heard any of the big blocks, I'd also agree that in theory the 1000s could be more relaxed.

My desicion is made, I'll get me a pair of McIntosh monoblocks, and while my heart says "go for the 1201s" my instinct says "the 1000s are the best choice for your boxes"...I'll keep listening any and all advice.
Thanks again
Best regards,
Marcelo

McIntosh is a great choice with JM Lab. I love my combination, though far less gradiose as yours Marcelo. I agree that the Mc150/300/500/1000 series, from my experience, is farily mellow - or at least more so than the next 2 generations that followed them. But then I have a 1991 7200 that isn't as mellow as a MC300 for instance.

I think that even the latest McIntosh will be a little softer than the Passes which lends the Mcs a natural, comfortable quality that is remarkable when paired with a detailed speaker. Good luck! Arthur

Thanks Arthur. I appreciate your comments, it makes me even more comfortable to learn that your combination Mc/JMlab is apparently what I imagine (that's all what I can do, this will be a blind choice) it'll be on my own system.
Brgds, Marcelo

McIntosh is wonderful amp choice. I have the MC-602 and love it. This is a very detailed amp. With a rich and warm sound. Some say it's a solid state that sounds tubish. I sold a Krell KSA-300 because I needed/wanted more power. At low volume levels I could not hear a diffrence in amps. B&W 801 s3 speakers. As I moved up into the +100 watts level The MC never strained never has it let me down. I had to run dedcated 120VAC 20 amp. With my stereo set up I do not have room for mono blocks I use MC-602 for mains and MC-7205 for my HT. Transparent Cable Reference IC and speaker wires. All can say is I am very happy. Nothing beats the Blue Meters. Don