For all you McIntosh fans

Hey tzh21y - interested in your comment on replacement tubes over time.  What did you replace with?  Same as OEM McIntosh or did you "upgrade."  

IMHO - audiophiles are like cyclists.  I have a $3.5K road bike that is the most comfortable and efficient I've ever had, and the group I ride with all have $10K+.  One day, A guy was talking or "bragging" about replacing a seat post that was 400 grams less than his current one at a cost of $600.  That's 0.89 lb decrease in weight.  I said "Hmmm.  You have about 25 extra lbs on your gut - isn't bike + weight of person = total weight? - In that case - a week of Atkins is $2,000."  I love my 275 and, as Forrest Gump says "That's all I have to say about that"

I love my MA6500 and that's all I have to say about that!!

The only time I was getting comments from the house guests about my stereo was when I had MacIntosh SACD player on the rack! Once upgraded to Wadia, its back to "normal", just a background music :-(   When not using Pono or iPod, MacIntosh player for iPhone (freebie from iTunes) reminds me of its beauty! 

I have vintage tung Sol 6550 with Telefunken smooth plate 12ax7 and rca triple mica 12at7.

tzh21y,You do have some nice tubes. Had a pair of 275s back in the day, far enough back that "vintage" tubes were almost current production. MC 60s are all I need now, with ZU Def 4s they are overkill. There are some supposedly NOS Tung Sols up now but too pricey for me. Since I don't really need max power I use Sylvania 5751s in place of the 12 AX7s. Probably set for the long haul as well. I don't need more power, bass is really good, otherworldly to be honest, and resolution is dramatically good for my tastes.
Mac stuff sounds great. Have been using it in one form or another for 40+ years.