Help! Buy McIntosh MA252?

I recently replaced my aging yet venerable MA6500 with this new Mcintosh MA252 Hybrid. I also spent an additional $240 for the Golden Lion Russian Tubes (platinum /gold pins) and the sound really stepped up. The solid state amp is simply a newer configuration of the MA6500 or present MA5300 integrated, but this is so much better to my ears.

The Golden Lion tubes are wonderful yet given the current geo-political climate, I doubt we will be getting these much longer (I may have to stockpile them for future use). They outperform the Slavian sourced McIntosh stock tubes as well. 

I am glad that there are only 4 inputs and no digital DAC. I added the McIntosh MT20 ($500.00) and I now have excellent transmittal and digital receiver capabilities via the balanced inputs (also excellent sounding). For about the same price as the MA5300, I feel I got exactly what I needed. I never use all of the extra connections and they do come at a cost. This tube pre-amp in the MA252 is the same as in the $10,000 MA352 and the $$$ McIntosh put in this makes it hard to believe it's only $4,500.00. Blows away almost anything else I've heard.

Obviously, it will drive most medium floor-standers well (I hooked it up to me relative efficient 88.5db Bowers & Wilkins floor standers and it did fine). Where it shined was with my KEF LS50 Metas. This pairing shocked me at the mid range clarity. The dedicated sub-woofer coax output (an anomaly for McIntosh) has my REL t/5 sub-woofer in sync nicely. 

Pairing it with a Rega P8 (Ania Pro MC) and an excellent Marantz ND8006 network player has extended the range of the KEFs. I have more expensive kits but none as enjoyable as the sound emanating from this kit. The MA252 is a best value. Recommend upgrading the tubes, it's worth it. Cheers.

Hey @mervo ! Thanks for sharing your story.  You're not the first person that recommends upgrading to Gold Lions.  I just looked for them and it seems it's out of stock everywhere.

I enjoyed my MA252 for about a year before I had the opportunity to upgrade my 683s to the 702 Signatures.  Then I found out just how power hungry these speakers are.  After some research, I upgraded to a MA352, and boy they make the 702s sing... Then I got a REL S5/SHO (deal was too good to pass).  So now I am on "just enjoy the music" mode and trying to control my G.A.S.

BTW are you using the sub output or the high-level cable from REL?

Dridel:

I am currently using a REL sub (T/9x) with a MA352 in my main kit pushing 703 S2s and they are singing in my mid-size media room. Since I posted, I liked the B&W sound so much I upgraded the KEF LS50 metas for the B&W 705 Signatures and the MA252 is fine in that kit, but to be candid, I have to push it to 55% to full the sound out on the 705s. I can see that the 702s will need the extra power of the MA-352. Hope you're enjoying your kit--sounds impressive.