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Mcintosh MC501 or MC 352 for Sonus Faber Cremona

Read tons of review but still can't make up my mind.

The Cremona speaker can only handle 300W @ 4ohm. However, I never listen very loud. So I "hope" it is not an issue.

The MC501 is 500w @ 4ohm. ~$6000 501 is a Fully balanced quad-differential design in mono block and have very nice review. http://www.stereophile.com/solidpoweram ... index.html It is nice to have mono block. But I just worry will it be too powerful. And it is current model (2004-).

The MC352 is 350w @ 4ohm. ~$4500. a lot cheaper. It is a Double-balanced push-pull design. It is a little older design (1998). The power rating is more suitable to my Cremona. Review is also good too but not as good as the 501.

I mostly listen to Classical (mostly piano), jazz and pop.
Current system, BAT VK30SE, Oppo BDP-95, Krell KSA-200S and Sonus Faber Cremona.

thanks ahead.

Vic
viclauyyc
theo's avatar
theo
2,681 posts
 
If you can afford it go with the 501's, if budget is the issue then the 352 is a good amp. I owned one for yrs. If you can swing a 402 it does have abetter power supply thna that used in the 352. But the 501's will sound the best.
zavato's avatar
zavato
1,399 posts
 
I have heard Cremonas with the MC352 in a friend's system. Nice set up, and far more than powerful enough. Not lacking in detail or slow (I often feel the two are related), in my opinion. Coherency? Could be a point.
dtc's avatar
dtc
1,047 posts
 
I use a Levinson 432 with my Cremona and it delivers 400 watts at 8 ohms and 800 watts at 4 ohms. Works fine. Based on my experience, he MC501 would not be to powerful. Based on my experience choosing amps for the Cremona, more power is better, but I have never tried MACs with them.

One thing to look at is the overall gain in the system. If the preamp and power amp together have a large gain, you end up using only a small portion of the volume control. My preamp can attenuate the input signal and I use that to give me more range on the volume control. So, I would check out the gain of the 2 MACs versus your Krell, just to be sure.
mechans
3,048 posts
 
I have heard the 501s on your speaker and they sounded better than any other audition of Macs that I have heard. I would go for them. plus I think the resale is better heavier and all. An excellent choice I would say.
prcinka
366 posts
 
as I said on CAM if you like Krell, you will not like the McIntosh...but the MC501s are better choice....not saying the MC 352 is bad amplifier, but I would go for the MC501s...
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