Upgrade to McIntosh


Hello everyone,

I am looking to upgrade my hi-fi sytem.I demod MC 275 recently and loved the tuby,warm house sound of Mcintosh.

I will be pairing them with Sonus Faber Olympica 1.

I am torn between MA352 integrated and MC275+C8 separates. The latter is obviously more costly but I am willing to go for it if there are advantages.

How would the sound differ? What would be the most notable distinction between the two system in your opinion?

Thanks in advance

I have some Sonus Faber Concertos that were linked to a McIntosh C220 along with a MC7270.  Sounds wonderful.  Did the same and swapped the MC7270 for a Audio Research VS55.  I personally liked the tube sound much more.  Did the swap with a Threshold Cas2, and while the McIntosh in so many ways blew the older cas2 away, I thought the cas2 was more musically pleasant.  The Audio Research was the overall winner for me.  That said, I would go with the separates as recommended by  @oddiofyl.  This will leave your options more open.  It can be amazing the difference of sound when you start amp rolling. 

Thank you guys for all the replies! This has been a disscussion in the forum before. Tube in the input + SS output power amp vs Tube in the input + tube power amp.

I was wondering if the MC275 would lack solid,tight and controlled bass due to its all-tube design(tube output) at different volumes?

@wolfgangamadeusaudiophiliac 

I have a C2700 feeding a pair of MC611s. To my ears, it sounds like a 600W tube system with the ability to power anything out there. I love the idea of a tube preamp and SS amp. It gives you the best of both worlds.

One year ago I went with the MA12000. I believe that separates and great interconnects will better this. Once you are in the $1500 range you can better  the DAC2. I gave up separates for the convenience of the all in one, but soon replaced both DAC and phono section.