Seasoned Mcintosh Fans lend me your ears & advise

The MA6100 integrated is a huge bargain for the buck. At 70wpc it is typically Mac tube-sounding. I have several 6100's in stock that blow away my MC30 and MC40 monoblocks.

Unless you posses exceptional electronic skills, or have very deep pockets, stay away from the tube stuff...some of it does sound wonderful, but when something goes wrong, it is expensive. McIntosh's first solid state amplifier was the MC2100 (this is a "de-metered" MC2105)...depending on how effecient your speakers are, there is a wide selection of McIntosh amps that will reproduce the sound you liked...the MC2505, MC2105, MC2125, MC2155, MC2205, all of these have the big blue meters...the comparable models to these, but without the meters are the MC250, MC2100, MC2120, MC2150, and MC2200...all of these amps were produced between about 1968 and 1985, and all have the famous McIntosh "autoformers"...these transformers are the big difference between the "good stuff" and today's amplifiers...this is what gave the solid state amps by McIntosh the sound so much like the tube models...you can spend from $500 to $2500 for these amps today...the C15 preamp you listened to, is by McIntosh standards, very average...the classic preamps that match the amps listed would be the C26, C27, C28, C29, C30, C32, and C33...just depends on how much you want to spend and what your listening habits are...each is an excellent preamp...if you are interested in a tuner, the MR73, MR74, MR75, MR77, and MR78 are the companions for the listed preamps and amps from the classic McIntosh years...they are all analog tuners, some am-fm, some fm only, and all are fine...probably the MR74, MR75, and MR78 being the best of the lot...pretty much any combination of the above components, assuming they are in good condition and operating properly, will make a very fine sounding system and will hold it's value much better than the stuff being produced today...there is some fine equipment made today, including some by McIntosh, but be ready to spend many thousands of dollars just to equal what this "old stuff" has to offer...

thanx for the info guys,

(Precbsed): The Intergrated would be a nice route. I wouldn't have to worry about Preamp Pairing. There aren't many reviews on these. What condition are those 6100's in? Do you have a web site? What's the going rate for the 6100 these days? also do you service\refurbish these or do you offer warranties on your models? Last time I checked those models looked really beaten up (no meters to help the look). But, I have no doubt that would still sound wonderful. By the way, is there a remote on those? Do You have any 6200's as well?

I really would like to have one of those metered version 2505-2205. But the way they are sold and resold, on this and other sites have me questioning their value now. I think if they still sounded good that some of these people would want to hold on to them (Unless these people are finding the "Bigger Better Systems"?).

I'm not trying to hear any tubes (Not into tweaking)!!!

- The question still remains Though Guys. Is the Sound In the Amp, Or is it the combo of the amp and pre? In other words Will one of these amps sound as good with my parasound pre????

THX
J

I bought my first Macs in 1970 (C26, MC2505 and MR73). They are currently used by a relative and they look and sound as good as the day they came out of the box. To this day I still use Mac stuff and have yet to find a unit I didn't like. This includes an integrated MA6100 (still going strong) and others too numerous to mention. The quality is first-rate. As long as you are careful (e.g. item not dropped from a plane), you should be satisfied with any of the older models. And don't forget to check out the preamp/tuner MX combos.
Well, you get the idea!
Happy listening.
Jeff

Jeff,

You like that 6100 better than your Old C26+2505 combo?
Is it "tube-like" in sound as (precbsed) mentioned? How is the bass response on that 6100? Lastly, what speakers are you running & are you a Cd or LP user?

thx,
J