Who heard or has a McIntosh MC7100?

Wow,,,thanks for the info....I have been told for example that maybe I should go for a MC2100 which is about the same price and has autoformers....and that it may match better with my Berning TF-10 tubed preamp...

BUT, I like the looks of the 7100, and its considerable newer....I wonder how do you guys think it will match with the Berning TF-10 pre...
here is a link of a Stereophile review back in the days of bell bottoms...

http://www.stereophile.com/printarchives.cgi?611

Well since your preamp is a hybrid with no feedback, it probably does have a highish output impedance and the 2100 has a 10x higher input impedance than the 7100 but I think that in terms of the overall affect, the lack of dynamics of the 2100 will be a far greater impact than any possible impedance mismatches you may encounter with the 7100. I bought a 2100 one one time for a ridiculous deal on ebay. It was nice, as was the 2125, but not as satisfying as the 7100 IMO. The little 7100 is really a very nice amp.

Things have changed since the 70s in terms of part quality and so the sound has effectively "cleaned up." This is one fo the first things I notice when comparing an older amp to a much newer one in the same system. It cannot really be overlooked. I will spare all the details but the upshot is that I would still suggest you would be happier with the 7100 (and you are right - it is very slick looking - like my C712). Let us know what you decide! The 2100 is indeed cheap if you want to experiment with it and see what you think - resale is not a problem with McIntoshes. Good luck! Arthur

Thanks for the good input Aball,,,,Have you listened to a Berning TF-10 pre? if yes, what did you think?

Jack

PS:Besides the sentimental and emotional want of having a Mc in my system, I wonder if in terms of SQ its not a ssideways move. My current amp is a Kineregetics Chiro C200, source is Parasound CDP-2000, and speakers are JBL L-96's

ABall, Thanks for the tip....

Jalen

I owned (for a very short time) an MC-7150 and a C-712. They were both HORRIBLE. Thick is probably the best way to describe their sound. Of course they looked gorgeous but their performance was truly lackluster.

I picked them up used (here) from their original owner as a set. They had just been to the factory for a once-over and had about $350 worth of maintenance performed, so I know that they were up to spec and in proper operating condition.

Compared to the Classe DR-9 and Sonic Frontiers SFL-1 that they replaced, they were dreadful.

The MC-7100 is the same amp as the MC-7150 minus 50 watts and the cool meters. I would follow the advice regarding the older "2" series with the autoformers. I believe that the "7" series was produced during the transition period after being purchased by Clarion.

Good luck.