Hpims, I am also a tube lover, but I have not listened to a McIntosh in a long time so perhaps we can pool our experience.
I am very much impressed by the bass of NEW tube amps like the BAT or Atmosphere: dynamic, of course, and surprisingly deep and tight though still not quite the equal of the bass on solid-state amps.
My impression about tube amp frequency extension is somewhat different from yours. With all due respect to the venerable MC275, I think new tube amps go a little lower and higher than old tube amps, but ALL of them are STILL truncated at both ends. Mind you, I don't miss anything when I listen to my BATs, but when I switched to my solid-state amps, then I KNOW that I missed a lot of information, especially in the top end.
About the noise. I am impressed by how quiet my BATs are but I can still hear some rushing noise from them even in balanced mode; my solid-state amps are considerably quieter. As much as I love my tube amps, I don't think they will ever be as quiet as solid-state amps.
To get back to the point of my original thread--amp evolution--I feel that tube amps have improved: quieter and better extension in the bass and treble. But since I do not have an old MC275 to compare, I can't be absolutely sure. As to the price increase, I think we are of the same mind there.
I am very much impressed by the bass of NEW tube amps like the BAT or Atmosphere: dynamic, of course, and surprisingly deep and tight though still not quite the equal of the bass on solid-state amps.
My impression about tube amp frequency extension is somewhat different from yours. With all due respect to the venerable MC275, I think new tube amps go a little lower and higher than old tube amps, but ALL of them are STILL truncated at both ends. Mind you, I don't miss anything when I listen to my BATs, but when I switched to my solid-state amps, then I KNOW that I missed a lot of information, especially in the top end.
About the noise. I am impressed by how quiet my BATs are but I can still hear some rushing noise from them even in balanced mode; my solid-state amps are considerably quieter. As much as I love my tube amps, I don't think they will ever be as quiet as solid-state amps.
To get back to the point of my original thread--amp evolution--I feel that tube amps have improved: quieter and better extension in the bass and treble. But since I do not have an old MC275 to compare, I can't be absolutely sure. As to the price increase, I think we are of the same mind there.