McIntosh - is it that great?

Hello. I am presently using a proceed avp2 processor with jm lab mini utopias. Transparent ref speaker cables, Cardas cables virtual dynamics power cords. Hydra power center. Mark levinson dac. As far as power amps, I was using the mc 352. I just sold it as well as my 2 0ther mc 2200's that were powering my center and my rears.(One of the mc2200 was bridged mono for the center mini utopia. I was very pleased with the MC 352 for the mains. I have upgraded my budget since and am Looking to spend around 10k for monoblocks for the main speakers. I have seen 2 possible buys here on audiogon. Can anyone help me in making my desicion. (here it goes.!!) I saw Mark levinson no33's for 10k VS the MC 1201's
Whomever can raise a good arguement in which of these paired babies I should purchase may email me epagak@hotmaiil.com

apples and oranges.....a more fair sonic shootout would be the levinsons vs a pair of 352's......the 1201's are way better than the no. 33's

This has been said before, but Mac is the Harley Davidson of audio. Not the fastest, most reliable, smoothest or best out there, but you ARE buying a piece of American culture. Those who defend McIntosh do it with the loyalty of a cult following, and many Mac lover's out there simply do not have the objectivity needed to make a neutral evalutation. It's ok, as many audiophiles are ''fans'' of certain manufacturers, and pride of ownership make up I feel a large part of audiophilia as a hobby. I am absolutely convinced that most Audiogoners here are not in it strickly for the music, but for the love of equipment itself in a larger margin that most of us will admit.

Back to Mac. My personnal experience, and by no means enough to base an definite evaluation. I admit to having purchased a 6450 Mac integrated back a few years ago. I bought it to fulfill my high-school years dream of ''owning'' a ''McIntosh''. The legendary status of Mac made me buy this integrated. The musical performance it generated made me sell it soon afterwards, as it was a big let-down for me, compared to the previous gear I had owned up to then, and especially when compared to my hyped-up expectations of this cult brand.

Still, I would buy a McIntosh product again, probably one of the newer designs, and maybe even vintage, and this after owning a lot of gear, most of it better than the Mac integrated I had once owned.

Looking back now, and closing the audio circus buy-sell-buy loop, I would buy one again as I feel that just buying it for the looks of it, the history behind it, and the way it transforms any ordinary living room into something special, is worth it. Even if it is at the expense of not getting what most audiophiles would consider top-shelf performance all the time. It would surely be good enough for me and all things considered, a wise choice.

I'd have echo Rocketman and say yes, Mc gear is that great. I was one of those sophisticated "audiophiles" who never bother to listen to it always viewed Mc gear as the proverbial "my Dad's Oldsmobile".

I've been a hobbyist for over 35 years and have had some excellent electronics, based on "audiophile" standards: Krell, Naim, AudioNote, Wyetech, Art Audio, Korneff, Emotive Audio, Audiomat, Aronov. But after listening to a MC252 and MCD 205 CD player a couple years ago, I bought them. I later picked up a C42 and have been extremely happy since. Mind you I've been pleased with my system for 2 years. That's NOT ever happened. I wisdh I had listened to Mc gear 10 years ago (and about $50K ago too)

We bought an MC7200 four months ago, and haven't done a thing to our system since. Does it sound as lifelike as our SET amp? No. But it fills the house with music, and makes me want to listen to music like my BMW 528i made me want to drive.