McIntosh - is it that great?

RWD, I like the 402 because it just does not sound like either a SS amp or a tube amp. I liked tube amps because they sounded the most like what I heard in real life, but the 402 is even better in that regard, plus it is more detailed and supremely musical. Images just seem to have less cardboard cutout and more body. Previously all the SS amps I have tried, which include some very notable ones, have all clearly sounded like solid state, with an electronic signature. The 402 does not have this signature. It also shows that what I previously thought was sibilance inherent in some recordings was an artifact of my system. I have always had a pretty clean system, but now with my Ref3, MC402, and Quads it is like a microscope on the recording. Many old favorites have new details exposed that are frankly a little disconcerting.

Dbarger, how does your ARC Ref 3 mate up with the MC402? This past w.e. I heard a demo of the new C2300 & MC250 driving the Quad 2805's, so you bet I'm envious. Some though have complained of an impedence mismatch between Mac amp and Arc pre.....hogwash?

The Ref 3 mates with any amp well. It has a very low output impedance. I cannot speak more highly of the Ref3. Supremely versatile and great sound. Sounds great balanced or single-ended. I have no desire to audition any more preamps or power amps. It is a nice feeling!

My journey to audiophile bliss started about 20 years ago, when I first heard my best friends Mcintosh gear. At that time he was running a Mac cd player(not sure what model), Mac 34v pre, Mac 2205 amp, oracle delphi turntable, Kef 104 speakers, and audioquest cables. My system at the time consisted of mostly good old solid Pioneer gear from the 70's, which was considered audiophile gear at the time. The first time I heard my friends Mac gear I was so blown away, I knew right then and there I would have Mac gear someday. Well it's taken me about 20 years to finally put together the finest system I have ever owned. Here is what my system consist of. 2 Mac 7200 power amps(each running mono for 600 watts per channel), Mac C37 Pre(chose this Mac pre because of the EQ feature and matches the Mac 7200s perfecly), Project Perspective TT with Sumiko Blackbird cartridge, Furman 20 PFi ac conditioner, Aerial 9 speakers, Velodyne 12" servo subwoofer, Straightwire cables and the rescently purchased Mac MVP universal player. Oh and what about my best friends gear? He has only added a Sonic Frontiers dac, the same Velodyne sub as mine and Tara Labs cables. Everything else remains the same and sounds just as good as the first time I had heard, if not better with the additions.

Enjoy the music,
Ron

I don't know, but I just bought a MC2102 here on Audiogon and I'll find out how good it is as soon as it gets here. I plan to bi-amp w/the MC2102 for the mid/high and 2 channels of my B&K ref 7250 for the bottom end. One thing's for sure, they sure hold their value because the one I bought wasn't cheap.