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Speakers to mate with Mac MC402 under $5k

I am in the process of wrapping up a renovation of space for dedicated HT/2 ch listenning. The room is 13.5' x 25'. We will be sitting facing the 13.5' wall.

Pieces of the 2 channel system I own and want to keep are a Naim CDX cd player and the MC402 amp. I have an order in for a Supratek Chardonnay to try out, but am open to other preamps also. Need to be tubed with HT bypass and a remote.

My current speakers are Dynaudio Audience 80's and home made Wilson CUB clones (Proteus) that I am looking to upgrade. I've had B&W 801s3's and 802N's in the past, but am not a big fan of the B&W sound.

Local dealers seem to only have B&W, Aerial, Dynaudio, Avalon, limited Revel, Dali, and Harbeth. Preference is for used to get the best value for my $$. The dealer who sells Mac has them paired with the Aerial 8b's and 9's, but I was not overly impressed.

Any help on what mates well with this amp is appreciated.

THX.
Frank
fpv
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,504 posts
 
Aball is right - get a good active pre for the Mac. Yes, great choice for an amp as the Mac 402 is the finest amp I have ever heard/owned.

I drove Dali Grand speakers and the sound was glorious! Go for Dali Hel 400's or 800's!

Bill
fpv OP
15 posts
 
Thanks to everyone so far for the responses. This amp is a monster and is continuing to amaze me. I borrowed a Cary SLP98 from my local shop and it makes my Dynaudio Audience 80's sound like they have never sounded before ! No remote of HT bypass though, but it was good to see what this amp is capable of.

I've listenned to the MC2200 tubed pre and liked it better than the C46, but wasn't blown away. I heard the MC2200/MC501's and C46/MC501's on Aerial 8b's and then the C46/M1201 on the Aerial 9's. Maybe it's just the speakers. But the soundstage just wasn't there. I want the speakers to disapear.

Anyone heard Supratek with the Mac's? Maybe when my room is done I'll try to audition the mac2200.

Anyway the reason I posted was for speakers and you guys have given alot of good recomendations for me to look into. First of all I do want a full range speaker. I live in Massachusetts. I know of a JMlabs dealer so I could audition those. I think Spearit Audio in Boston has Dali so I can check those out also. The Tyler Linbrooks look interesting, but I've never seen/heard them locally.
Seems like every dealer around here carries B&W....

Thanks for the responses ! Anyone else?
velo62
255 posts
 
Might take some heat here but Ive never liked any mac preamps...always sound veiled to me and the C2200 was no exception. Ive owned the MC402 and tried the Supratek, Cary slp90,94, 98, a CJ 18ls, bat vk50se and an Audio Research LS25 mk1. The Ls25 was my preference, the Supratek Syrah sounded good but was a little too bloomy and always buzzed when my cell was about to recive a call ( Sure it was just a tube issue )... I prefered the black background, imaging and refinement of the Arc. Good luck
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
mac is also compatible with accuphase pre's...
lokie's avatar
lokie
528 posts
 
I am also looking for a pre to match with my Mac 602 and Eggleston Rosa's. I'm running everything through a modified Denon AV receiver with excellent results. I'm pretty happy for now but a good tube pre would really take it to the next level. Because of their dynamic and detailed nature I would think, a CAT or First Sound Pre would be perfect matches, but, like you, I want AV pass through and a remote. On paper I have narrowed it down to VTL 5.5 (used $2,000), Aesthetix Janus (used $3,500), Supratek Chardonnay new ($3,800), and the Mac 200 (used $3,800). I'm also very interested in the VTL 6.5 that's supposed to be coming out this year. If the VTL 6.5 is even close to their 7.5, I think it should be a real winner.
The Mac 2200 was, to me, a little "polite" for my system. I am looking for a tube amp that has little more "bite and resolution" to counterbalance the 602's and Eggy's smoothness.
I am moving in a couple of months, and, therefore, won't be doing any auditioning until I get settled into my new listening room so for now it's all theoretical.



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