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McIntosh MC611and MC1.25KW-how do they sound compared to 601's and 1.2KW

Long time selling and buying on Agon but first time positing.  Just sold my 1201's and was planning to upgrade to the 611's or the 1.25KW's. However, I am on hold now as I have heard from two sources that McIntosh has "re-voiced" the amps.  Both guys felt the high end was hard and difficult to listen to at anything above a whisper. Both guys sold their 1.25KW's within weeks. Does anyone have any experience either comparing these new amps to their predecessors and/or with similar mono blocks?

I really enjoyed the 1201's with my speakers. Just decided to change as we were moving and had to crate them up anyway. 

I have DynAudio C4 Platinum Confidence speakers, McIntosh C1100 pre. Linn TT with the full boat Linn treatment, etc. 

Any advice or insight would be appreciated. 
spl1992
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,427 posts
 
I have not heard that.  Over at  Audio Afecianado in the McIntosh section, a few of the guys have upgraded and they are all in agreement and singing praise.  No one is talking about harshness in the highs or any harshness at all.  The amps aren't re-voiced, they are now quad balanced which makes them quieter.  I heard the amps at Audio Classics driving a pair of Legacy speakers (the expensive ones with the Wavelet processor)  and the sound was "to die" for.
jackd
1,071 posts
 
I have a friend that had them less than a month and even after running them 24/7 with a signal for weeks he found them unlistenable at anything above low levels on both Strad's and Studio 2's.  He had previously owned 303, 452, 601's and 1.2kw's in the past along with multiple Mc tube amps so not a Mc novice. Even Ivan the owner of AA and long time Mc dealer prefered the 1.2kw to the new 1.25kw.  Take that un-altering praise of all things McIntosh on AA with a grain of salt at least as anything with Big Blue meters is good to many of them.  Also it takes a "big man" to admit you ordered amps in that price range unheard and then didn't like them as they are not an in-stock item to most Mc dealers.
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,427 posts
 
I reached out to Ivan but haven't heard back.  Why not talk to Mike at Audio Classics and see what he says?  He is extremely honest and would never steer you wrong.  An example, I have a MC152 power amp and was going to go up to an older 250wpc power amp (MC252).  He advised me against it, said mine sounded much better.  He saved me a few grand after trade in.
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