Help! Buy McIntosh MA252?

Thanks for your input! Great to hear you're enjoying your MA252.  I hope you don't mind if I pick your brain some more.

Can you elaborate why the PC would not be up to par? I am listening to lossless files and would get an internal audio card/DAC (EVGA Nu Pro vs Sound Blaster AE-9).  It seems many people here use Tidal or other streaming services so not sure how a PC is worse than that.  I was more worried about my 683s not being good enough for the MA252.

I had a 252, Pathos Classic One MK3 .

sold the 252 and kept the Pathos Classic One.

then bought a Raven Blackhawk MK3 and the Pathos was replaced in my main system by the Raven. 
Listen to as many options as you can. Raven has 45 day return and check out Pathos at Up Scale Audio as they have 60 day returns.

McIntosh 252 did not do it for me. Not saying it won’t for you.

Do you have the option of giving your dealer a credit card number and bring the demo units home to hear them driving your speakers in your listening room?

I have a McIntosh tube preamp and McIntosh solid state power amp and love that combination driving my Focal speakers.

That's a good idea, ejr, I'll ask my local dealer.  Otherwise it's so hard to imagine how each component will end up fitting with your existing setup and whether it makes enough of a difference to justify the cost.  Paying 7-15% restocking fee each time is just not realistic.

Skypunk, in what aspects was the 252 weaker than the Raven and the Pathos?

I've just purchased a McIntosh MA252 and matched it with my B&W 683 S2s.  I did not compare it to other hybrid integrated amps.  As an experiment I've also been trying the MA252 with an older set of Dynaudio Excite X14s bookshelf speakers.  All I can say is that the improvement over my prior solid state receiver with both speaker sets is dramatic.

Much will depend on the room, placement, media and input devices, but I really found the largest improvement in vinyl music; cleaner more natural highs, more musical detail and really strong bass.  A big improvement in CD and Streaming Media is also there, but not to the same degree as vinyl.  My cartridge is an MM Ortofon 2MBlack.

The 683 S2s never sounded better; its like they have new life; the X14s now fill the room with sound.  I was skeptical that the McIntosh investment was worth the upgrade differential, but now I have no doubts.  Still, I can't help but wonder now much nicer a set of new B&W 800 series would pair with the MA252 and that's how they keep us hooked.