Sopra 2 Bass

Halfway through the track there was a quick pop from the right speaker.

Once again I agree with James633, this most likely was an over excursion of the woofer due to boosting the low end and the over all volume you were using while playing the track.  Been there and done that,  but I don’t recommend doing it on a regular basis. As long as you are not hearing any distortion form the speaker you did not do any real damage, but you did reach the limits of your system with those particular settings.

If what you were playing was at your desired level of volume and low end thump when you heard the pop, you should probably seriously consider adding subs in the future. I wouldn’t add just any subs either, you will want subs that have plenty of power and least a 12” driver if not larger.

@audiotroy Definitely not my normal listening volume, but experiencing that power, stage and clarity was something else, including fun! It's something I would like to do again, but now fear. A McIntosh dealer emailed me based on my same description I gave you. He wrote,

It seems there was a digital “glitch” in the recording, and it made the amplifier reach Power Guard and do its job. You said that they were only slightly pulsing, so for that particular track, you were at full power plus of the MA-9000. The Power Guard was doing its job (as it should), and protecting your speakers from clipping distortion. I would not be concerned.

Leaves me wondering what a clip sounds like vs something else...

I would love subs, but I'm now stuck looking for the best streaming option, dumping Tidal for something DSD to work with my Mc's internal DAC, possibly upgrading the DAC to the latest version. I need to nail down a source, the best possible source within my current sore budget. I'm also wondering it I should have been a bit more patient and waited for the MA-12000. In short, I'm in it deep.

Interesting about 24/192 mqa. I was told I needed usb to get it, but maybe thats because I use a nucleus.

many of the chi-fi dacs that are advertised as being mqa capable (topping, gustard, smsl...) only decode it properly via their usb inputs -- coax and optical, no can do

Leaves me wondering what a clip sounds like vs something else...

Im my experience when an amp clips you would hear that same pop of the driver hitting its excursion limits followed immediately by heavy distortion and lack of volume due to a blown driver. The amp it self would suffer no damage.

Since I wasn't at your party and was unable to experience the volume level you were reproducing, it is impossible for me to know for sure, and I certainly do not want to contradict your dealer, but I've been in your shoes more times than I care to count, and I still think that there was a low end dynamic spike in that track and with you having the 25 Hz control and possibly the 50 Hz control adjusted were you do, that was just a little more low end power than that 7" driver wanted to see. Had it been the amp reaching its limit I think that driver would have been toasted, but again that is just my opinion.

I'm also wondering it I should have been a bit more patient and waited for the MA-12000.

Not sure why you think the MA12000 would work better. If you had run out of power with the MA9000 the fifty extra watts probably would not have bought you anything. You would more than likely need an amp that could deliver 600 watts or more if you are clipping a 300 watt amp.

In short, I'm in it deep.

I hear what you are saying (typing?) It's very easy to get sucked in. The best thing to do is just take a breath and relax. It sounds like you are enjoying what you have so no real need to rush. Figure out what you want to improve (sounds like you have) and proceed slowly. Do your homework. In my opinion, though it's not being asked for (too bad I'm giving it anyway) is that the improvement in DAC's in the next few years will be greater than the improvement is subs so unless you are extremely unhappy with what you have now, you might be better off upgrading that later.