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Questions about Mcintosh tube amp pairing with Altecs

Hello all, I will try to keep this short. I would appreciate some first hand experience if anyone has it. I'm looking to upgrade one of my amplifiers. I currently run 3 systems in my listening room. The most used is as follows : Thorens TD 318 with stock arm and Ortofon 540 Mk2, Rebuilt Dual 1229 with Shure M97XE, and Tidal through a Macbook Air through the C47 DAC.   Mcintosh C47 preamp, and a Sun Audio 2A3 clone with a nice tube assortment. Mostly Audioquest RCA and some XLR where applicable. Speakers are Altec A5 configuration with Hiraga inspired crossovers and added supertweeters. I have an SVS PB16 ultra sub,  and a GSG devastator with Lavoce 21" driver powered by a behringer NX3000DSP.  The other amps in the System are a Mcintosh MC7100, and a rebuilt Kenwood M1D. The other speakers are Altec model 19s, and Altec model 15s. I would like to upgrade the 2A3 amplifier driving the A5s, and move it to the Model 19s for when I listen to them. The amplifiers I'm looking at for the A5s are Mcintosh MC30s, MC225, and MC275. I know the 30's are often said to be the best, followed by the 225. What has me curious though is the MC275 MK6. I've read in the past that the 275 can be harsh compared to the lower powered amps, especially with a horn system, but the MK6 looks like it may be an improvement over the earlier generations. What would be your opinion regarding these amps with these speakers?  I do know the 275 is way more power than I need, but It may play nicely with the Model 19s one day. I'm not dead set on Mcintosh. I love Line Magnetic but they are mostly integrated and I don't want 2 preamps in my signal chain. I have a budget of $5000-7000 USD, and don't mind used if It has good history and maintenance. I'd prefer to stay at 5K, but as stated could go to 7K if necessary. Do you like the MC275 for highly efficient speakers ???  I listen to alot of singer songwriter, Classic rock, jazz, and Bossanova.  What I'm looking for is sweet warm sound with more headroom than I'm getting from the 2A3s. I do like their sound generally but I think there could be more "sparkle" up top. Yes I know my hearing isn't what it used to be !!   Open to suggestions. All opinions are welcome. Thank you all for your time...Adrian
128x128adrianleewelch
adrianleewelch's avatar
adrianleewelch OP
74 posts
 
I think the MC 30s would be awesome. Finding a clean pair may be a slight challenge versus the stereo amplifiers but they do come up. The tube rectifiers are what I like about them. Also, I know my system has some other limitations that will be addressed in the next go around. I only get to purchase audio gear once or twice a year and amplifiers are my current focus !  Next will be turntable, arm, cart. 
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jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 
A good alternative to the Mac amps are a pair of Heath W5’s. 25 watts using 6L6/KT66 pairs along with Peerless output trannies. I have a pair along with several different pairs of Altecs.
adrianleewelch's avatar
adrianleewelch OP
74 posts
 
@jasonbourne52 I got both of your messages in my email account but one of them doesn’t show up here for some reason. I think you hit the nail on the head about it being a headphone amp. That’s what I was feeling but didn’t know how to express it. It has an incredible rich midrange but runs out of steam quickly. 
hoosierinohio
162 posts
 
This is just my opinion.  I have 2 pairs of A7's, I believe the best speakers I have ever listened to.  One is 8 ohm, the other is 16 ohm.  I have listened to these with various different amps.  Audio Research (tube amp), Dynaco ST-70 (early rebuild done by Van Alstine the person, before the company he started), ATI, Linn, some others don't didn't set themselves apart, and last but certainly not least Decware. 

To me, the Decware SE34I.5 is pure lightening in a bottle.  Granted this is a huge 6 watts/channel but there is something magical about running a pentode EL34 as a single ended triode that has wow factor.  The efficiency of the speakers, which is similar to what you have, doesn't need much to make them sing.  When I got the unit it was like hearing things for the first time.  My son listened with me and he said it was like going from a low pixel tube TV to a 4k TV.  Everything is presented in the musical recording more perfectly than I have ever heard it.  Nothing is over presented or over driven and everything is there.  The most perfect balance I have heard from any system.  I understand firsthand why you seldom see any amplification Decware makes on the second hand market. 

If you go with the Mac, which is seldom, if ever a bad choice.  I'd be curious how they sound.  I was contemplating a Mac amp when I got the Decware.  Good luck. 
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