Mcintosh MAC7200 or Hegel H390 for a new pair of Kef R7 META

@aphilc so what are you saying? I'm confused. 

@aphilc so what are you saying? I'm confused. 

I'm saying McIntosh has a virtual cult following steeped in a long history of good amplifiers and other electronics. However, Hegel is among many newer brands (within the last 10 - 15 years) that can compete well with a McIntosh amplifier but don't have the "legacy" of Mac since Hegel is relatively "new" to the USA market having debuted in the USA in 2009 (if memory serves me right). As I've  said, IMO Macs are a warmer-sounding amp and convey deep bass having earned their initial reputation providing power for some well-known rock band concert amplification (of which you are probably aware). However, the Hegel H390 would be among the amps that have a more neutral sound and don't impart a specific sonic signature compared to the "McIntosh sound signature" which by that very phrase indicates the Mac is coloring the signal slightly. Other amps that don't "color" the sound would be Benchmark or some of the Burmester amps that convey a more neutral sound than a Mac IMO. That's why I was suggesting if there was a way to A/B compare the Mac with a Hegel you might hear the difference.

I had the same dilemma, wanted a mac, because it’s a Mac. Love the sound of the Hegal 390, so I bought both. Problem solved. The Hegal is a really great sounding amp. 

hegel if it was only between the two you mentioned, take a entry level accuphase over either tho

@aphilc Good explanation. If money was no object, what amp would you get for the speakers I'm looking at?