Talk me out of buying Monoblocks and into a stereo amp instead

@dman777 

I was in the exact same position you were two years ago. I ended up purchasing a pair of MC 611s and C2700. I auditioned the MC 462 with the C2700, but the 611s were slightly better. In hindsight, I wish I had purchased the MC 462 and C12000. I love the McIntosh sound, looks, performance, and brand, and I thought this would be my endgame system.

A big, however, and I know you don't want to hear this, but I just auditioned the new Soulution 331 integrated. Its retail price is equal to the total of the MC 611 and C12000. I will soon be moving away from my beloved MAC system. To put this into perspective, I have roughly $30K retail of cabling/conditioning feeding my MACs. My current system was shamed by how the Soulution 331 performed. I still can't unhear what that integrated did with a measly just over 100-watt specification. 

I wish someone had given me this advice before purchasing my system. It would have saved me a bunch of $$ in the long run.

Best of luck on your journey!

@jeffreyw Interesting story, thank you. If I may ask, please, why do you wish you purchased the MC 462 over the 611s in hindsight?

@jeffreyw I had a similar experience, different equipment.  I was  in love with the look and sound of high power Krell separates until a Burmester 105 watt, model 032 integrated amp seduced me, causing me to divorce my Krells for a younger, clearer, faster but just as athletically powerful sound that was more truthful to the music.  I thought dropping 200 watts would disappoint.  It did not.  Dynamics, bass and image density were all better the Burmester.  To be fair, I have not heard current Krell models.  Your Solution is also a phenomenal sounding integrated.  The only better integrated I have auditioned cost the price of your Solution and my Burmester together - the Audionet Humboldt.  

@dman777 

I think the MC 462 punches way above its weight. I was not able to demo the C12000 when I was purchasing, but I believe that combo would outperform the C2700/MC611s. The performance of the C12000 is substantially better than the C2700. I heard the C12000 on another system and found it to be more accurate than the C2700. 

Monoblocks all the way.