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Your system TOO resolving? MacC200 vs ML32S

Tried out a MacC200&ML320S this weekend and find myself in a paradox. My system is Paradigm sig s8's, classe cam 350's. wireworld eclipse,marantz dv8400(to be upgraded). They were both quite good, the only dicernable difference was while the Mac sounded detailed, the ML was finding more detail. In Holly Coles "I can see clearly now", I could here her voice waver more prominantly. The anal engineer in me instantly said "contest over", it goes to ML. As time wore,I noticed Holly's voice on the ML did not have the smooth silky character that I love so much(which I assume is the accurate condition(?) I started wondering if the ML was actually pumping up the detail as some of the "S" sounds on the end of Holly's words were almost too loud for real. I of course like to hear both the voice waver and the silk. On most CD's they sound very similar, but the ML MIGHT be a bit punchier and the Mac a bit laid back. I don't like the laid back(or slow) character of mac amps, but with these almost hyper-detailed speakers, the Mac's slightly smoother tone is appealing. I wouldn't call the mac warmer, just as Paul Bolin stated, perhaps "forgiving". But how can I not go for better resolution? Spend 40K and "dumb" it down with a preamap? I'm fairly new to this, any help with my crisis? Thanks! This forum is great.
autoll
brianmgrarcom
1,317 posts
 
I spent a decade with a system, in various forms, that I hated because I purchased gear that had better detail than what I had been using; I find that I can still get caught up in the "details".

I recall many years ago purchsing a separate amp and pre that was clearly more detailed than the little integrated I replaced, yet the integrated was far more enjoying musicaly, I justified it at the time, huge mistake.
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
i've heard the mac's described as a lot of things, but never 'slow'. both pre's are reference quality, but listening to female vocals and small jazz combos will not put either of these pieces to the test. the mac is the "tubier" sounding of the two, though compared to other mac pre's such as the c2200, it is very detailed. you have a very nice system. Go with the pre you will enjoy listening to for a long period of time(like years). ironically, thats the goal at 40 dollars or 40k. Also the top of the line classe is no slouch either
bigjoe's avatar
bigjoe
693 posts
 
Brianmgrarcom made an excellent point,i think way too many of us get caught up in the detail end of our rigs & loose sight of whats really important,i'll save everybody the standard (its all about the music line of crap)but many of us started out to have a great all around sounding rig before highly detailed became the most important thing on earth.

when detail becomes more important than having a rig thats fun to listen to thats when the madness has taken over.

go with the preamp that makes you happiest when your kicking back with your eye's closed just listening to the music & not trying to pick up on the detail.
aball
2,016 posts
 
Sounds to me like you already know what you want. Go ahead and trust yourself.

Arthur
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