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McIntosh MA 6500 reliability etc....

Hi Folks,
I am considering a Mcintosh MA 6500 integrated amp. Do any of you have one? How is the reliability and how do you like the sound? How is their gear in general for the long haul? I have a Cambridge Audio 840 A V2, and am considering a move in this direction. Any thoughts would be helpful in aiding my decision. Thanks so much...Brian.

PS: How is the company with backing their products should failure occur? Any dealings that way? I would be buying new from a registered dealer.
128x128trumpetbri
brianmgrarcom
1,317 posts
 
The "leave it on, turn it off" debate will never end. Try it both ways yourself and if you hear a difference leaving it on, so be it. For me, I don't hear any difference with my Mac gear so I shut it off; I have had other gear that I felt the results were different.
npg3
1 posts
 
I just bought a 6500 from Audio Classics this week...AMAZING customer service and knowledge. The price was great, and I will always use them for Mac in the future.
cytocycle
1,043 posts
 
If you are going to power Magnepans, forgot the 6500 and get something with more 4ohm power. My friends 6900 barely (the speakers never opened up) powered Magnepan 1.6's.
elberoth2's avatar
elberoth2
1,223 posts
 
MA6500 has more power (into 4 Ohms) than 6900. It also sounds more dynamic and "in control" than the bigger brother. The 6900 uses their autorormer technology, which brings some midrange magic and HF refinement, but at an expense of dynamics.
aball
2,018 posts
 
Having had a 6500 and knowing the 6900 very well, I have to say it does seem like the 6500 has more power, and is more dynamic. We used the 6500 for a while with Revel F30s in a room that is 35x18 and it was crazy how the 6500 had zero strain at very high volume levels playing techno.

Give it a try for a while and see if you think you need more power. It really depends on what volume level you like to listen to as to how much power you really need.

Arthur
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