McIntosh MA6300

As Davt suggests, you need to frame your question with some context - speakers you need to drive for starters. Are you also asking if $2,400 is a good price for a 6300 in good condition? (a different question). Also tricky to assess if something meets your goals with out know what they might be. But also, do know the 6300 is more than simply a brand, but a very good amplifier that will hold its value if/when you choose to sell, to a degree greater than most other brands.

There are a lot of guys here on the Gon who "play LPs" that don't hesitate at twice $2400 for a cartridge.

OP, what is your overall budget, and what is in your current system, and how are you playing your MP3 files through your system at the moment? USB?

Ok, good points. The current system is basically a jerry rig of an amp I bought in college in the 90s for couple hundred bucks and some small JBL bookend speakers. I am just starting the process, so I will be buying everything. Budget will be ~$4-5K. Yep, I see that McIntosh is a value brand, one guy I talked to said he's never not sold one for near or more than his purchase price.

So... basically given the overall budget, is the amp worth the price?

I currently use an iPod adapter for the music. Its sounded great 7 years ago to do that, but as I listen to other peoples systems its clear that there is better out there.

BTW this forum is fantastic, tons to learn. Thank you for your collective help.

The MAC is a good amp, but given your budget of $5,000 for a complete system, I would say you are spending a bit too much for the system. If you intent is to build a system you will own for the next 10+ years, I would start the process with find the speakers you will want to live with, they will be the single most important thing to decide on, and the speakers you own will drive the amp decision, should not be the other way around. If you want to build a system in that price range, the Vandersteen 2s would make the foundation for a pretty good $5000 complete system.