Mcintosh integrated Vs amp

Many thanks for all your feedback. I happen to have about $1,500 to spend and from what I've seen I could get a decent Amp 2505, or a good classic intergated MA6200 or crossing my fingers, a used MA6300 (no tone controls) or one of its predecessors. I guess I could also wait a couple of months and save some more.

Should you decide to save up some more, you won't be sorry. Part of the fun of having a system is having what you actually want and not just what you could settle for. Good hunting.

Glenfihi:
...Part of the fun of having a system is having what you actually want and not just what you could settle for. Good hunting...

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I learned that early on in this hobby and, IMHO, it is sage advice.

I agree with Glenfihi. If you save a little more and I'm not talking a lot more, it will pay off. I would buy used. I did and it really paid off. Especially amps. Speakers I'm Leary of buying used speakers unless I can drive to get them. That's just me though.

I have a McIntosh preamp with defeatable tone controls. I think of them like air bags in a car that only deploy when needed. In audio, that means when the source material is poorly recorded or in poor condition, but you want to listen to the music anyway. About 95% of the time, I use the tone bypass feature, but it is nice to know they are there if needed.

I love the Mac sound. I also bought mine used. The beauty of buying used is that if you aren't happy, you can usually resell the item for most, if not all, of what you paid for it.

I say, go for it. I like tubes, but the least expensive Macs are the solid state units that came out in the late '60s through the '80s. They are well built, but some parts do age, which can affect, or destroy, the unit's performance. I got mine from AudioClassics.com. They specialize in used Mac gear, and service what they sell. Give Ryan Kilpatrick a call. He's a terrific guy and knows his stuff.