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Is McIntosh really Hi-Fi, finally MC452

OK, I'm about worn-out looking at hi-fi amps, maybe not super hi-fi, but what 8K can get you as a new reference point.

So many amps have serious user shortcomings. They either eat your power lines to putty at idle (X350.5) or get so hot they likely wear out in short order (Plinius SA-103 and even the X350.5).

Parasound Halo JC-1's and ANTHEM P2 seem to be more reasonbable on the idle power and heat equation as far as "typical" consideration go....Then I come across the McIntosh MC452.

I know, McIntosh makes romantic "feeling" amplifiers. But wait...the MC452 seems to have turned a tide of sorts. It's NOT your fathers McIntosh. But which son or daughter's piece is it?

The MC452 unit make tremendous sense on paper. Good current (I use C4' series II speakers), reasonable price, seems to be power efficient at idle (I don't mind using power WHEN I'm listening to it!), USA manufacture with superb build quality.

How does this unit's sound fit into the world of modern SS amps, though? Putting aside lousy usability and just listening quality, what's the score on the MC452's sound compared to Plinius SA-103, PASS LABS X350.5 or the Ayer V-5xe?

I like a sound that is NOT impressionistic and blurry, and where the music sounds like it went through the chamber in the "fly" movie, where everything that went into the time and location chamber is fused together on the other side. No, I like a more rich deliniated sound. More red than pink if you will. Pink doesn't know what color it wants to be, it's "fly" created with white and red blended). I like red to stay red if that's what it is.

Is the MC452 amplifier really fast and detailed relative to what is expected of SS designs? Is McIntosh really letting lose of the old house sound with a real contender? I know, you don't think of McIntosh with detailed accurate sound. Are we missing something? Are we being fair with this new amplifier that seems to have changed it's spots?

Those who bought this amp, what were your experience? I have to drive awhile to get near a dealer, so a spot check of general consensus would be nice before I waste gas that could be put in the bank for an amplifier.
rower30
theo's avatar
theo
2,662 posts
 
As a long time McIntosh owner, I can say that if you like the McIntosh approach to sound reproduction, yes it is high end. If you feel that they are lacking in certain areas of music reproduction then maybe they don't fit the bill. There are many whom take pride in bashing McIntosh for many reasons, but I feel it falls into a "blow out your candle and mine will burn brighter" motive. Some can actually point out the detailed reasons why they don't like McIntosh, just as those who do can point just as many reasons why they love it. Thank capitalism for the market where each can buy what they want or need from a plethora of manufactures that each have a different approach to design. Just we have the choices in speakers, cables, DAC's, CD players, TT's and the list goes on. Each of us has only one set of ears, eyes, tastebuds, etc. I hear and listen the way I like and enjoy, I like my BBQ ribs without sauce some have to drench it and take a chance they may taste the meat. Is McIntosh high-end? Well there seems to be a strong market for used and there seems to be a number of dealers that pride themselves for being dealers.
So is it high end! For my budget yes, for a guy making tons more, maybe not. For a guy making way less he might consider Denon as ultra high end, no that is not a slam on Denon. My answer sums up as it is all relative and contingent on your tastes. If you don't like the sound and it costs way more than you can afford, it really isn't high end to you is it? Please yourself, I have for many years and soemday I may trade my MC402 in for a 452, but right now it is a little too high end for me.
rower30 OP
211 posts
 
OK, point taken BUT, the product can still be placed in the scheme of things at it's price point (8K) with the other amps I've listed. So richer or poorer isn't an issue. What does it do well and not so well. True, each will go a different direction on the amps character. I want to know what that character is. A comment that it isn't for all is beside the point.

To just wander off and exclude it from "comparison" and simply say I like it without it being based on it's metrics is silly, too. The product has to stand somewhere on it's own four feet.

So I still don't have an answer here.
is it fast sounding.
is it tight sounding.
is it hard sounding.
is it soft sounding.
is the image tight or diffused.
ETC.

This amp DOES have a general sound relative to others. What's your take on it's character?
theo's avatar
theo
2,662 posts
 
Sorry I mis understood your question. My personal opinion on the MC402 I presently own is that of improvement over the MC352 I traded for it, ans assume the MC452 will add even more. I feel that the McIntosh amps with autoformers have characteristics that bring a "tube like warmth" without the tube pace. They deliver a detail without being overly analytical or sterile sounding. They deliver a speed of transient without over exaggeration or harshing of the sound, yet keeping the emotion in place. I tend to close my eyes and mentally meld into the music on some tracks.They have a depth of bass delivery that maintains a control and keeping the tighness of the bass passage without 'muddiness' I have found in other amps. They deliver a mid and high that carry the natural timbre of the music they are reproducing. But that said I can't rest all of what I hear on the amp. The associated equipment play an active part as well. I use cardas Golden Reference cables, I am driving Revel Performa F32's, my Pre is a Audio Research LS26 with BAT tubes. The sources are Ayre C5xe-mp and LP12 with Kleos cart and Linto phono stage. I noticed that the bass tightened up when I added a Running Springs Jaco. I felt that the highs fell back in line when I added a Cardas Golden Ref power cord and took away the Harmonic Tech cable. So how much of this is the amp, I really don't know that I will ever know for sure. So to sum up in a few words what I think of a the McIntosh autoformer equipped amp sound, I say "warm, accurate, musically emotionally involving" and making you forget that
you have the system and just hearing the recording. One fianl note as I point out the autoformers, the non autoformer amps have a much different more analytical less emotional sound. I have had and still do have these in multi channel versions.
All my biased opinion of course.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,396 posts
 
I assume you have been reading reviews of the 452 as have I. I have not heard it, but it seems that it delivers a sound to compete with the Parasound Halo JC-1, Plinius, PASS LABS and has departed from the McIntosh house sound.
An excerpt from a online review:

"I believe McIntosh has quietly revoiced this amp, and I would suspect the MC601 as well. I can't say whether it is the new ThermalTrak output transistors that have altered the sonic signature, or if the audio circuits have been intentionally redesigned to voice the amp differently. What I am experiencing is a sound that seems dynamically quicker, more analytical, particularly in the upper midrange frequencies. There is a sharper clarity to strings, grouped voices, drum snaps, and cymbals. Piano comes across slightly crisper in tone in the upper octaves, yet not in an objectionable manner."

But you'll still need to hear it for yourself.
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