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Having had about a dozen various Mac units...

of both older and newer generations, I would say they are about the same. With minor variations I found Mac to have -yes- "a house sound". So I guess we can continue to blush.

McIntosh's good quaualities are best noticed if you use a VERY VERY efficient horn based speaker. Otherwise you are NOT going to get clean highs and without a wicked efficient woofer - no dynamics!!!!!! And if you like your music at ear bleeding levels, then McIntosh IS the way to go. If you like your music at normal levels - ah, look elsewere. McIntosh is good if you like your music loud. Otherwise I have found almost all Mac's to lack detail and dynamics. And I mean in a big way! And yes some of them sounded like I had cotton in my ears.
The higher up I went the $$$ ladder with Mac's the more disappointed I was.

I think I once describe one of my Mac systems as, "it's as exciting as taking in the groceries." Ironically I found their early cheaper integrated amp and stereotech recievers to sound better. Unfortunatly they were plaqued with design problems.

I can't for the life of me figure out why someone would lay out something like $7k for a Mac when there are SOOO many fine piece to choose from?????

And I too wonder if the engineers sit around and say "hey, let's build something that costs a lot of money and has NO dynamics".
As someone below posted about how the engineers design an amp, I too would like to know.

Charles

PS I can't comment on Macs tubed gear and I would not put them in the same catagory as their new or used SS stuff. However pieces do vary.

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