I just came back home with MC452 to try out before I make a firm decision on purchasing a MC 601. My dealer doesn’t keep the stock of MC 601 but he was kind enough to loan me a MC 452 for a next 5days.
I’ve been using tube amps for a while and am hesitate to going back to SS amps because I had a nothing but bad taste on SS amps.

Anyway I told my dealer that I will do the home audition with my Elipsa and try to get an idea about the McIntosh SS amps.
So I brought home and plugged in and waited about a hour before I play first CD

I put the “1812” SACD and listen to the whole song…..it takes only 30 minutes to finish it… WOW….I knew it’s going to better on classical music than my mc275 but I didn’t expect these much difference.
The sound of cannon ball was so real….and head room is much better as well.

And I switched to Ray Brown’s Solar Energy SACD on my tray….same thing happens here the bottom end is much tighter and stage got bigger as well also I noticed the piano note was so real too.

Wow so far I am SOLD….

Now I put some vocal cd’s and 50-60 Jazz cd’s ….Now it does show missing the sweetness of the voice and sound little cold on old cd production.

That’s only my draw back. I thought I never going to go back to SS amps but as of first day I got a lot of thing to think about…..

And imagine with MC 601 it will only get better than MC452…hmmm….well I still have few more days to decide….see how it goes.

Thanks for looking.

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McIntosh C2300 Pre Amp, 2x MC601,2x MC275 Power Amp, MCD 500.
Sonus Faber Elipsa Speakers .
PS Audio PPP.
Kimber KS 1136 through out. KS 3035 Speaker Cables , KS 9035 Jumpers

Paul......The McIntosh MC452 looks super. I hope it has at least 60+ hours on it. Mine went through that many hours and more during the break in period, and had quite a sonic signature shift during this time. Once past 100 hours the sonic signature has remained stable. It is a powerful, articulate, detailed, and very fast amplifier. My guess is it will power the Elipsa's better than your MC275's. Keep us posted.

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Dan


Living Room System: McIntosh C2300, MC601 (2), MCD1100, MS750, MR85, Sony DAT 60ES, Nakamichi BX-300, Micro Seiki DD-40, Ortofon 2M Black, Sonos ZP90, Oppo BDP-83SE Blu-ray, PMC EB1i, Fathom f113 w/ Sound Anchor stand, Power Plant Premier (2), PS Audio Soloist Premier SE (3), Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Kimber 8TC with WBT Solid Silver Angled Locking Banana Connectors.
Studio System: McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MCD1100, MR88, Michell Gyro SE w/SME 309/Ortofon Cadenza Black, Sonos ZP90, PS Audio Power Plant Premier, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, Sonus Faber Amati Anniversario, Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireword Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Wireworld Silver Eclipse speaker cable.
Studio Home Theater System: McIntosh MX120, MC452, Oppo BDP-95 Blu-ray, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, JBL LSR-6332 (2), JBL LSR-6328P (3), McIntosh XLS112 (2), Sony 52XBR9, Tributaries Silver IC's, Wireworld PC's.
Vintage: McIntosh MA5100, MR74 tuner, JVC XL-Z1050 K2 CD player, Wyred 4 Sound DAC2, Tandberg 3008A and 3026A, JBL4312A , McIntosh 4300V for deck speakers.

Thanks Dan, I will keep posted.

Correction on title : MC 452 not 405 lol

__________________
McIntosh C2300 Pre Amp, 2x MC601,2x MC275 Power Amp, MCD 500.
Sonus Faber Elipsa Speakers .
PS Audio PPP.
Kimber KS 1136 through out. KS 3035 Speaker Cables , KS 9035 Jumpers

beautiful pictures. boy, the 452 sure looks the part. what a badass looking amplifier!! puts my 402 to shame

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McIntosh MCD500, C2300, MC2102, MC402 Gold Lion 12AX7s 12AT7s
VPI Scoutmaster/JMW10.5i/SDS/Clamp Clearaudio Maestro Billy Bags Rack
Sonus Faber Cremona Auditors REL B2 (2)Symposium Ultra,Svelte,Rollerblocks
Transparent Ultra MM2 IC/SC, Reference Power ASC Tower Bass Traps(2), Sound Planks(15)
PS Audio Power Plant Premier x 2, Dedicated 20amp lines (2)

Paul... How sweet it is!

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FLORIDA
MX136, C15, MC206, MC162(2) MC402, MC1.2KW(12) MC2KW(2) MQ109B, MR88, MS300(2) MCD301, MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, MCD1000, MDA1000, C1000C, C1000P/T, MPC1500, HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) R778, OPPO-BDP95, GRACE M902 AMP, PS AUDIO PPP(8) PUREPOWER 1050(4) RGPC 600(8) RGPC 1200(20) RGPC POLE PIG(4) JL GOTHAM SUBS(2) LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U PROJECTOR, SVS LIFT, STEWART STUDIOTEK 110" MOTORIZED SCREEN, ASC ACOUSTIC PANELS & BASS TRAPS, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, SONOS ZP90-W4S MOD, SYMPOSIUM ROLLERBLOCKS, SENNHEISER HD800, GOLD LION TUBES, WIREWORLD GOLD ECLIPSE CABLES & SILVER ELECTRA PC'S
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MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MQ109B, MR88, MS750(2) MVP881, MEN220, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C, C1000P/T, MPC1500, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) CAMBRIDGE NP30, ELITE BDP-09FD, BENCHMARK DAC-1 HDR, BRYSTON BDA-1 DAC, OPPO-BDP95, SPL PHONITOR, PS AUDIO PPP(10) PUREPOWER 1050(4) RGPC 1200(15) JL GOTHAM SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113(2) SOUND ANCHOR SUB STANDS(2) LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U PROJECTOR, STEWART STUDIOTEK 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, URC MX-6000 REMOTE, NAKAMICHI DRAGON, TEAC X2000R R2R, SONOS ZP90-W4S MOD, ASC ACOUSTIC PANELS & BASS TRAPS, FORTRESS SEATING, HRS DAMPING PLATES & NIMBUS COUPLERS, SYMPOSIUM ROLLERBLOCKS, ULTRASONE ED-10, GOLD LIONS, WIREWORLD GOLD & PLATINUM ECLIPSE CABLES & SILVER ELECTRA PC'S
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Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD TT, CA OUTER RING & CLAMP, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER CART, CLEARAUDIO DOUBLE SMART MATRIX CLEANER, HRS-MXR CUSTOM 4V RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X 1921 SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIGNATURE PHONO-PRE, PS AUDIO PPP, RGPC 1200, WIREWORLD SILVER ECLIPSE CABLES & SILVER ELECTRA PC'S
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New Reference System: BURMESTER 911 MK3 AMP(2), 089 CD PLAYER, 088 PRE-AMP, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP LOADED, 111 MUSIC SERVER, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, DYNAVECTOR XV-1S CART, HRS-SXR CUSTOM 2V-3V-2V RACK w/ M3X 1921 SHELVES, WIREWORLD PLATINUM CABLES & PC'S, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS RED

I think I'm in the same place as you right now (sort of). I've been running an MC240 for a while and even went as far as picking up a second unit but I feel sometimes I'm missing something. No doubt about it that tubes are sweet, especially in the mid range, but it's that reserve power for those big complicated sections that are missing.
By the way, I've seen and listened to your video's on YouTube and have always admired you set up, very nice

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2-Channel System: Luxman L590Aii, D-05 CD/SACD ,VPI HR19JR (with mods),Harbeth Compact 7es-3,Kimber PBJ's & 8TC Speaker Cables,PS Audio AV3000.

Have you place the 275 on top of Granite.
Angel

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System: Mcintosh 60th Anniversary C22 w/Tele, MC75 w/GL & Valhalla Balance Interconnect, Valley Stands
Source: Accuphase DP-500, Linn LP12/ Ekos, Studer A810, 2 Nakamichi Dragon, CR-7A, ZX-9
Speakers: Harbeth 7-ES2 w/ Sound Anchor Stands, Au24 cables, Sennheiser HD650, Acoustimac Panel
Power: 2 Isoclean PT-3030G IV 3KVA, Isoclean 3030 Super Focus Cable, Isoclean ICP 204 & ICP 206 outlets, Focus/ Python Power Cord

Also what tubes are on the 275. Are the 275 bridge.
Angel

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System: Mcintosh 60th Anniversary C22 w/Tele, MC75 w/GL & Valhalla Balance Interconnect, Valley Stands
Source: Accuphase DP-500, Linn LP12/ Ekos, Studer A810, 2 Nakamichi Dragon, CR-7A, ZX-9
Speakers: Harbeth 7-ES2 w/ Sound Anchor Stands, Au24 cables, Sennheiser HD650, Acoustimac Panel
Power: 2 Isoclean PT-3030G IV 3KVA, Isoclean 3030 Super Focus Cable, Isoclean ICP 204 & ICP 206 outlets, Focus/ Python Power Cord

Pssst, SS amp, tube preamp.

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Randy - Wilson Sophia 2; BAT VK-600SE, BAT VK-52SE, BAT VK-5DSE; JL Audio F113 x2; Exact Power EP-15 and SP-15; Oppo BDP-83 SE; Emotiva MPS-1 and DMC-1; Marantz VP-15S front projector; 92" Stewart Firehawk; Rocket 200, 300, 750; ASC Tube Traps; SMS-1; WireWorld Silver Electra 5^2 PC's, Silver Eclipse 6 IC's and Silver Eclipse 6 SC's; Shunyata Hydra 6/Black Mamba CX-HC; Symposium Svelte Plus and RollerBlock Series 2+; Clear Audio Concept (MC); PS Audio GCPH

j3brow,masterlu,chessman Thank you for your comment.


iamhifi ...Yes they are using as bridged mono. I havent have a chance to use them on granite.

DonBattles....I don't think the MC452 has been broke in yet....According to Dan they needs more than 100 playing hours...anyway I listened whole day yesterday. Yes it does sounds better on Classical music but overall I still prefer my pair of MC275's . especially on voice and jazz music.
I don't know how the MC601 will change the sounds but so far....If I have to choose one it would be MC275's.

__________________
McIntosh C2300 Pre Amp, 2x MC601,2x MC275 Power Amp, MCD 500.
Sonus Faber Elipsa Speakers .
PS Audio PPP.
Kimber KS 1136 through out. KS 3035 Speaker Cables , KS 9035 Jumpers