I personally think that the all McIntosh rig I heard at Stereo Exchange in NY recently sounded smooshy and lacking any kind of testicular drive. Yes it is rich and plummy sounding but at the expense of dynamics and bass and treble extension. I have a VK 42SE that if bettered by the VK43SE, the latter would be a phenomenal preamp, not that the VK42SE is a slouch. My VK53 which I upgraded from the VK52SE is a superior preamp to both its predecessor and the solid state version. I have not heard the VK43SE.
Of course, your mileage may vary.
Last edited by Swelfelo; 12-12-2015 at 05:35 PM.
Reason: grammar
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