[Charles]

Serge, thanks for the youtube video. It was very interesting to hear and appreciate the different reactions. The speakers (Sasha DAW's) were very excellent for doing a comparison like this as was the ancillary gear. The folks doing the evaluation were dedicated audiophiles. They seemed unbiased.

I have seen comments on AA like Dag's will blow Mac's away, etc and I knew this to be untrue because I owned a Krell FPB 700 for over 10 years. It is probably my favorite all time amp, fully class A, and Apexorca owns a similar smaller amp in his Fenice system. When I went to the 1.2KW's I noticed differences but nothing that made me unsatisfied with the 1.2KW. The Krell simply ran too hot and my rec room is very difficult to cool in the summer.

Both the 1.25KW and the Progressions are very fine amps and it is a matter of taste as to which sound you prefer. Having lived with the 1.2KW and the 1.25KW I can say that the latter is more refined in its presentation but still the same Mac house sound.

I have said and will repeat that Mac goes way way back. When solid state came out I believe they thought it would immediately replace tubes. Mac believed in measurements. If it measures better it must sound better. Right? So they created solid state amps that sound much like their tube amps by the use of autoformers.

Over the ensuing years, Mac learned a lot. Measurements do not tell the whole story by a long shot. The new generations of Mac amps exhibit the 70 year learning process Mac has gone through. The new 1.25KW with the new transistor, improved power supply, much improved binding posts, heat sinks, and parts upgrade, etc., represent 70 years of continual improvement in the basic MC2100 solid state stereo amp I owned 40 years ago.

The sound signature is the signature of a MC275 tube amp in solid state form. I couldn't agree more with the young man's take on the 1.25KW and I also agree with the counterpoint made by the older man.

Mac solid state sounds "tubey". The 1.25KW has no harshness. By adding really good cables, cords, conditioners, and IC's the resolution, detail, and sound stage of the Mac solid state sound can be significantly improved. I have experienced the improvement with my massive cable/power conditioner/cord upgrade I made a couple of years ago.

Because of their efficiency Mac's thrive with a good power conditioner like a Niagara 5000 and excellent cords with a 20 amp line. Many less efficient amps stress power conditioners significantly to the point they may be of little benefit or may actually be detrimental.

I would not recommend a power conditioner for many very expensive high current high watt solid state amps and yet power conditioners (all things being equal) are very beneficial in supplying the amp in question with a stable pure current, thus taking stress off the amp's power supply.

I have always been a speaker aficionado, feeling the speaker to be the most important gear. That's where I spent my money. Cables and IC's must be carefully chosen to enhance the amp, pre, and source, as well as the speaker. I am not surprised that the Dag pre worked well with the 1.25KW but I suspect the D1100 would sound equally good for much less expense.

All in all a great video and confirms much of what I have believed concerning McIntosh for years. Mac is a great value because it is competitive with super gear like Dags, AR, Burmester, Accuphase, Pass, Constellation, Solution, etc., at a reasonable price.

The one point that I will disagree on is the Mac meters. I believe they are extremely valuable. No company can produce meters like these. My hearing varries. In the morning it is more sensitive than at night. Using the peak hold it is possible to, regardless of the perceived loudness, know the actual loudness of the sound. 12 watts of loudness is the same in the morning and the evening, regardless of the perceived loudness.

In addition, the other day I was listening to Mahler's 8th at a volume of 73 on my D1100. The range of the symphony goes from less than .012 watts to about 120 watts peak hold. So when it was over I forgot to turn the volume down as I usually do. It was computer audio USB and very occasionally there can be a slight surge of noise and then total silence. This does not occur with music playing. This is usually heard at the computer not through the speakers, but there was a loud pop and a slight hum through the speakers.

The peak hold showed 1.2 watts through the XVX and about 8 watts through the Thor. So even though it was subjectively loud I knew no damage had been done. We all work to prevent unwanted transients through our systems but no matter, an occasional one is not preventable. It is good to know the wattage of them and be reassured that no damage could have occurred.

Mac meters are not only beautiful to me, they have become indispensable to the proper operating of my system.

Best

Charles

____________________
Charles Updated System: Wilson McIntosh Audioquest
Most recent updates: AQ Diamond USB replaces AQ Coffee; Wilson Audio Specialties Alexx replaced by Wilson Audio Specialties XVX Chronosonic; new subwoofer crossover; new Galaxy Grey Thors Hammer; Wilson Pedestals
Amps: McIntosh 1.25KW’s (3) set on floor on custom made cultured marble slabs
Preamp and DAC: McIntosh D1100
Sources: McIntosh MCD1100 SACD player, MVP881 BR player, MVP851 DVD player, MR87 tuner, Marantz 510LV Laser Disc player, ASUS laptop USB (JRiver Media Center 23)
Speakers: Wilson Audio Specialties XVX Chronosonic
Sub-woofer: Wilson Audio Specialties Thor’s Hammer (1) horizontal lie and Wilson Watch Controller (abbr: WC)
Cables main system: Audioquest Wel Signature speaker cables and balanced IC (preamp to amps); Wel Signature AES/EBU balanced digital IC for CD playback; Audioquest Diamond optical (1) for tuner, (1) for BR player, and (1) for LD player for total of (3); Diamond USB cable; McIntosh MCT cable for SACD playback; Dragon power cords (5 HC cords and 3 source cords for total of 8); Thunder HC power cord for tuner; cables for DVD player not listed
Cables subwoofer system: Audioquest Redwood speaker cable (1); Wolf balanced subwoofer IC from WC to amp; Wind balanced IC from preamp to WC; Hurricane HC (2) and Dragon HC (1) power cords
Power conditioners: Audioquest Niagara 7000 (1) and Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines with no. 10 wire straight out of fuse box
Isolation: Wilson Pedestals
Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD) solid walnut cabinet on large casters; holds all sources and preamp; also, Niagara 7000; 11 feet minimum distance from speakers
Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes
AC: Dedicated to this room only, an ultra-high efficiency and quiet recently installed Ruud split system 3-ton heat pump.
Room (mancave): 40’L x 15.5’W A-frame; max ceiling height 8’ min 5’; wall within wall construction built of 2 x 6’s; built over garage with custom hardwood floor with gym seal with over 40 Lowes stiffened wooden I-beams supporting floor; complete isolation from rest of house.