C-12000 An, MCD12000 An, MC2.1KW An ordered

[Charles]

Originally Posted by piolaxo

Hi Charles,

Big congrats on your purchase. What a system it'll be, not that it's not currently!
What I was not sure is this: you will keep the MC3500 MKII and upgrade the
subwoofer amp to the MC2.1KW? So you're buying only one, not two? Or you're
buying stereo?

Hi Piolaxo, thank you so much!! The check was just passed at 11 am. I am waiting to hear that the order has been made. I will keep the 3500's to power my XVX. The new 2.1KW An will power my subwoofer. These are my final amps. I will run the MCD12000 with the tube output going to the balanced inputs of my C12000 through the new AQ Dragon 1 meter balanced IC's. From there the SS output of the C12000 will go to my Wilson ActivXO electronic crossover through my AQ solid silver Wind balanced IC's to my 2.1KW through my AQ Wolf balanced subwoofer IC. The signal to the 3500's will be pure tube running from the MCD12000 to the tube outputs of the C12000. From there it will travel through my 25' Wel Signature balanced IC's to my 3500's. I chose the AQ Dragon IC's because they are solid silver and will provide the speed, detail, and dynamics that will complement the tubes of the C12000/MCD12000/MC3500 as also will the solid silver Wel Signature's and my partial silver Wolf. Many folks believe that Mac lacks detail but if you complement Mac tubes with AQ solid silver you get warmth, smoothness, with tremendous detail and dynamics.

I do not have a good idea as to when I might be receiving my new gear. But I must get in the que and now the wait begins. I would be happy with an arrival time of about two months.

Best

Charles

[Charles]

Just got the official confirmation from McIntosh that the order has been submitted and will be entered in the morning. So now I'm in the que waiting on the gear.

Charles

[Masterlu]

[Charles]

Well, it's a done deal. I have negotiated with my dealer and repurchased two of my three 1.25KW's from him. I have also bought 56 additional EL509's for my 3500's and plan to eventually buy 100. I'm not going to wait for the price of these tubes to go through the roof. Inflation has hit the high end. The Wilson Chronosonic XVX began at 329K. It is now 369K. ARC's price increase of 16.8% is much more reasonable that the 25% first reported. I think McIntosh and Wilson will be increasing prices across the board very soon and the increase will be quite steep. AQ's prices are quite high and probably going higher. I plan on buying enough tubes to last a lifetime as I won't ever be selling my 3500's or my I.25KW's or my new An gear. I remember when on the Wilson Forum there was a little good natured fun when I said that I thought my XVX purchase was very cost effective. It has turned out to be the single best acquisition that I have made by far. I think my keeping the 1.25's, buying the 3500's and An gear at today's prices, will turn out to be wise decisions, also.

Best

Charles

[jfray]

Can’t wait for pictures

[Formerly YB-2]

Originally Posted by Charles

My MVP881 has recently been totally refurbished. It is now 50% faster than originally from the factory.
Best
Charles

Congratulations on upgrading an all ready amazing system.

Who did the refurb on your MVP881? Was that a factory upgrade with a new drive or a new firmware install, etc.? Thanks.

[Charles]

Thanks guys! I really appreciate the comments. You better believe that I will post pictures. It's going to be a major installation and as always there have been adjustments. Most adjustments cost money. The most significant one is my firm decision to keep my 1.25KW's. They are fully depreciated and in perfect condition, having never been touched or moved except to turn them on. When my An gear arrives, I'm going to switch back to them and listen to them for maybe 3-6 months. I'll run the MCD12000 from the tube output and use the tube output of the C-12000 to power the 1.25's. I'll use the solid state output to power the 2.1KW's. I have known for a long time that my Thor needed a 2000 watts to reach its full potential. I'm not going to retire my 3500's but I just want to experience the 1.25's powered by tubes from DAC to pre to the 1.25 input. So that's the major adjustment. Next I must have two more granite slabs cut, a minimal expense. I will be installing the Mac Ultra Feet from Bassocontinuo on my C-12000 An, again a slight expense. They are on order. The final adjustment is going from a 2 meter to 3 meter AQ Hurricane power cord, which means I will be adding a 3 meter Hurricane source, already paid for, and the more expensive because of additional length, power cord. In addition to a very significant investment in tubes (probably about 5-7K depending on how many tubes I order), those are the final adjustments. Of course I cleared all this with my financial advisor because these are significant additional expenses, but they will be excellent investments in the long run, because of inflation. I don't plan on any more acquisitions for the foreseeable future. I can sit back and enjoy my system for the rest of my life as long as my health allows.

I might add that McIntosh has recently come out with more reliable EL509 tubes for the 3500's. Also, I have discovered that I have been lugging my tubes by not using the 2-ohm tap on my 3500's. Since I have been using the 2-ohm tap I have had no more issues with tubes, but I'm going to buy enough EL509 tubes while they are available to buy at any price, at the introductory price. I have 56 and will add at least an additional 24 very soon. My goal is at least 80, if not a hundred. The good thing about tubes is that if stored in a safe place, they don't age. I have found an excellent hour counter for my 3500's. So as you can see, I have been working very hard on my system, putting a lot of thought into it.

I had my MVP881 repaired by George Meyer Repair in Los Angeles California. The repair cost about 900 dollars. The unit was completely reconditioned and works better than when it arrived new from the factory. It is maybe 50% faster. The drawer opens and closes much faster and it analyzes the format significantly faster. It sounds great. The number is 1-310-820-1113. Highly recommended.

Best

Charles

p.s. I will be getting my resistors to my XVX replaced at the time of installation but Wilson supplies a set with the purchase of the XVX.

[vintage_tube]

Originally Posted by Charles

p.s. I will be getting my resistors to my XVX replaced at the time of installation but Wilson supplies a set with the purchase of the XVX.

Those are Caddock resistors and even though made by Caddock to Wilson Audio Specs; you cannot buy them from Caddock at a more reasonable cost. Why: Wilson owns the part number & to do so would require a legal release by Wilson Audio Specialties to allow Caddock to sell them to you for pennies verses $100 dollar bills (exaggerated - but you get my drift).

Bob