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McIntosh MA8000; McIntosh MC1502; Canton Vento Reference 1 DC; E.A.T. E-Flat; Soundsmith Paua Mk II; Technics SL 1210 MK5; Audio Technica AT-150 MLX; Tascam BR-20; Teac X1000R; Pioneer RT-707; Oppo UDP 205; Denon DCD A-100; HP All-In-One Touchscreen Server; JRiver MC 28; Woo Audio WA6; Shure SRH 1840; SVS SB 1000; Jolida 502BRC; Jolida JD9; VPI 16.5 RCM; Wireworld Oasis 8 Speaker Cables; Audoquest Columbia 72 DBS IC's; Panamax PM-5400 (source components only) |
#12
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An XVX really needs a Krell Relentless or a MC2.1KW to do it justice. A 1.25KW cannot do it full justice. The XVX is a super speaker, maybe the best in the world which is why I bought it. The I.25KW is a very fine solid state amp but let's be honest, it's not remotely in the same league with my XVX, but neither is a Momentum or anything other than a top line Boulder, Burmester, Constellation, etc. costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. No, ufguy 73 needs a 1.25KW for his B&W's if he really likes to play them loud sometimes. It's an excellent amp; perfect for his speakers. Because you don't have to pay for engineering already expensed out, it is the equivalent of about a 40K solid state amp by other manufacturers. That's why Mac is such a good buy, IMO. This is precisely the reason that folks with 452's or 611's opine that their speaker rated at 4 ohms sounds better off the 8 ohm tap. The amp will definitely supply more watts with the impedance mismatch but the price you pay is a hotter running overstressed amp. I really liked the way my XVX sounded with my 1.25's. They sounded great. The XVX is an incredible speaker in that it is absolute reference quality but very forgiving and musical. I think it would sound good (within reason) with almost any amp. But I am under no illusion that they could match something like a Relentless matched to my XVX. On the other hand, my 3500's do a much better job. I wouldn't swap them for anything on the market. It really is a great/unique tube amp. Mac has the best tube circuit and the amp puts out 200-300 tube watts with the Mac tube sound that I remember as a kid. In my room it drives my XVX superbly, but in a larger room, you need the 2.1KW or a Relentless, etc. The new 2.1KW is the amp to match with my XVX in a large room. The XVX has no upper dynamic limit. Best Charles Of course, these are just my opinions
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__________________________________________ Charles Updated System: Wilson McIntosh Audioquest Amps: McIntosh MC3500MKII (2); McIntosh MC1.25KW (2); MC2.1KW An (1) Preamp: C-12000 An Sources: MCD12000 An; MVP881; MVP851; MR87; Marantz 510LV; ASUS laptop Speakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Chronosonic XVX Sub-woofer: Wilson Audio Specialties Thor’s Hammer (1); Wilson ActivXO Stereo Electronic Crossover Cables main system: Audioquest WEL Signature speaker cables; balanced IC (preamp to main amps); WEL Signature digital coaxial cable for MVP 881/MCD12000; Audioquest Diamond optical (1) for tuner, (1) for MVP 851 DVD player, and (1) for LD player for total of (3); Audioquest Diamond USB cable; Dragon power cords (5 HC cords and 3 source cords for total of 8); Thunder HC power cord for MR87 tuner Cables subwoofer system: Audioquest Redwood speaker cable (1); Wolf balanced subwoofer IC; Wind balanced IC from preamp to ActivXO; Hurricane HC (3); Hurricane Source (1); Dragon HC (1) power cords Power conditioners: Audioquest Niagara 7000 (1) and Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines. Isolation: Wilson Pedestals; Bassocontinuo McIntosh Ultra Feet; X-material plinth Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD) Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes Last edited by Charles; 02-08-2024 at 06:02 PM. |
#13
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^^Thanks for the reply Charles. I don't mean to derail the OP's thread, so I'll leave it with this understanding. What you're suggesting is that a solid state amp is at its best when it's only using up to about 10% of its rated power output. After that sound quality begins to degrade, so reasonably speaking the remaining 90% exists to handle the large dynamic swings that certain types of music may contain.
I understand a vacuum tube is a different animal with very different distortion characteristics, which may explain why my 1502 sounds so much better than my MA8000.
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McIntosh MA8000; McIntosh MC1502; Canton Vento Reference 1 DC; E.A.T. E-Flat; Soundsmith Paua Mk II; Technics SL 1210 MK5; Audio Technica AT-150 MLX; Tascam BR-20; Teac X1000R; Pioneer RT-707; Oppo UDP 205; Denon DCD A-100; HP All-In-One Touchscreen Server; JRiver MC 28; Woo Audio WA6; Shure SRH 1840; SVS SB 1000; Jolida 502BRC; Jolida JD9; VPI 16.5 RCM; Wireworld Oasis 8 Speaker Cables; Audoquest Columbia 72 DBS IC's; Panamax PM-5400 (source components only) |
#14
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Extremely large solid state amps are ideal for folks like me and ufguy who have large speakers that can play loud and soak up a lot of watts. These amps are excellent but a pair will set you back 73K. I think the 1.25KW is totally competitive with them at a cost of 27K. The KMA-i800 if you read the review has a lot of new engineering developed exclusively for it. And you pay for it. I have no problem with that. Most manufacturers when they introduce a new flagship or a new model, always include significant new circuitry. However, the 1.25KW simply improves the design with better parts like the Thermal Trak output transistors, larger capacitors, shorter circuit paths, Solid Cinch binding posts, etc. But the basic technologies do not change. I personally think that a 1.25KW is 100% competitive with the new Krell flagship at 36% of the price. I personally would prefer the 1.25KW. It will be in production long after the KMA-i800 has been discontinued and will outsell it probably 20 to 1. It weighs more than the Krell and produces as many watts. You must decide whether you like the Mac or Krell sound better. For me it's a no brainer. I have never said that Mac sounds the best but that the Mac sound is competitive with anyone's. I have just purchased a MC2.1KW. I received an excellent trade in for my three 1.25KW's. Why? because they are still in production and will be for many years to come. This will not be the same for the KMA-i800. It was not over a mere four years before the Dag Relentless was "improved" to the Epic for a cool 349K for a pair. If you have an unlimited budget just send your Relentless back for the upgrade costing thousands of dollars on top of the hundreds of thousands you have spent on the original purchase. I prefer the 2.1KW for 50K that will remain unchanged in production for the next 15 years. The wattage and weight and all specs for the two amps are comparable. I waited patiently for many years to buy this Mac amp Best Charles p.s. I am using the Relentless as an example because I think Mr. D'Agostino is possibly the greatest of all the audio engineers. The same could be said for a Boulder, Burmester, Constellation, etc. flagship. They cost hundreds of thousands of dollars for a pair and will not remain in production unchanged over 5-7 years.
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__________________________________________ Charles Updated System: Wilson McIntosh Audioquest Amps: McIntosh MC3500MKII (2); McIntosh MC1.25KW (2); MC2.1KW An (1) Preamp: C-12000 An Sources: MCD12000 An; MVP881; MVP851; MR87; Marantz 510LV; ASUS laptop Speakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Chronosonic XVX Sub-woofer: Wilson Audio Specialties Thor’s Hammer (1); Wilson ActivXO Stereo Electronic Crossover Cables main system: Audioquest WEL Signature speaker cables; balanced IC (preamp to main amps); WEL Signature digital coaxial cable for MVP 881/MCD12000; Audioquest Diamond optical (1) for tuner, (1) for MVP 851 DVD player, and (1) for LD player for total of (3); Audioquest Diamond USB cable; Dragon power cords (5 HC cords and 3 source cords for total of 8); Thunder HC power cord for MR87 tuner Cables subwoofer system: Audioquest Redwood speaker cable (1); Wolf balanced subwoofer IC; Wind balanced IC from preamp to ActivXO; Hurricane HC (3); Hurricane Source (1); Dragon HC (1) power cords Power conditioners: Audioquest Niagara 7000 (1) and Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines. Isolation: Wilson Pedestals; Bassocontinuo McIntosh Ultra Feet; X-material plinth Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD) Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes Last edited by Charles; 02-09-2024 at 02:37 PM. |
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