A Spending Exercise With No McIntosh

[1KW]

Stairway to Heaven (Black Glass and Blue Meters) was a Led Zepplin song

[John James]

Originally Posted by jdandy

John James.......Although I can appreciate the sentiment, this is the General Audio Discussion forum, and the idea is to encourage folks, a lot of whom are huge McIntosh fans (including me), to think outside the black glass faced box for a few minutes. There are many great audio companies, manufacturing some awesome gear. Call it your second choice system, if that helps. If you don't wish to play along, that's ok, too.

Actually I was in a light-hearted frame of mind when I posted. I have hardly even heard of some of the equipment spoken of in this thread, unfortunatley. I hope I get the chance to see and hear some of it sometime. My wife tells me that I can be a smart-a$$ and I guess it came out again.


Beer all around!!!

[jdandy]

John James.......No offense taken, just enjoying peoples ideas for an alternate high-end sound system that does not include McIntosh. It's easy to put on the McIntosh blinders, and ignor everything else.

[jdandy]

Here is another great alternate high-end sound system:

Audio Research Reference 3 Line-Stage Preamplifier $10,000
Audio Research Reference 210 Power Amp (2 mono) $20,000
PS Audio Perfact Wave DAC $3,000
PS Audio Perfect Wave Transport $3,000
Sonus Faber Elipsa $20,000
Wireworld cables (ic, pc, skr) $4,000

Total: $60,000

[KMC45]

I'm thinking I might really enjoy the Meridian DSP7200/808i.2, the system can come in around $50,000.

And it starts with an M.

[gregswaim]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Here is another great alternate high-end sound system:

Audio Research Reference 3 Line-Stage Preamplifier $10,000
Audio Research Reference 210 Power Amp (2 mono) $20,000
PS Audio Perfact Wave DAC $3,000
PS Audio Perfect Wave Transport $3,000
Sonus Faber Elipsa $20,000
Wireworld cables (ic, pc, skr) $4,000

Total: $60,000

I've auditioned the ARC stuff already- you'll be disappointed compared to other brands in that price range.

[jdandy]

Greg.......I have been interested in Audio Research for years, but never purchased any. I have auditioned a number of their preamps and power amps. Most recently I auditioned the LS26 balanced tube preamp with their new hybrid stereo power amp, the HD220. That combination with a Sooloos music server, driving the Quad ESL-2905 panels was very nice, dynamic, detailed, deep sound stage. I was impressed.

[gregswaim]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Greg.......I have been interested in Audio Research for years, but never purchased any. I have auditioned a number of their preamps and power amps. Most recently I auditioned the LS26 balanced tube preamp with their new hybrid stereo power amp, the HD220. That combination with a Sooloos music server, driving the Quad ESL-2905 panels was very nice, dynamic, detailed, deep sound stage. I was impressed.

I guess that we hear things a bit differently.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by gregswaim

I guess that we hear things a bit differently.

Greg.......I don't doubt that for a minute. Who doesn't?